Ever since its inception roughly two decades ago, Spock’s Beard has been one of the most revered acts in the progressive rock community. Their first six albums (with original mastermind Neal Morse, who, as you probably know, left about ten years ago to pursue a religiously focused solo career) are inarguable classics (their last album together, Snow, is an absolute masterpiece). For the last ten years (and on the last four studio albums), drummer Nick D’Virgilio has been the leader of the group, and the Beard boys have been doing an excellent job. Their last album, X, was fantastic, and the group performs almost the entire record on The X Tour Live (hence the title), as well as some earlier fan favorites. It’s an outstanding set.
Besides the inherent value of the album, there is another reason that it’s a significant release in their career—it marks the last performance of D’Virgilio with the group, as he has officially left to pursue other ventures (namely, Big Big Train). Longtime touring drummer Jimmy Keegan has now become a permanent member, and vocalist/guitarist Ted Leonard (who is absent from The X Tour Live) has been added to the fold. Of course, original members Alan Morse, Dave Meros, and Ryo Okumoto are still there, ensuring that the trademark Beard sound is always intact.
As for the set list, it’s fairly straightforward. The first disc is essentially X live (with the exception of “Their Names Escape Me”) and the second disc includes older material. Most fans agree that X is the best of the group’s post-Neal Morse output, and it’s easy to hear why. While perhaps slightly more commercial (and not quite as complex) as their earliest work, their songwriting and compositions are still stellar. “Edge of the In-Between” and “The Quiet House” feature exceptional melodies, “The Emperor’s Clothes” showcases their trademark vocal rows, and at almost twenty minutes long, “Jaws of Heaven” is quite an interesting epic. Perhaps the most alluring aspect of this disc is the way Okumoto incorporates affective keyboard motifs in almost every song; there’s still a ton of poignancy and emotion in their work.
Disc two highlights another great recent song, “On a Perfect Day” (from Spock’s Beard), and a few gems from the first half of their career. “Thoughts” and “The Doorway” (both from Beware of Darkness) are probably two of the most complicated tracks they’ve ever done; the former features more intricate vocal overlapping and the latter is a multi-section marvel. Naturally, “June” (from the Kindness of Strangers) makes an appearance, as it’s easily one of the finest songs they’ve ever written. While it’s admittedly a bit odd to hear these songs without Neal Morse’s voice, D’Virgilio is a great singer in his own right, and the harmonies are very strong throughout.
If there are any downsides to The X Tour Live, it’s that the collection also features two solos (a drum duel and a keyboard spectacle) that are perhaps unnecessary. While virtuosity is an integral part of the genre, without any musical form (and without actually seeing the musicians), these instrumentals exhibit a level of self-indulgence that only the band (and perhaps diehard fans of the instruments) will enjoy. Of course, if this release is meant to capture every second of the performance, it would be cheating the fans to eliminate these tracks; however, if the group performed more than what’s included here, they should’ve replaced these two moments with two other songs.
Overall, The X Tour Live is a wonderful album (especially for longtime fans). The boys play as well as ever, and the song selection is great. Going beyond celebrating the group’s entire legacy, the album feels truly special if considered as a commemoration of the D’Virgilio-fronted incarnation. In the first chapter of Spock’s Beard, he proved to be one of the best drummers in the genre today, and within the last decade, he rose to the occasion as an equally skilled vocalist and songwriter. The X Tour Live is a perfect way to bid farewell to him and the former line-up of Spock’s Beard.
For more on Spock's Beard, check out the related articles below. Also, check back soon for my exclusive interview with Dave Meros.
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