Flying Colors covers Repentance. (Mike Portnoy vocals)

[Perpetual Change]

Not a great song really, but I can see why this performance is kinda interesting. Neal actually made it sound like something off of One, which was cool. I think he actually improved it, and turned it into something more than a Damnation b-side. Was really cool to see how into it the band were, too. But yeah, Mike's vocals were off more often than they were on, I think.

Now, it would have been really interesting-- and maybe worth discussing-- if Mike got Flying Colors to play "The Spirit Carries On" (assuming he'd let Neal or Casey sing it)

[JayOctavarium]

Casey sing... with Neal singing the "Move on be brave" section... or vise versa?

[OsMosis2259]

This wasn't bad at all. From all the dislikes and the reactions, I was expecting a disaster but I thought it was good. Especially the intro and I didn't mind MPs singing. Thought it was well done.

[bobs23]

You must remember that this is only the second performance ever for this band. Plus they only had two days rehersal. With that in mind, I would give them a passing grade.
I would be very curious to hear them towards the end of the tour after they have had some time to gel. This is way too much talent to not be awesome, and I think it will get there.

[KevShmev]

Now, it would have been really interesting-- and maybe worth discussing-- if Mike got Flying Colors to play "The Spirit Carries On" (assuming he'd let Neal or Casey sing it)

I don't think Neal's singing style is well suited for Dream Theater songs.  I remember him singing some of Finally Free on the first TA live DVD and it just didn't sounded right.

You must remember that this is only the second performance ever for this band. Plus they only had two days rehersal. With that in mind, I would give them a passing grade.
I would be very curious to hear them towards the end of the tour after they have had some time to gel. This is way too much talent to not be awesome, and I think it will get there.

Musically speaking, you are probably right, but with Portnoy's vocals, there probably isn't much room for improvement.

[MoraWintersoul]

You must remember that this is only the second performance ever for this band. Plus they only had two days rehersal. With that in mind, I would give them a passing grade.
I would be very curious to hear them towards the end of the tour after they have had some time to gel. This is way too much talent to not be awesome, and I think it will get there.

Finally, someone posting what my lazy mind is thinking so I can quote them instead of phrasing my own thoughts

[Dacling]

You must remember that this is only the second performance ever for this band. Plus they only had two days rehersal. With that in mind, I would give them a passing grade.
I would be very curious to hear them towards the end of the tour after they have had some time to gel. This is way too much talent to not be awesome, and I think it will get there.

Finally, someone posting what my lazy mind is thinking so I can quote them instead of phrasing my own thoughts

Yeah. Anyone who has ever listened to Transatlantic's first two dvd's would notice that though they are good they still haven't really gotten a feel for each other live and there is a big improvement in the second dvd. Even though it's 8 years later the Whirldtour dvd they are absolutely fantastic together. I can only assume it will be the same with Flying Colors as the whole band gets more comfortable with the material.

[darkshade]

The audio quality is shit, but otherwise, it's an OK cover. I don't like that they're playing it a half step lower (something Neal and Transatlantic do often, but I don't think it works with DT material). The only thing it could be is the audio quality dips the range making it sound like it's lower.

[Stonestef]

I liked it. The solo wasn't THAT bad. The only thing I didn't like was that it was a bit sped up and kind of lost the feeling.

[Bill Carson]

Never liked this song always bored me to tears, however.......
Thought MP did well enough, it obviously means a great deal to him so good on him for putting it out there.
As for Steve Morse's solo, he would get nothing out of replicating JP's solo, its not his song so all in all, he did just fine.
Like someone else said, probably a major honour for JP to hear the man who has had a huge influence on him, playing one of his solos.

[MoraWintersoul]

Like someone else said, probably a major honour for JP to hear the man who has had a huge influence on him, playing one of his solos.

Or, you know, not playing it

[Cruithne]

Speaking as someone who found Portnoy's vocals in the context of DT unwelcome and intrusive, I think in the context of Transatlantic and Flying Colors his vocals are fine and I think he delivered the lead vocals on this performance well enough. Particularly given that he had to drum at the same time.

The guitar solo was fine, broadly speaking, but the vibrato struck me as being inappropriately aggressive. I'd have to watch it again to form a better understanding of what felt wrong about it though.

[rumborak]

Are we listening to the same video? He barely hits any of the notes.

