I had no specific expectations of the concert by The Neal Morse Band, but having listened to the entire new concept-album The Similitude Of A Dream (2016, see review), I was in for a surprise...

Before the concert I spoke to Neal about his forthcoming plans, ambitions, his love for Yes and of course about the making and meaning for this double-album and the tour so far (22 European dates in just 25 days, travelling by bus).

Neal Morse

Well the band kicked-off with so much passion and energy before a full house in 013, which surprised Neal and myself...Within a few minutes the venue was shaking on its foundations!
While listening to the album took several plays to get into it 'a grower', the concert in Tilburg showed the material in a very consistent, sublime and powerful way. The moods on the album seem to feel very organic and integrated with the expression and visualisation of playing and singing.

Eric Gillette

Speaking of the vocals, these are really top of the bill with the likes of Hubauer, Gillette and Morse. Sure, you can ask 'did I hear something familiar?' and some tracks could have easily been on another Neal Morse- or even Transatlantic-album but the way this band performs shows how extremely easily they dominate all complexity by their playing, a superb pleasure for the eyes and ears!
All the breaks and changes of tempo were performed so tightly!

And of course the album has really strong themes, enlarged during this show. It is difficult nominating specific highlights (because of the enormous standard) but to name a few: Long day (opening and reprise) and, the last 3 tracks of the first part (with breathtaking vocals, esp. Bill Hubauer and the guitar playing in the vein of Allan Holdsworth), Slave To Your Mind, and The Mask and the Battle (impossible to play live but they do)

And after 2 hours of absolute top-level-playing the started their encores, Agenda and Momentum as songs were the minors of this special night but this was more than compensated by brilliant versions of Author Of Confusion and The Call (really magnificent new Neal Morse-classic).

This guy and this band beat themselves perhaps not in a compositional way in the first place but with their diverse and extreme talent to perform all this beautiful and complex stuff. Go on!

Text Leon Dietz (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen)