“The last time I played a series of solo concerts in Europe was in 2018. It was a great time, I felt like 'returning to my roots,' I really enjoyed it. Just with a guitar, a keyboard, with the music and the audience,” he says. “It’s fun to play big band shows and Morsefest events with all the equipment and production. But it’s also a great experience to become one with the audience in a simpler setting.”
Actually, Neal Morse comes from progressive rock, and in this genre - the melodic, epic, theatrical - he counts among the greats, he was the voice of SPOCK's BEARD and then - here at the keys, he is multi-instrumental - a member of the supergroup TRANSATLANTIC along with Marillion bassist Pete Trewavas, but then: the cut:
Neal left his bands, left the genre, in 1997 his daughter Jayda was born, the little one was sick, the hole in her heart was big, the time came to learn to pray in free fall. He learned it together with his wife Cherie, and was it coincidence or miracle, the little one became healthy. Neal not only found prayer, he found a different way to express himself. Conversion? Yes, but not one that reversed his life path, rather one that allows him to trace the meaning of a path.
Also, to seek him where every meaning seems untraceable.
“I didn’t get into music because I wanted to be a big success, I originally went after music because I simply loved it. There wasn’t anything else for me. Nothing moved me like music did, and my hope had always been to move people as I had been moved.”
With the albums “Late Bloomer” and “Never Been Down This Road,” Morse has recently taken a more intimate singer-songwriter direction. Following this creative path, his upcoming album “Darkness & Light,” which is set to be released later this year, promises new musical twists while remaining rooted in this personal songwriting approach.
On the upcoming European tour, he will present material from these recent releases, along with songs from the wide range of bands and projects Morse has been involved in throughout his career.
And what’s important: During his solo tour in 2018, Morse played a different setlist every night - often with cover versions and even requests from the audience - he wants to revive this spontaneity in 2026. “So if you come to one of my shows,” says Morse, “be ready to join in, sing along, and call out your favorite songs. I can’t promise anything - but I will see what I can do!”
Hallo, ich bin Maya.