[Ħ]

Mike Portnoy's singing was SPOT ON. He's really come such a long way in singing. His singing is great.

[Perpetual Change]

Are we listening to the same video? He barely hits any of the notes.

This. There are more wrong notes hit than right ones.

[The Letter M]

"Don't want to talk about the singer again
And all notes that he missed
'Cause he always sings the wrong ones"



-Marc.

[olliemedsy]

You must remember that this is only the second performance ever for this band. Plus they only had two days rehersal. With that in mind, I would give them a passing grade.

I guess you could say they passed,











































with flying colors...

[Cedar redaC]

AWWWWWWW YYYEAAAAHHHHHH!!!

[bosk1]

[Perpetual Change]

MP should stick to back-up. Here's why.

[ResultsMayVary]

Are we listening to the same video? He barely hits any of the notes.

This. There are more wrong notes hit than right ones.

Couldn't agree more. 

[GasparXR]

MP should stick to back-up. Here's why.

What. That didn't sound bad at all.

[The Letter M]

MP should stick to back-up. Here's why.

What. That didn't sound bad at all.

That's the point - Mike was singing back-ups during that section, not lead. Technically, he's doing harmony, which is probably what he does best, considering he had been doing it for years with DT and TA.

-Marc.

[GasparXR]

MP should stick to back-up. Here's why.

What. That didn't sound bad at all.

That's the point - Mike was singing back-ups during that section, not lead. Technically, he's doing harmony, which is probably what he does best, considering he had been doing it for years with DT and TA.

-Marc.

Oh. Totally missed the point XD

And yeah you're right, he's actually talented in the harmonies department.

[Mladen]

MP should stick to back-up. Here's why.

Holy shit, this was awesome! 

[rumborak]

I know I'm the party pooper, but the reason it sounds so awesome is mostly because Neal and Casey have an amazing pitch control. Listen to the chorus of Fool In My Heart and you know what I mean. They are in rock solid lockstep in their harmonies. In this video here MP wasn't terrible, but if you listen closely his voice is wavering, take the last note as an example, where he slides into the note.

[rumborak]

On a different note, does Casey only have one shirt and one hat? He wore the exact same outfit in New York.

[theseoafs]

Yeah, that video's awesomeness is mostly due to Neal and Casey; the harmony would have been much better with a more competent third.  MP's talents lie outside that particular realm.

[Perpetual Change]

I know I'm the party pooper, but the reason it sounds so awesome is mostly because Neal and Casey have an amazing pitch control. Listen to the chorus of Fool In My Heart and you know what I mean. They are in rock solid lockstep in their harmonies. In this video here MP wasn't terrible, but if you listen closely his voice is wavering, take the last note as an example, where he slides into the note.

Well, yeah, that was my point. Mike sounds awesome singing with those guys, because he's singing back-up.

[Mladen]

On a different note, does Casey only have one shirt and one hat? He wore the exact same outfit in New York.

Maybe he has the exact same outfit times twenty, just like John Myung. 

[KevShmev]

I know I'm the party pooper, but the reason it sounds so awesome is mostly because Neal and Casey have an amazing pitch control. Listen to the chorus of Fool In My Heart and you know what I mean. They are in rock solid lockstep in their harmonies. In this video here MP wasn't terrible, but if you listen closely his voice is wavering, take the last note as an example, where he slides into the note.

I noticed that, too.  Neal and Casey both flawlessly went into that last note, while Portnoy had to gasp for a second before singing the note, and in a live setting, something like that is really noticeable.  Not so much dogging him for that either, as his singing ability is fairly limited, and I am sure he does the best he can, but his limitations are way more noticeable when doing harmonies with legitimate lead singers.

[SeRoX]

No offense but this is truly bad, especially the vox.

[Ben_Jamin]

That was pretty interesting. Although LaRue set the tempo a bit too fast. Morses solo wasn't bad either, he did his own interpretation, that is all, wasn't expecting him to do the same exact solo. The quality of the video is really crappy though, I'm waiting for a better one to surface soon. Also, MP singing it himself is great and made the song more personal and intimate, with the lyrics word choice really hitting home.

[Zydar]

From a Twitter Q&A with MP:

"@liamthatcher: @MikePortnoy Will you be filming any of the FC gigs?" YES

Perhaps we'll see a DVD some day.

[Ben_Jamin]

Well it is MP so you figure its gonna happen. He most likely has audio of every show he's ever played.