Live In Europe Flying Colors

• 1 Blue Ocean 07:28
• 2 Shoulda Coulda Woulda 06:05
• 3 Love Is What I'm Waiting For 05:21
• 4 Can't Find A Way 06:02
• 5 The Storm 06:02
• 6 Odyssey 06:52
• 7 Forever In A Daze 04:28
• 8 Hallelujah 05:18
• 9 Better Than Walking Away 05:01
• 10 Kayla 07:04
• 11 Fool In My Heart 03:46
• 12 Spur Of The Moment 01:26
• 13 Repentance 05:06
• 14 June 05:58
• 15 All Falls Down 03:54
• 16 Everything Changes 08:04
• 17 Infinite Fire 12:16
• 18 Kayla 05:12
• Total Runtime 01:45:23

Info for Live In Europe

It started with a simple idea: virtuoso musicians and a pop singer joining to make new-fashioned music the old fashioned way. A band followed, evolving into Flying Colors: Mike Portnoy (drums, vocals), Dave LaRue (bass), Neal Morse (keyboards, vocals), Casey McPherson (lead vocals), and Steve Morse (guitar). Together, they create a unique fusion of vintage craftsmanship, contemporary music and blistering live performances.

In 2008, executive producer Bill Evans began putting the idea into action. It needed exactly the right musicians. In addition to be being extraordinary players and writers, they would need to be a natural creative fit, complementing each others’ abilities. There would be proven chemistry from past collaborations, but the new band would be different from anything they’d done. The world didn’t need another supergroup.

As with the classic albums, there also would be a strong production team who, creatively, would be an extension of the band: a visionary producer, imaginative engineer and compelling visual artist. Though they were seasoned artists with impressive backgrounds and catalogs, this would be new territory for most of them. And without a budget or a label, they came together with nothing more than a shared vision to create something special and unique.

Evans drew up a short list of four musicians and a producer: Mike Portnoy, Dave LaRue, Steve Morse, Neal Morse and (producer) Peter Collins. Each artist was renowned in his domain. Drawing from rock, metal, prog, jazz-fusion, they had the potential to fuse their diverse styles into a unique, cohesive sound.

Peter Collins had helmed the intersection of virtuoso and pop music better than anyone. Collins presided over Rush’s evolution from long-form prog band to short-song rock band, producing four studio albums with them and helping drive 30 million in sales —without sacrificing their artistic integrity. His resume of more than 100 albums also included straight-forward popular acts as Bon Jovi, Jewel and Elton John.

Intrigued by the idea, and the prospect of working together, the five signed on to form a band and record a first album.

Attention then turned to finding a pop singer who could channel their combined musicality into an accessible mainstream form. Evans and Collins reviewed over 100 top contemporary singers, but no one felt exactly right. As desperation began to set in, Mike Portnoy casually mentioned, “I know a guy.” That guy turned out to be a new signing to the Hollywood/Disney label: singer/songwriter Casey McPherson.

An initial conversation between Evans and Casey revealed that the singer had always wanted to do a project like Flying Colors. It quickly became obvious that Casey wasn’t just right for the band—he was perfect.

Steve Morse, guitar
Casey McPherson, vocals, guitars
Neal Morse, keyboards, vocals
Dave LaRue, bass
Mike Portnoy, drums, vocals

The concert release captures the band live in Tilburg, Netherlands at 013 on September 20, 2012. Directed and edited by Bernhard Baran (Guns 'n' Roses, The Cure, Porcupine Tree) with Bill Evans as executive producer, the concert presents the entire studio album, alongside popular favorites performed by the individual members of the band.

Flying Colors
The band originally launched in 2012 with a simple idea - virtuoso musicians and a pop singer joining together to make new-fashioned music the old fashioned way. Refreshing, classic, old and new, the recordings are saturated with the many styles, tones and hues of the players who in becoming a band delivered a unique fusion of vintage craftsmanship and contemporary music.

“The magic that we captured on the debut album was only further developed and cemented on Flying Colors' 2012 Tour,” says the band’s drummer Mike Portnoy. “Each night on stage I felt like I was part of something very special and cherished every moment of it. As it was such a brief and limited tour, I am so glad we captured it here to now share with fans all around the World that didn't get to see this special band in person...enjoy!"

In 2008, executive producer Bill Evans brought the idea to the world renowned musicians and legendary producer Peter Collins (Rush, Bon Jovi, Elton John). Intrigued by the idea, and the prospect of working together, the four signed on to form a band and record a first album. Steve Morse and Dave LaRue have developed a magical musical chemistry over the years, which began early in their careers as partners in Dixie Dregs.

Morse subsequently became a member of Deep Purple in 1995, while LaRue’s ongoing musical adventures include Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, Steve Vai, and the aforementioned Portnoy. Multi-instrumentalist, composer and singer Neal Morse is one of the leading figures in progressive rock, whose significant notoriety follows his co-founding of the seminal band, Spock’s Beard in 1995, recordings as a solo artist, and contributions to the super-group Transatlantic.

Mike Portnoy is one of the most popular and respected drummers in both metal and rock, and an accomplished writer and producer. He is the recipient of numerous industry accolades, including 26 Modern Drummer awards, Revolver Magazine’s Golden God award for “Best Drummer" and Drum Magazine's "Drummer of the Year". He rose to prominence as the leader, drummer, producer, and co-writer for metal/prog juggernaut Dream Theater, before moving on in 2010. That same year, he worked on Avenged Sevenfold’s #1 album Nightmare and their subsequent tour.

McPherson, whose 2010 Hollywood/Disney album New Morning debuted in the Top-5 on two Billboard charts, enjoyed major success at radio with multiple hits. The track “New Morning” spent 17 weeks in the Top-10 on Triple A Radio, and enjoyed a run on Vh1’s Top-20 Countdown for months.

Flying Colors convened for nine days in early 2011, composing their debut album during a short, intense session. Dave LaRue shared, "It was quite an experience. The band moved at a fast pace, with ideas flying around the room. Sections of tunes were arranged, and re-arranged. Ideas were tried every which way until we made them work, or, in some cases, discarded them altogether. Just keeping track of everything was a challenge!" McPherson adds, "This record is filled with trial and triumph. It's been such an inspiring challenge melding folk, prog, pop, and metal all into one big recording."

Flying Colors returned to the studio on May 12, 2013 to begin writing and recording their second studio album. They are continuing work throughout the year and beyond for an expected 2014 release.

This album contains no booklet.