Posts Tagged ‘Flying Colors’

Southern Empire Embarks on a Conquest of Progressive Rock from Down Under

Posted: October 7, 2016 in progressive rock music
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My latest discovery is the newly formed Australian band, Southern Empire.  As grandiose as their name suggests their musicianship is equal to the moniker they’ve chosen.  southern_empire_band1

Formed by Sean Timms, keyboardist from one of  Australia’s top progressive rock bands Unitopia, their music has elements of metal, jazz, fusion and of course prog.  Lead vocals are handled by Danny Lopresto while the other members of the band all provide additional voices.  The vocal harmonies of this band are on aural display on the track “Forest Fire.”  Midway through this song I hear vocals reminiscent of  Electric Light Orchestra and even The The Beatles!   How’s that for a comparison?

Since I’m doing the unforgivable and offering comparisons to this band, why not go all the way.  On first listen I would compare their overall sound to Dream Theater and Flying Colors.  With that said I think the phenomenal  musical interplay between Timms on keyboards and lead guitarist Cam Blokland on this track is equal to that of Steve Morse & Neil Morse (no relation) of Flying Colors and John Petrucci & Jordan Rudess from Dream Theater.  Now fans of those two bands may find my suggestions blasphemous but give Southern Empire a listen and you decide.  Blokland has been hailed as one of Australia’s best guitarists and “Forest Fire” confirms it.

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You have to listen to the bass heavy intro to the instrumental virtuosity that this track showcases.  Then the fusion-like interplay between  keyboards and guitar. Here’s where their sound departs from other neo-progressive rock bands of the day.  The improvisation, speed and overall tight musicianship of this band rises to the top.  So with elements from several different genres combining into one unique band, Southern Empire embarks on a conquest of the world music scene. “Forest Fire“is from their self titled debut album.  I can only hope this powerful collaboration of talented musicians from Down Under ascends to a place where it commands your musical appreciation like it has for me.

Here’s a video that features the band’s performance of “Forest Fire.”

Recent Vintage American Prog

Posted: December 20, 2014 in progressive rock music
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Well here goes.  My first blog on this site.  Although the genre certainly didn’t originate here is US there have been some great artists like Kansas, Ambrosia (before they turned all LA on us), Journey (before they turned all arena rock), and in recent years, Glass Hammer.  The band and track I’m promoting with this initial post is “Open Up Your Eyes” by Flying Colors.  This is their second release and first one self produced.

Steve Morse – lead and rhythm guitar             FlyingColors-hr
Casey McPherson – lead vocals
Neal Morse – keyboards, vocals
Dave LaRue – bass guitar
Mike Portnoy – drums, percussion, vocals

Quite possibly a progressive rock supergroup with Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Transatlantic), Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Kansas, Deep Purple), Neil Morse, no relation to Steve! (Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic), David LaRue (Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse) and lead vocals by Casey McPherson.  This 12 minute cut, “Open Up Your Eyes” is from their 2nd release, Second Nature. This first track opens with a classic keyboard intro by Neil and metamorphoses into a progressive groove with Steve on guitar and Portnoy on drums.  Later on you’ll hear that familiar keyboard sound from Neil, reminiscent from his days with Spock’s Beard.  This instrumental virtuosity continues for over 4 minutes before you’re introduced to Casey on lead vocals.  If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to see Mike Portnoy live, you know his drumming just sounds crisper and more powerful than other drummers. And it’s all here!  The signature time changes that we love performed by superb musicians.   Now I’m only highlighting this 1 track but the entire LP (what do we call these things now?!) appears on several lists for top progressive rock releases for the year 2014.  That should add some credibility to my comments here doesn’t it?  So check this band out!  Their sound is both classic and new progressive. Throw in some rock and pop-leaning vocals and mix it up with great musicians one and all on their respective instruments and you get Flying Colors.  Now I can only hope that unlike other supergroups no matter what genre they perform in, they’ll still be around to create more studio releases in the future.