Five-man prog pop supergroup Flying Colors may be a tad underappreciated
in the States, but in Europe, they are revered like prog rock royalty. So
it stands to reason that after a short European tour supporting their second
album, Second Nature, Flying Colors would issue a second
live album, this one recorded at the Z7 Konzertfabrik in Switzerland. As
a Blu-ray, DVD and CD package, Second Flight: Live At The Z7 captures
the chemistry that ignites on the concert stage when guitarist Steve Morse,
keyboardist Neal Morse, drummer Mike Portnoy, bassist Dave LaRue and singer
and guitarist Casey McPherson get together.
Right from the beginning with the epic “Open Up Your Eye,”
the members of Flying Colors lock in like a band that’s been together
for decades. At one point, MacPherson bravely matches Steve Morse’s
fiery leads with some stingers of his own, and the whole thing zips forth
like a wild rollercoaster ride. Over the course of the entire 15-song set,
the music explores the melodic range, allowing MacPherson, Portnoy and Neal
Morse to raise the vocals to the high level of musicianship. Of course,
each player takes the spotlight at various points, and Portnoy does most
of the talking, even telling the audience they’re being filmed. Second
Flight: Live At The Z7 restores hope that new music, dabbed with
bits of old-school charm and playability, is out there if you know where
to find it.
