I have very few criticisms of this concert in any fashion, however, the camera should have been glued to the guitarist (Marcel Coenen) during the solo - this is probably the most absolute shredding he does in any of his solos. You can hear every note - he is such a clean player.

All can say is WOW that is one hell of a performance by everyone on that stage . These musicians are some of the most talented I have ever seen.

Marcel Coenen ( guitar, the schredder ) does have his own KZfaq channel. Easy to find.

You really got the storyline down Bill! All of these musicians are world class.

Bill thanks for sticking with Arjen’s music. I have so much enjoyed all his compositions and stories. Huge fan! Can’t promote his work enough. And the joy he brings to everyone who listens or plays his music! Great reaction! You really know your stuff as regards this scifi story. Floor plays the part of the biologist. But the end of this song was sung by another character (i think it was the captain but am not sure).

Marcel Coenen is the guitarist for Lemurs Voice and Suncaged. Check them out Marcel is an unbelievable musician. I only discovered him through Ayreon !

Best riff of the decade.

Check The Dream Dissolves, The Source for an epic Marcel Coenen solo, just eyewatering

I have never seen this one before and never seen the guitarist play like that. Just wowser!

Yup, that was Marcel Coenen the guitarist virtuoso firing up the Starblade! He is one of the reasons that I slightly prefer this concert over the nxt one Arjen & Co. did in 2019. Other reasons being Floor of course, but also Ayreon's Angels Irene Jansen and - especially - Lisette van den Berg. Really like the Angels as a trio. Marcela Bovio goes w/o saying, but she was also there in 2019 and the last one in 2023 which was the most fantastic show we've ever been able to witness live. Like key-man Joost van den Broek said: "Marcela is the Ayreon must-have". Same goes for Marcel Coenen imo. And Ed Warby of course. And.. so on. EDIT: Floor plays the biologist. Fun fact: the real life biologist is one of the Ayreon's Angels, Lisette van den Berg (behavioural biologist as she describes herself. We just said "ethologist"). Works at the exact same research facility I frequented when prof. Jan van Hooff was still there (an Oxford pupil of the famous Dutch prof. Niko Tinbergen, like Richard Dawkins). Also really like the way you delve into the storyline. For cursory time frame reference, I did a community upload of the inside poster that came with the aptly titled collection album "Timeline". Another time, another space as we say. See: kzfaq.infoUgkx4EqCnIbsffpvKuIzLbkh2tkps98cspTU Cheers from Amsterdam! 🤘

This is different from what i'm used to listening to. But damn!! I'm loving it all. Keep 'em comin'. Great show ❤

The album version had 8 singers and characters , only Hansi and Floor reprised their roles. (Floor is the Biologist). But live of course you make it work with who is there. Mike Mills , Maggie, and the backup singers , Irene, Lisette, and Marcela, taking up the rest. The guitarist you asked about is Marcel Coenen (Lemur Voice/ Sun Caged).

It always gives me goosebumps when Maggy starts her song😃

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Floor is the Biologist - as she wanted to be one when she was younger! Even Arjen was surprised to hear that!

You are right, Liquid Eternity mentioned in this song is a chemical substance they will use and it will turn them into immortals. It also is a name of a kick ass song in the album 01 that includes Maggie Luyten's raspy vocals leading chorus in that song. PS Marcel Coehen is a treasure, an amazing guitarist that can shred, use slide and play in a very David Gilmour style of melancholy wailing guitar... so many styles. Such a talent.

As you will have noticed Arjen likes to use Floor as a closer of many songs. I hope you also watched 'Everybody Dies' and this one from the lyric video I provided to have a kind of continuation of the characters and the singers. Understandingly it was not possible to get the whole cast on this concert. The Universe Concert was a compilation of all the Ayreon and Star One albums with a limited number of songs of each. I also eagerly await the next episode. I listened to the album many times and I still get totally immersed in the story.

Dude, check out dawn of a million souls with russel allen, it is epic AF

Hey Bill, I like the way you are serious into Ayreon so I subscribed to your channel and will follow your journey. And hopefully your exploration of Epica will go on as well. All the rest I don’t care about. Unless you find out about MaYan, a side project of Mark Jansen, I would appreciate that too. Btw I see that Brendon Chase is providing you with all the information for Ayreon so you’re in good hands. Until recently some saw him as a Sensei on this stuff, although still an authority he got demoted to Senpai. 😉

When i listen to Ayreon it's taking me back to the 70thees with Jesus Christ Superstar or the musical Hair.

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Give him time... Arjen loves to comment on reactions of his songs.

I like watching you enjoying Arjen's songs so much. Due to the nature of this projects there aren't any more live videos for songs from this album. Someone already posted the link to Taycott's channel which I highly recommend for watching. Taycott has done a very good job in highlighting the resp. singer and also putting the lyrics in, so the story is much easier to understand. FYI there is an official lyric video for the 2nd next song Run, Apocalypse, run (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mLtdrLqgzb6Zdmg.htmlsi=uujub-D9ww1noMzH)