TESTIMONY TWO - LIVE IN LOS ANGELES

This Mega Combo Pack is proggin' quite literally... The great ambassador for prog for Christ (so happy to have him representing) shines once again. Flawless performance by all the musicians (Portnoy shines big on this one, but that seems like a certain thing ha ha). Portnoy seems so much into it, more than ever to be honest. Randy George has such a dirty and sick bass tone here too!!! Yeah the dvd is great with great showmanship and muscianship. Morse's vocals sound quite good here too, (still off that Whirlwind high). He even plays the wonderful Seeds of Gold and that solo. Sweet!!!! The Cd is perfect as well. The only complain so far is the boring stage and lighting, but oh well, Morse and the whole gang make up for it ha ha. But after many listens and viewing, justice will be served. Heck a lifetime of watching and listening actually. The setlist is killer as well. The tour documentary is sweet as well, glad he showed a lot of footage of the gig I was at, at MTSU. An absolute must for Morse enthusiasts as myself, but for any prog fan. Neal is the greatest modern day prog frontman (Steven Wilson is up there too).

A masterpiece. Five out of Five. Thanks so much Mr. Neal Morse:)

Highlights: Well by far the whole Testimony 2 album played. Incredible incredible!!! I also thoroughly enjoyed the opener Lifeline. The Separated Man was a great choice and has given me a huge new appreciation for it. Seeds of Gold, wow wow wow wow!!! The Sola edit was nicely performed as well. Everything was stellar.

P.S. Morse is such a joy to watch. I don't say this lightly, but not only is he one of the greatest musicians, he is one of the best showmans as well. He pours his heart and guts into his music reflecting through his physical display. Whether it's a fun instrumental passage he jams to or a powerful lyric he proclaims with his whole being, Morse blows my mind. This dvd combo pack reflects this so well, this is his testimony of coming to the true savior, Christ!!!:) It is such a joy to watch Morse play!!!! THANKS AGAIN!!!!!

Quote from the dvd doc. - " It was interesting watching Neal sing about God, with a drummer that looked like Jesus, that played like he sold his soul to the devil. Thank you very much. " -Mike Portnoy

Neal Morse has had quite a year. If there was an awards event for progressive rock similar to the Grammy's he would be nominated for Artist of the Year for all of the projects his has been involved in. His contributions to the growth of the genre and basically creating the sub- genre Christian Prog, are enough to put the man at the top of the musical mountain. The humble Morse would likely react by saying something like "I am just following my path and spreading the word of God," which would be absolutely true but you get the idea.

Testimony 2: Live in Los Angeles is a massive 3 CD/2 DVD Box Set covering Neal's triumphant return to Los Angeles and tremendous performance at the cozy Whittier Theater on May 28th 2011.

Neal fronts a remarkable band that reminded me of Kansas at their peak. Neal (keys, guitar, vocals), Nathan Brenton (cello, guitar, vocals), Eric Brenton (guitar, violin and flute), Mark Leniger (saxophone, percussion and vocals), Randy George (bass), Nathan Girard (keys and vocals), Rick Altizer (keys, guitar and vocals) and the world's greatest (and busiest) drummer Mike Portnoy is the lineup you will enjoy on this release. Now some of you may only recognize Morse and Portnoy as names in the world of prog however this band is strong at every position. Their sound is "BIG" although very well thought out, precise, powerful and at the same time beautiful musically and lyrically.

The spiritual message that Morse conveys is like a shining star that just keeps getting brighter with the passing of time and the music finds a way to make it all become a super nova of progressive rock exuberance. Music and performances simply do not get better than what is offered on this set. You even get Morse on stage again with his old mates Spock's Beard at the High Voltage Festival. That footage was rather odd as it starts with Spock's Beard in the middle of a song then Neal comes out. The performance was not memorable because the magic that was once there for Neal and the band is obviously long since disappeared but nevertheless a treat for those in attendance. The magic of Morse's music thankfully is fully blossomed with his own recordings and performances and there is no indication of that momentum changing.

For those of you that are Morse fans that have been waiting for the ultimate live recording to listen to or watch this is the one to get. With 3 CDs and 2 DVDs that total a immense 295 minutes of footage and over 187 minutes of audio, how could you possible walk away wanting for more? Well, if you do you could always watch one of the Transatlantic packages that came out this year too.

