Let's be honest: a taste of live music is something we could all do with a little more of right now. Happily, supergroup Flying Colors are on hand to help.
The band – made up of guitarist Steve Morse (Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, ex-Kansas), drummer Mike Portnoy (Winery Dogs, ex-Dream Theater, Transatlantic), keyboardist/vocalist Neal Morse (Transatlantic, ex Spock's Beard), bassist Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs, ex-Joe Satriani), and vocalist and songwriter Casey McPherson (Alpha Rev, The Sea Within) – took their latest album, Third Stage, out on tour in 2019.
On the final date of the tour, when the band hit London's iconic Shepherd’s Bush Empire, they recorded the sold-out show with a view to releasing it as a live album at a later date. Then 2020 happened.
Third Stage: Live In London occupies a unique space in music history: released at a time when many of us have no access to live music, it serves as both a relic from the "before" time and a reminder of what we have waiting for us on the other side.
And what a reminder. With a setlist that draws from their three studio albums, Third Stage: Live In London captures the band at their uncompromising best.
“I remember how I felt right before the show in London," says McPherson. "I was excited because my oldest daughter and her grandmother was there, whom I love dearly, and felt like I had the show down by then. It's always a good feeling to take the stage when the material is ingrained enough to just let go and let it out.
"The Shepherd's Bush Empire is a classic theatre. Little nooks and crannies backstage, and that ornate vibe in the hall. Great people to work with which always makes for a fun gig."
Third Stage: Live In London is out on September 18 through Music Theories Recordings. It’ll be released on a variety of formats, including 3LP orange transparent vinyl, Blu-ray, 2CD/DVD, a 40-page Earbook which spans 2CD/2DVD/Blu-ray, and on digital and streaming platforms.