Third Stage: Live In London

This is the third concert blu ray I've purchased by Flying Colors. Live at the Z7 is by far their best, and this release, while certainly worth owning, really doesn't hold a candle to that concert. Three reasons why this is a let down. First, the sound quality is inferior. Not terrible, just a bit dull. Second, their new material (from Third Degree) is weak in comparison to their first two studio albums. And finally, their "classic" songs like Peaceful Harbor suffer from a more tepid performance in this incarnation. Casey's voice, in particular, is lacking, and Steve Morse incorporates some alterations in his solos which just aren't quite as catchy as the previous versions. This is a good 3.5 stars performance, but if you're new to FC, and want to fall in love with a top notch band, get the Z7 gig first.

Another amazing performance by Flying Colors! Touring for their third release Third Degree, the band is tighter than ever. This a fine visual and audio experience...well mixed and edited. If this is the first time you’ll see Flying Colors in concert, you’re in for a treat with a very good selection of songs from their (up to now) three albums. Enjoy!

I have one complaint. I had to turn up the sun woofer. This is my favorite (COLORS) bluray! This disc has two incredible performances. If you are into Flying Colors ,this is a must have.

Unbelievable! Fresh new music! What a treat! Skip your coffee this week and buy this sucker!

Must have awesome band

Well recorded and played.

Thoroughly enjoying this third live blu-ray from Flying Colors. Like the 2015 Second Flight: Live at the Z7, both concerts feature 15 tracks of FC material. Except on this great priced Blu-ray, you get 6 songs from Live at Morsefest 2019 as well, and extra 70 minutes of similar material yet completely different. More about that later.This live outing, December 2019, showcases a group that seems very comfortable playing with each other, having fun, inspiring and sharing their wonderful rock - pop prog, (if one has to try and give a label.) Yes, Portnoy and Neal Morse have played together in various combinations since the late 90s, and La Rue and Steve Morse go back to the early 80s, but as a band with Casey McPherson, they’ve only had three smallish tours since their stunning debut in 2012. As Portnoy says, “...rarer than a UFO siting...’ is seeing FC live.So fortunately we have this blu-ray of their last outing, culminating in the London concert, supporting their latest album, Third Degree. They play six tracks off this album and all translate well to a live performance, perhaps track, Geronimo, seeming at first little out of place sounding more like a Steely Dan song in the middle of a prog rock concert. Still it was fascinating watching them do this live. Likewise, the Beach Boy like track, Love Letter, seemed light when coming after Forever in a Daze, although there is nothing poppy about the Morse guitar solo with rapid climbing arpeggios executed with seeming ease. He always puts a smile on your face.There are not sufficient superlatives to try describe two new tracks done live, Crawl, and the beautiful, You are not alone. Considering these are additional to other epics like Peaceful Harbor and Infinite Fire, then you know you are in for an emotional roller-coaster ride of exciting rock that sometimes has you tearing up as some particular lyric and majestic music interlude modulates. This is one exciting and stirring concert.The extra Morsefest tracks of course are in a different setting with different lighting, crowd and extras, which I won’t spoil here by listing in the review. The way they perform the same epic tracks are also different and I think I even preferred this concert footage to the London recording. A definite bonus!Hopefully, others will comment on the technical aspects. As usual the sound is big and powerful, and when I read that Jerry Guidroz mixed and mastered, I relax knowing he’s been trusted with Rich Mouser over the years with Morses’s material. They know the material very well.My only criticism is that in the second half of the concert it was as if the video editor discovered they could overlay the accompanying concert imagery with the musicians during climactic solos and finales. I found this increasingly intrusive, but quite honestly this is nitpicking when there is so much to love. The musical transitions between some songs are special, maintaining the energy of the more gritty material. Referring here especially to The Loss Inside and More.The culmination of More is the first stunner, and Casey as singer commands the stage, his distinctive voice I realise is the gel that defines this group. He may have been the junior in terms of experience back in 2012, but he leads with conviction in both the powerful and in the parts with gentle falsettos. Each of them command their roles; La Rue is a prominent sounding bassist ripping it up in tracks like Forever in a daze and Geronimo or gently pulsing in Peaceful Harbor; Neal, the best supporting vocalist you could ask for - animated at the keyboards with a bank of tones and sounds; Mike Portnoy, adding a third vocal harmony and power drumming that always gives that kick at the right place; and Steve Morse, who I suggest is able to bring all his vast array of guitar skills in this band more than any other he has been in his career. This concert is a Steve tour de force, with many structured solos that few can execute like he does. The finale for Peaceful Harbor, just wait for it; very special.Yet, this is no one’s show - no extended drum solos or guitar epics - or keyboard noodling. This is a cohesive band effort that is about the music, the melody, the story. So glad I could join them and experience this even if only in my lounge. A great band concert. Thank you, Flying Colors.

Great performance by the band, but my copy had serious video issues. The image would go in and out of focus routinely and any panning shots or shots where the musicians were moving had ghosting, or trailing images. Has anyone else had these anomalies in their copy of this concert video.

The five members of this super group go on tour for a brief tour of the US and Europe ending with the final date at Shephard's Bush Empire in London [seating capacity of 2000].15 track show at almost 2 hours covering all 3 of their albums. Not much of a light show or anything [even if recorded]. Primarily there is just a back screen.The shows was professionally done and includes DTS 5.1 audio. My only quip is that videos were superimposed over the band during some parts of the show. So [for example], during The storm, you see rain and winds.Also included are 6 of 13 tracks they did at MorseFest 2019 [this is Neal Morse's annual "convention" in the fall]. I would guess that the rest of the video as well of CDs will eventually be included in Morse's Inner Circle "fan" subscription service. The quality of the audio and video isn't as good as the main concert. [Packaging left out when and where it was recorded.] Note that the MorseFest is exclusive to the Blu-ray and not on the DVD.Rounding out are a few promo videos taken from Third Stage. Nothing too impressive.Over all something like 3.5 hours of music.

Its a case Of Welcome To The MachineI Loved This Concert From Start To Finish as much as I loved The First Two Live Flying Colors DVDs/Blue RaysEveryone played right at the top of their game and The Vocals Were Fantasticly Clear and Well mixed.Wonderful Classic Rock vibe ,The Band had fun and so did my Wife and I .In our Lock Down Front Row seatsI think what we liked most was Flying Colors are A Great Band of Friends who clearly Love their own compositions and each others company, they work like a well oiled machine and as much as We love Neals Progressive escapades especially Transatlantic .Flying Colors slightly more pop/commercial tunes are Really refreshing for Covid frazzled minds. I know not everyone has enjoyed Third Stage , but Hey We Did .

On balance I prefer the LZ release - only down to one thing - better sound quality on the recording. If this release had achieved those heights - five stars would have been assured.

Wer die ersten beiden shows von flying colors kennt wird hier meiner meinung nach ein wenig enttäuscht sein. Da ich ein portnoy fan der ersten stunde bin bin ich ein wenig enttäuscht von seinem drum sound. Von ihm ist man eigentlich fetten sound gewohnt . Leider ist das hier nicht so der fall. Aber das ist ja auch nur mein persönlicher geschmack. Im guten und ganzen kann man sich es ansehen. Sollte man allerdings noch keine der 3 shows auf dvd oder bluray besitzen tendiere ich klar zur 1 show von 2013 . Und komplett ist die show auch leider nicht. Knapp 2 std. Geht die show hier.

Was lucky enough to be at this gig, sound and visuables did not disappoint, very happy memories!