This full performance of Testimony Two and other Morse classics is a big slice of prog rock and another statement from the Morse camp that is proof positive of the talent and impact this man has every time he either steps into the recording studio or on stage. This set captures the essence of Neal Morse and his band. Its more than just music, it is a complete experience of audio and visual jaw dropping performances so do not miss it.

Key Tracks: Mercy Street, Overture No. 4, Road Dog Blues

The complete testimony of Neal Morse is a life changing experience.

It is not often that at the end of listening to an album that one feels a sense of emotional cleansing. It is also not often that after the album ends one simply sits in the silence with tears knowing that they have just heard something so special that it transcends music. With Neal Morse's "Testimony 2 - Live In Los Angeles" there is no doubt that this is one of the most moving experiences put to music. Neal pours out his heart in a 3 hour spectacular live performance with some of his finest compositions and some of the best musicianship on the planet.

To join him on his magnum opus is the incomparable Mike Portnoy who has a field day drumming to his best capacity, along with bassist Randy George who also plays keyboards. On the guitar performing terrific lead breaks is Eric Brenton who is also dynamic on violin, flute, pedal, steel guitar, and mandolin. Also as part of the string section is electric celloist John Krovosa. Joining Neal are keyboardists Bert Baldwin, and Rick Altizer, also playing guitar and percussion. Mark Leniger plays percussion and is particularly wonderful on saxophone. The concert was recorded at the Whittier Theater, Los Angeles, California, May 28th, 2011 and indeed is one of the more memorable concerts of late. The DVD shows the band as a unified force with some very nice parts where the band join with Spock's Beard via a video screen of the band performing at High Voltage Festival. It is a terrific moment when Neal says"Ladies and gentlemen.. Spock's Beard!" The lighting of the show is similar to Testimony 1 DVD, no frills basic colours and very little large screen interference. There are split screens at times to show parts of the stage in real time, and occasionally the screen has some colour effects. Neal raises his hands often in adoration to God, the members muck around and have fun, Portnoy often stands up and brings the crowd to their feet, and the crowd themselves are genuinely enjoying every moment as they are witness to one epic performance after another.

Every song is played like an epic, with lengthy solos and majestic music that will send chills down your spine. The music is the important thing and Neal never comes across as egotistical, allowing other members of the band to shine. Neal is a humble performer but so talented and it is a joy to watch the band interact together, especially to see Mike Portnoy after his departure with Dream Theater. He is quite an enigmatic performer and genuinely is having a good time, having a joke here and there with the crowd, who enthusiastically rise to their feet in standing ovations at certain parts of the show. The special features of the double DVD consist of a 90 minute documentary: a fascinating and humorous look behind the scenes of the Testimony 2 tour, that is a detailed look at how the band spend their time on the road, with lots of laughs and some tears, but most importantly for Spock's Beard fans, we see the incredible reunion at the High Voltage festival in London, when he sung with them including 'June' from "Kindness of Strangers", and what an emotional time it was for all.

The music itself is captured on 3 CDs and consists of high quality musicianship with Neal sounding clear and enthusiastic as he performs one incredible song after another, capturing his oeuvre of musical proficiency. There are many moments of instrumental virtuosity where the musicians are allowed to launch into lengthy solos and powerful melodies. Parts of Testimony 1 are played and an edited form of "Sola Scriptura" that Neal introduces to an enthusiastic response. There is a break in between concerts and the second part is the entire "Testimony 2" set played live which is as good if not better than the studio version. There are small surprises with songs thrown in unexpectedly.

