A band slated to kick off this weekend's "Mountain Jam" (Hunter, NY) is called "Elysian Theory"; guitarist Tim Reid explains their name as follows:
Reid said in Greek mythology, the Elysian Fields in Elysium, were the final resting place of the souls of the heroic and the virtuous. Medieval poet, Dante Alighieri, based Canto IV of “The Divine Comedy” (The first circle of Hell; the Virtuous Heathen; Limbo) on the mythological Elysian Fields.
“We’d been trying to come up with a name and ‘Elysium’ just resonated with us,” Reid said. He said the name is particularly apt, since the band often writes about spiritual issues, but he delineated the spiritual from the religious.
And, “theory,” felt right, interjected Feeney, since matters of spirituality are perceived by some as a philosophy or theory. Both words have multiple layers of meaning, he said. Reyes, Reid and Feeney, the original members, selected the name.
Their music? A blend of old & new:
Reyes said the band’s music, loosely defined as “progressive rock,” is intended to transport listeners to another time and place that’s individual to each listener. He said Elysium Theory strives to capture that sensation by mixing passionate playing with technical skill and draws on both classic and modern influences.
Reid said the band writes its own songs, music it likes listening to, but also performs classics by Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Who, Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree. “We’ve created a sound that is familiar and new, challenging, yet easy to listen to,” he said.