In 2008 Jackson put together the now referred to as the "Celestina" era of the band featuring core members Meg Maryatt on vocals, Jeff Brenneman on guitar and Dirk Doucette on drums to undertake an ambitious 33 1/3 song 3 CD set concept trilogy about a rather odd feminine robot growing up in outer space a somewhat innocent, childlike manner intermittently interrupted by acts of incredible violence (she has a bad habit of trying to snap a human neck every now and then.)

In 2009, 17 Pygmies ventured into blues and Americana territory with the concept album "The Outlaw J.D. Ray". This time around, Blind Lemony Pledge Fresh Jackson and his posse (western, not rap) use post-civil war folk music and pre-WWII blues as the backdrop to a story of ambition, deceit, and of course love lost and found (you know, basic tragedy stuff) and of course, redemption. With of course, a washboard.

Released on Jan. 1, 2011, CII: Second Son is part two in a three part series based on the original short story “Celestina” (You might have noticed CII, like its predecessor, is sequentially numbered. Big hit y’all.)The story picks up with our hero, Captain Mora and fellow astronaut and scientist/love interest, Isabel, waking up after traveling through a black hole, only to discover a colony of robots who have changed their chemical ‘mix’ to cope with a beautiful but mysterious world in which nothing ever changes.While adapting to their new surroundings, they learn some astonishing news from Herod, leader of the robots, and know they have no choice but to find a way to return home.

Musically, CII: Second Son is a tribute to all of the unique 1950-60’s era science fiction motion pictures (think The Day The Earth Stood Still), but this time the music is a bit darker, perhaps reminiscent of early Tangerine Dream, with the Pygs using more experimental sounds (that’s what happens when you buy a new M-Box) to reflect the more somber, stark moodiness of the storyline. In 2012, CIII: "Even Celestina Gets the Blues" not only ended the Celestina trilogy, but also left the story line at such a point that it was only logical to continue the story and further explore the cosmic space operatic poppy space soundtrack music terrain already previously established.

In May of 2013, 17 Pygmies released "Isabel" which is the first part of another three part concept CD in the vein of Celestina, but following the exploits of Dr. Amelia Isabel, one of the other passengers of the Celestina (the ship and the main character share the same name). The music is at times pensive, brooding, introspective, poppy, proggy, jazzy and orchestral.

There are many musical "touchstones" to Isabel, the most obvious being Pink Floyd, Kate Bush, Harold Budd, Brian Eno, John Foxx, The Incredible String Band, "Lamb" era Genesis, Samuel Barber, Arvo Part, Jerry Goldsmith and Christopher Young.

Interestingly, 2013 also found the re-release of a 2 CD retrospective by LTM Recordings containing three remastered versions of the bands' early works Hatikva (1983) Jedda By The sea (1984) and Captured in Ice (1985). So when we say 2013 is the year of the Pygmy, we ain't kidding!

In November 2015, "Isabel II: Abaddon Rising" was released. In this case, 17 Pygmies decided to write the never happened follow-up LP to it's classic 1980s album Captured in Ice. Musically speaking, this required the band to go back to its roots as one of the originators of the"cold-wave" movement (the Pygs themselves referred to their style of music as "sombredelic"), a genre that mixed "College Rock""Art Rock" and "Pop" with a downbeat, if not often whimsical and/or reflective message.

Over a 30 year period, there is obviously more to discuss, but let's leave it at that for now. All we know is that we are all present in the here and now. Buy the ticket and take the ride.

So for those of you who are already on board, as well as those who are about to enter into our world, thank you for coming along on this part of the voyage. We could not have done it without you, whoever you may be.