One of the most inspirational moments is when Neal states that he had missed a large part of his testimony before, involving his daughter Jayda who was tragically born with a hole in her heart. The crowd are very subdued as Neal explains how the doctors believed she would not make it through. Neal fights back tears as he explains that he endured one of the most painful times of his life with his wife as they saw their daughter in pain. With faith and prayer Jayda did make it through and he praised God for the miracle. The crowd clap respectfully that it was a happy ending, but then the song dedicated to his daughter is so moving it brought a tear to my eye. The lyrics are poignant; "My wife laid our baby at heaven's gate, And gave her heart... in trade, Crying Jayda, Lord make her whole, But Jayda, Your mommy knows she has to let you go". It is a beautiful moment and obviously touched the crowd at the Whittier Theater. It especially seemed to move Neal as he relives the trauma of the prospect of losing a daughter and then the elation when she was healed. Neal gets very personal about certain parts of his journey coming to God, and he also knows how to inject the right amount of humour at appropriate times. It is quite humorous when the band invite the audience to sing with them in 'Make Us One'. They all sing "one heart, one mind, we worship with one spirit." Then Portnoy can't help but chip in with, "Ok all the Prog ladies now, are their prog ladies?" Then we hear the ladies begin to sing and he says "You are here!" The crowd laugh loudly as he says, "they do exist!" There is a terrific overall feel of joy and celebration as the crowd are given chances to participate in these segments. Neal also has a bit of fun with a cover of The Door's "Roadhouse Blues" with the crowd yelling out certain well-known phrases of The Doors' seminal classic.

Some of the highlights, though there are so many, include 'Leviathan', the brilliant 'Sola Scriptura' 'Lifeline' featuring Neal's sensational keyboard solo, 'Reunion' with Spock's Beard, and the 30 minute epic tour de force 'Seeds of Gold' that is a showstopping triumph finishing with an ovation. The version of all songs from the 'Testimony' albums are powerful and resonate strongly with me; the lyrics especially move me deeply. I can listen to this when I am feeling down and it will bring me up immediately, and I can listen to this when I am in a good mood and the music will feed my positive outlook on life. This is the best concert of Neal Morse because it encompasses his whole testimony, rather than just a segment, and with 3 hours of solid progressive rock it is an irresistible journey to embark on.

I believe the music will take you on a personal journey depending on where you come from; regardless of your beliefs I truly think this will speak to many listeners on a range of levels. The music is uplifting and soaring, the lyrics are powerfully compelling and moving and the visual images on the DVDs are truly inspiring, watching a band unified and enjoying their music to such an extreme. The amazing thing about this package is it delivers so much. While there are albums coming out these days running for less than an hour, here Morse is offering hours and hours of top quality music; visually and aurally this is a prog rock feast.

In conclusion, this album is a treasure chest of gems and really took me by surprise. I expected top quality performaces as I already own "Testimony Live" DVD and other CDs of Neal Morse's work, but the really astonishing thing about this CD/DVD package is how powerful an effect it had on my emotions. I really feel like I know Morse as a friend now, and he has opened up his life in a way that is rarely seen in the rock industry. It is clear that Neal has made his life an open book in order that you and I may see how a life can be turned around and how modern day miracles still occur. He uses the painful experiences of his life as didactic lessons that we can all benefit from. Immediately after the first listen I knew this was a masterpiece but it also grows on you and you remember the melodies and the emotions. Returning to this album on subsequent listens is truly edifying, like returning to an old friend. Thank you, Neal, for your musical passion, your lyrical honesty and your incredible testimony.

When you think the man is going to slow down to make big concepts albums with huge epic songs, there is a voice from god that tell him to continue. Neal Morse brings his little orchestra to Los Angeles to play the complete Testimony 2 CD plus many more epics. The songs are complex and intense like a big piece of symphonic music that are interrupted by some straight forward acoustic passages with Neal on the guitar.

The visuals of the DVDs are a bit of a disappointment, they added nothing to the performance, while the camera work is professional with some split screen effects. With the 3 hours performance of the show, we have a additional 10 minutes performance with Neal and Spock's Beard in the High Voltage festival. The stereo sound is nice, so you won't be disappointed listening the audio CDs that goes with the DVDs.

If it's impossible to enjoy every minute of this long concert, i really enjoy the first half of the first set, were it seems that every songs was flowing together very well. As usual a concert of Neal Morse is not complete without his "Gentle Giant moment" and a emotional moment when he talks about the miraculous recovery of his daughter from heart failure.

In conclusion, i think its always better to see the band playing their instruments than listening only to the audio portion on CDs. But don't expect to see a visually entertaining video to watch here like his previous live ones. Testimony 2 is a nice piece of music, not as strong as Testimony 1, but strong enough to fit in the discography of this passionate composer and musician who continue to gives us something to satisfy our hunger for symphonic prog rock music. (3.7 stars)