Dream Theater - Wembley Arena - 10.2.2012

After the poor weather of late it was just great to be able to get out to see one of my favourite bands.  Sadly they had Periphery as support who were frankly shockingly poor.


The 6 piece (3 guitarists) from Washington DC played for 40 minutes and it was a blessing no more. For most of the set it seemed they were all playing different songs and the drummer just played a 40 minute solo!! Growling vocals just added to the mire. Terrible.


I’ve been a Dream Theater fan since the beginning and like everyone else was shocked at the leaving of Mike Portnoy a couple of years ago. With the release of last years quite magnificent “A Dramatic Turn Of Events” cd with his replacement Mike Mangini we really shouldn’t have worried.


How would they work out in the live arena? Over the course of 2 hours and 10 minutes we were treated to a musical tour de force that just blew everyone present away.


With songs right back to the debut cd and 6 off the new one this gig was everything and more.


Here’s what they played:


Intro
Bridges In The Sky
6:00
Build Me Up Break Me Down
Surrounded
The Root Of All Evil
Drum Solo
A Fortune In Lies
Outcry
The Silent Man
Beneath The Surface
On The Backs Of Angels
War Inside My Head
The Test That Stumped Them All
The Spirit Carries On
Breaking All Illusions
Encore of Pull Me Under


From our seats in row 3 the sound was superb and the light rig with the 3 square backdrop was excellent.


The band were in a relaxed mood and appear to be having a ball. Plenty of smiles and a terrible English accent from James LaBrie at one point.


Mike Mangini was incredible. I’ve never seen so many people taking pictures of a drum kit as it was uncovered and he uses it all. His hand speed is just phenomenal and again he really was getting off playing with the band. James LaBrie is sometimes seen as the poor man in a band of incredible players (not by me) and on this occasion his voice was superb with “Surrounded”, the acoustic element and “Spirit” all showing his voice off.


He also appeared to spend longer on stage this time and interact with the crowd more.
The acoustic element was a new thing that MP probably wouldn’t allow. The band do have a light and heavy side to them and this shows off what incredible writers and players they are. Sat on stools James and John led us through 2 heartfelt songs with this being the perfect way to show them off. ”Beneath The Surface” was a great choice as it is to finish the cd off. Beauitiful.


Jordan Rudess (keys) and John Myung (bass) lay down an incredible beat and again to be so close you realise how special they really are.


I’ll come to John Petrucci last. I think the man is god and he just gets better every time you see him. He seems to be out of MP’S shadow and really enjoying being the centre piece now.
I had goose bumps on more than one occasion. His solo before “The Spirit Carries On” was jaw dropping and then the solo in the song just wow. Chills head to toe. Played with such emotion and feel it was a very special moment.


After being very ill last year this song means a lot to me. The words can relate to now or in death and really gets me every time and I’m not ashamed to say it brought a tear to my eye!!
To follow this up with the best song of the new cd and maybe of the last 10 years “Breaking All Illusions” I was in heaven. Heavy as hell, great lyrics, plenty of time changes and the way the song slows in the middle to then build again and let John Petrucci play another stunning solo with such emotion was a life highlight!!!


A romp through the hit ”Pull Me Under” was a great way to end a quite stunning gig.
I’ve seen the band 9 times now and although I hate to cause controversy this was the best I’ve ever seen them.


Mike Mangini has settled the ship and led it ever higher and this is just the beginning not the end as we all feared.


(Checkout footage from the gig on our Gig Videos page !)


Gig of the year.


ME & Shazz

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