Flying Colors

Rock supergroup Flying Colors make their live debut with "Live In Europe," which shows the band adding selections from their own personal catalogs into the set list.

A progressive rock supergroup formed by onetime members of Dream Theater, the Dixie Dregs, and Spock's Beard, Flying Colors flesh out their rousing, structured melodic rock with improvisation and technical virtuosity.
With a mandate from executive producer Bill Evans to keep the project anchored in accessible songwriting, Flying Colors brought together vocalist Casey McPherson (Alpha Rev), vocalist/keyboardist Neal Morse (Spock's Beard, Transatlantic), guitarist Steve Morse (the Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple, Kansas), bass guitarist Dave LaRue (the Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse Band), and drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Transatlantic). They recorded their eponymous debut album in 2011 with producer Peter Collins (Rush, Bon Jovi). It was issued by Mascot Label Group in March of 2012…

In chemistry, when certain galvanizing elements come together, they become quite explosive. In music, when certain galvanizing artists come together, they become Flying Colors. In fact, whenever the five gentlemen who encompass Flying Colors - guitarist Steve Morse, drummer Mike Portnoy, keyboardist/vocalist Neal Morse, bassist Dave LaRue, and powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Casey McPherson are able to conjoin their collective talents, the result is a sweet sonic bouillabaisse that reflects where their inherent mastery of melody intersects with top-shelf progressive musicianship. Flying Colors soar to even loftier heights with Third Degree, their third studio album in a decade that's set for release on October 4, 2019 via Music Theories Recordings.

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.

The sophomore full-length album from Flying Colors, 2014's Second Nature, showcases the supergroup's ambitious, soaring prog rock. As on the group's 2008 self-titled debut, featured here are former Endochine member and Alpha Rev lead vocalist Casey McPherson, ex-Dream Theater drummer/vocalist Mike Portnoy, Dixie Dregs bassist Dave LaRue, Dixie Dregs guitarist Steve Morse, and former Spock's Beard keyboardist/vocalist Neal Morse.

Second Flight: Live at the Z7 is the second live album by American progressive rock supergroup Flying Colors. The band recorded it on October 12, 2014 at the Z7 Konzertfabrik in Pratteln, Switzerland. Mike Portnoy chose the location because both Flying Colors and other bands of his had recorded multiple shows at the 013 in Tilburg. It was a challenging show for the band to perform because this was only the eighth show on the tour. The album title was coined by Portnoy. Bernhard Baran, who had filmed and edited Flying Colors' Live in Europe, returned to undertake this production. Executive producer Bill Evans requested a larger production than the previous release, resulting in 24 cameras being used; most of them being GoPro cameras attached to band members' instruments. The band used new audio and video technology on this release…

The critics were united in acknowledging the eponymously titled debut album from Flying Colors among the most fascinating releases of 2012. Flying Colors is the talent-ridden supergroup consisting of guitarist Steve Morse, drummer Mike Portnoy, Neal Morse, bass player Dave LaRue and the comparatively new talent, singer/songwriter Casey McPherson. The band challenged conventional wisdom about combining virtuoso music and melodic songwriting in their new album, "Second Nature".

In chemistry, when certain galvanizing elements come together, they become quite explosive. In music, when certain galvanizing artists come together, they become Flying Colors. In fact, whenever the five gentlemen who encompass Flying Colors — guitarist Steve Morse (Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, ex-Kansas), drummer/vocalist Mike Portnoy (Winery Dogs, ex-Dream Theater, Transatlantic, Sons Of Apollo), keyboardist/vocalist Neal Morse (Transatlantic, ex-Spock’s Beard, and a prolific solo artist in his own right), bassist Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs, ex-Joe Satriani), and powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Casey McPherson (Alpha Rev, The Sea Within) — are able to conjoin their collective talents, the result is a sweet sonic bouillabaisse that reflects where their inherent mastery of melody intersects with top-shelf progressive musicianship. With Third Degree, Flying Colors continue to fire on all cylinders — and, in the process, they also handily prove the third time’s an unquestionable sonic charm.