THE VEGETARIANS: SPACE AGE PAGLIACCI ALBUM
This episode of Big Blend Radio features international prog rock duo The Vegetarians who discuss their new album “Space Age Pagliacci,” along with the world of Artificial Intelligence, their music and songwriting, and what the music industry is like today. Watch the episode here on YouTube or download the podcast on Podbean.
The Vegetarians are a Swedish-American duo consisting of Hans Annellsson, composer and musician from Sweden, and composer and songwriter John Tabacco from Long Island, New York. Their new album, “Space Age Pagliacci”, is a semi-concept album about spacetime. Stylistically, the music is a mix of Prog Rock and Classic Rock, with some hints of Circus Music.
Says Hans, “There is a concept in the lyrics. They are all related to space and time in some way.” John elaborates, “A.I. is becoming a force to reckon with. This CD explores the existential threat A.I. proposes to humans. We also explore the hidden force behind “fear”, that being of an extraterrestrial influence. Truth is also an issue here. How can we trust anything? There is also some self-deprecating awareness of the absurdity of being alive in this dimension. The cover of the CD has a picture of the first A.I. robot (“Sophia” – an actual citizen now of Saudi Arabia) sitting – as a person (of unspecified gender in a protective space suit) serenades her. Not the warmest of relations. And that might be part of the A.I. / Human problem.”
Working together with several different singers such as John Tabacco, Robin Schell, John Crowe, Marc Mollan, John Marshall Gibbs and Napoleon Murphy Brock, the project started around 2000 as a vehicle for recording some prog covers of YES, Frank Zappa, King Crimson, Genesis, ELP, Adrian Belew, Peter Hammill etc. The prog covers can be found on the albums “Remustered & Remixed Salad” and “The Calling”.
In closing the duo has this message to relay, “The message is learn to know thyself ‘Temet Nosce.’ And whatever you do – don’t let anyone get the best of you. You matter just as much as the next being.”
Get the album and keep up with The Vegetarians here:
* Bandcamp: https://thevegetarians.bandcamp.com/album/space-age-pagliacci
* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7b7khQqC4ekEn9Xi2AFuOz?si=pMfaLLANTCK5ousP2f1PpA
* Hans Annellsson: www.annellssongs.com
* John Tabacco: https://www.johntabacco.net/
Jigsaw Puzzle Tips: Enjoy the podcast while piecing together this jigsaw puzzle of the “Space Age Pagliacci” album cover by Catherine Tabacco & Farben Fosfeen Artwerks. Make the image full screen for easy viewing, use your mouse or arrow keys to rotate the pieces and drag them where you want to place them. Click on the Image icon to see the photo and click on the Ghost icon to control your workspace.
