Billed as the Prog Royalty Tour . Only one UK date so far. Maybe they'll write the next Transatlantic album on the road ?
Billed as the Prog Royalty Tour . Only one UK date so far. Maybe they'll write the next Transatlantic album on the road ?
That's an interesting pairing. I wonder if they'll hit the states.
"The mountains are calling and I must go" - John Muir
"To breathe the same air as the angels, you must go to Tahoe" - Mark Twain
I doubt it will come to the States as a double bill. It's Neal's European tour for "Momentum" -- he already did a headlining tour in the States for this album this past fall. I think the FK might be planning to tour the States on their own in the Spring -- they'll be at Rosfest in the beginning of May. Personally, I'd rather see them separately -- you get more music of each artist that way! This double bill tour is touting "Nearly 3.5 hours of prog" but Neal played nearly 3 hours on his own solo tour.
Still, it's a great double bill. With a declared intent already made by Neal for "tentative" Transatlantic recordings next year, one would imagine that this double bill tour will give Neal & Roine some time to fine tune their future epics while on the road!
Their planning on taking the tour to the USA & Canada in May !
The Neal Morse Band & The Flower Kings European tour 2013
Feb 22: Stockholm Bryggarsalen, Sweden
Feb 23: Malmo KB, Sweden
Feb 25: Hamburg Markthalle, Germany
Feb 26: Koln Live Music Hall, Germany
Feb 27: Prattlen Z7, Switzerland
Feb 28: Milan Live Club, Italy
Mar 1: Barcelona Razzmatazz 2, Spain
Mar 2: Madrid Sala But, Spain
Mar 5: Russelheim Das Rind, Germany
Mar 6: Zoetermeer Boerderij, Holland
Mar 7: London Electric Ballroom, UK
Roine Stolt enjoyed a eureka moment when the idea of combining the Neal Morse Band with his outfit The Flower Kings came up.
Their double-top Prog-sponsored tour reunites Transatlantic collaborators Stolt and Morse – and the pair are determined to make the most of the opportunity. Stolt vows the shows will revive the 70s spirit of prog jamming, plus a finale of Transatlantic tracks.
He tells Prog: “In talks with our label boss, Thomas Waber at InsideOut Music, we touched upon a few possible tour packages for Europe and America. Quite a few names were dropped.
“Then it became obvious that, by pairing the Neal Morse Band with The Flower Kings, we suddenly had the composing and vocal motor of Transatlantic on the same stage. Eureka!”
Stolt is determined to avoid a “same show every night” approach to the shows. “The idea is to have two top-drawer prog bands, but also have 11 musicians who can walk in and out of the two sets as guests,” he says. “What a luxury!
“We want to make a very special tour – to revive a bit of the early spirit of prog, when music was about jamming, friendship and fun. I can see lots of cool interaction that will culminate in a grand finale of Transatlantic music every night.”
The two bands hit the road in February next year, and play the Electric Ballroom in London on March 7. But Stolt aims for the itinerary to be extended and says: “Our hope is to bring this to stages in the US and Canada in May.”
May? Flower Kings have already been announced for ROSfest, Neal Morse would be a no brainer as another add. If Portnoy is still in Neal's band it could be a semi-Transatlantic reunion for the finale similar to the semi-Flower Kings reunion last year. Just speculation here, but it all seems to fit too perfect.
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Rosfest still has not announced the Sunday headliner, so you never know about Neal being picked. But FK pay Friday, so any kind of TA reunion isn't as likely.
I think it's a great pairing that makes a lot of sense, and I suspect they have many overlapping fans. If this show comes anywhere near West Michigan, I'll be there - - - - - Jeff
Is Portnoy in the Morse band? This could be cool...but IMO just leave Morse's voice and preaching far farrrr away from everything.
Wow, color me surprised. It's also possible that Neal's band will be added to Rosfest on Saturday's 2nd slot...George said there'll be an announcement next week and the act is "headliner worthy" even though the evening headlining spot isn't still available on Saturday. Wow, that would be sweet!
Portnoy plays with Morse when his schedule allows. He played during the fall tour in the States. Neal's new band is KILLER! They're so good, I'd actually rather see them than Transatlantic (heresy, I know). But I'll take Neal in any form he delivers.
And Neal really isn't doing preaching. With his latest album it's not very prominent. If you don't like his voice though, well, he's probably not for you then.
Very cool !
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Nope, I promised not to say who will be in the Saturday slot, but I can say it is not Neal's band. But that doesn't rule out Neal for Sunday nite headliner. He does have his own band. I think Randy George is the bass player and the rest I either don't know or not familiar with. If Neal's band did play Sunday nite that would make this if not the best certainly one of the best Rosfest lineups. Its the festival's tenth anniversary. With the announcement next week and if Neal plays sunday nite George is going to have to rent folding chairs to accommodate everyone.
Yup, i don't, at all...i got to make it a point to stop responding to threads that i have no interest in...i only replied here because i still hold a mild interest in The Flower Kings...even though their last album was a well 5 years (or whatever it was lapse between records) and we didn't exactly take any new risks did we?
In between the 2007 The Sum of No Evil and the 2012 Banks of Eden which Haruspex Carnage calls a "lapse" here is what transpired;
Stolt formed the band Agents of Mercy and was the primary author of three albums (plus a live album).
Stolt toured with Transatlantic doing a double album.
Jonas toured with his band Karmakanic and released two albums.
Bodin released two solo albums.
Hasse formed Hasse Froberg & Musical Companion and released an album.
AND Roine and Jonas collaborated on a side project called 3rd World Electric
I would hardly call this a lapse.
Also I must ask to be prolific, appealing, and relevant do you really have to take risks?
Why would you expect that? The Flower Kings were never about experimentation or risk taking. They have simply been about making very melodic, symphonic prog, and have proven to be rather good at it. You want risk taking, they are really the wrong band for that sort of thing.
They had a fusiony/ambient/bordering on free-jazz element that rarely sees the light of day since Unfold The Future...and i don't think SIDE PROJECTS equates with The Flower Kings themselves bringing more interesting approaches to THEIR palate...which again, IMO just is NOT anything new or exciting...decent to good, sure, but meh in terms of stimulating to me in a oh-wow, cool/nice! way.
Does that include the Euro leg! I guess it must as the tour is only Europe at the mo!
Can foresee sum serious writing for the next TA album taking place ! Previous writing sessions have been by way of sharing files & jamming in the short time spent in Neal's studio!
Anyone planning to spring for a VIP package?
Come on George. Spend the big bucks and bring Neal in on Sunday.
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