DreamTheater concert

Cafe Society
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I told someone on the board that I’d write up a short review of the Dream Theater concert (I think it was in a pit thread about Ticketmaster). Anyway, I just go back from the show.

First, these guys are now tied with the Steve Morse Band for the best band I have ever seen live. They were just about perfect.

I don’t have a set list and I can never remember song titles*…

The high points. John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess were simply amazing. John and Jordan absolutely nailed everything. Those insane dual runs on their albums? They killed 'em. Fricking perfect. Rudess really impressed me. He was playing rather intense lines and didn’t even look like he was trying. I don’t think he made a mistake all night. Actually, I don’t think anyone really made a mistake. Petrucci was Petrucci. Insanely fast when called for but he played the slow stuff with a ton of feeling. I

James LaBrie. He is probably my least favorite in DT. I never dug his voice that much for some reason. Well, the guy can sing. He was absolutely perfect. He didn’t tank a note all night. I mean you could have recorded the show and popped his vocal track straight onto the CD and you wouldn’t have noticed. He moved up on my list of vocalists quite a bit. He sounds better live for some reason. I was extremely impressed.

Mike Portnoy. The guy is another tremendous player. He was obviously having a blast. The only thing he lost points on was tossing drum sticks. He missed like three throws. Drum sticks were flying all over the place. He almost nailed Petrucci in the head at one point. But, even with the sticks flying all over the place, he was just about perfect.

John Myung. I couldn’t really here him too much. He and Petrucci did some stellar runs togther and when I could here him he was tight.

There was one breakdown at the end of one song. It got weird for about 2 seconds. I couldn’t tell if everyone got off or if the mix went weird. I thinK the sound guy screwed up because the whole band glanced at each other then all of them shot the sound booth a death look. Having had sound guys screw up in middle of a song before I totally understand.

About the only thing I can say about the show that could have been better was one of the video clips. They had one clip, I believe it was during Octavarium, that had the band as cartoons with spiders chasing them around. Sounds kinda lame, huh? It was. If they had better animation it might be alright.

This show was amazing. It is in my top three.

Slee

*Anyone else have this problem? I rarely remember song titles. Now, if someone says ‘It’s the one witth the 5/4 break’ or something simliar I usually snap.

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I was a Dream Theater devotee in the mid 90’s, I loved them.

Then, I met them.

They were dicks (except Myung, he was cool).

This was before the show, so it was a bit tainted.

Mike Portnoy was especially pompous, which made it that more hilarious when his purple hot-stick got caught in his hair during his drum solo. I almost died laughing, his roadie was struggling to get it out, and it ended up staying in his hair the whole 5 minutes!

After the show, we went outside the venue to meet them (as most fans do at this venue), and were greeted by a pompous “you may wait in line to greet the members of DT, please do not try to touch them, if anything happens that the band does not like, the signings will cease”.

I’ve met many a rock star behind that venue, and none, NONE, of them were asses to the degree that DT was.
Billy Corgan was a bit snotty with me. I was the only person at the dive bar we were in to recognize him, I asked him for his autograph and he said “Must I”? He still signed though. Damn he’s tall.

Hell, I almost tackled Les Claypool once, I was running around towards the other exit of the venue, and almost leveled him. Thankfully, he was cool. Herb even signed my Primus condom!

Did I digress? Yes, I certainly did.

The list of people who I respect that happen to be talented and assholes as well, includes no one. There are too many talented non-assholes in the world for me to waste my time/money on the dickheads. I might like the music of some of those dickheads, but I’d prefer stealing it online, rather than encouraging their elitist attitudes.

Sorry for dumping. I had to.

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I nearly had the exact same sentiments and impressions about a Dream Theater concert as the OP; only difference is that I could hear Myung. I saw them in July '03 along with Queensryche at a small venue in Cincinnati. I never really go out of my way to listen to DT’s studio tracks (except for ‘Home’…awesome tune) but the concert thoroughly kicked ass. As a long time musician myself (i play guitar, sitar, and piano), I am not easily impressed IMO. LaBrie’s voice never appealed much to me either, but DT’s musicianship is stellar. I’d likely be a pompous dick too if I could demonstrate such mastery with an instrument on stage.

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Yep, I sure do have that problem. Wish I could remember the names of the Sonata Arctica songs they played when I saw them live, but I cannot! I know the songs when I hear them, but the names escape me always!

Dream Theater are great. :slight_smile: I hope to see them one day! Ah, I have a live DVD but it’s not the same.

Have you heard Ayreon, by any chance? It’s not a band per se, but James LaBrie sings on The Human Equation album and it’s super awesome.