Not seeing either one. Not a new song between them.
Even Roger Waters is playing new songs. So that's where I'm going.
You seem to be implying that DT should be playing new songs on this tour. If so, two things:
1. They are. There are songs from the latest album in the set.
2. Since they just finished several legs of playing nothing but new songs, and THIS mini-tour is intentionally supposed to depart from that and celebrate their original classic album, there is no reason for them to feel obligated to play more than a couple of "new" songs.
So I don't get where you are coming from.
Kinda the same with MP. This particular project and mini-tour is designed specifically to celebrate the nostalgia of Mike's time in DT. This group hasn't written any new material together and wasn't put together for that purpose. There shouldn't be any expectation of new material.
I suppose my comment was rather cryptic and subject to interpretation. Sorry about that.
Obviously Dream Theater SHOULD be doing what they want and what makes them happy and in Mike's case that obviously seems to be what he is doing to me. It's something he's wanted to do for a while and there are some fans who have wanted to see this live since even before the concept was completely written. I'm happy for Mike that he gets to check another thing off of his list. I think he's coming from a completely genuine place with this. But in my case, I've heard the songs (not together) live and I'd guess I'd consider half to be favorites maybe. So I'll admit to being spoiled over the years so knowing what this is going in plays a role for me. (as are the logistics of this particular one-off it's on a weeknight, but, again, it is what it is, and it's a choice that has to be made in the end.)
As for Dream Theater, correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the first time they have gone on the road without an album (or even have a new song or tour in the set) to support.
It's certainly different for them, but they have celebrated anniversaries before with either one-offs or featuring an album in the set, but even then, there was something new.
I don't consider "The Astonishing" to be new having been released in 2016 and having supported it with a tour, but that could just be my definition of "new."
Also I may have this totally wrong but the optics are that The Astonishing Tour did not do as well as maybe the promoters were hoping and the band was offered a tour for the celebration of the Images and Words Tour as a way to stay on the road. Again, I've read NOTHING that this is the case but it seems that way to me. There seemed to be a sudden switch in tactics. (Didn't the announcement happen about when they chopped a few new songs from the set?)
But as I've said, I've been kind of spoiled by this band (It's got nothing to do with if James can or can't sing the songs or that they aren't playing the album versions of the songs. (Actually that would be a point in favor of seeing them for me. James talking about the album and what it meant is another reason to go too, by the way.))
Maybe as a fan I shouldn't care about stuff like this and I know albums don't make money anymore and need to be supported by tours these days (Not the other way around as had been the case.) but it seems, to me anyway, (again I don't have facts to really support it, just some circumstantial evidence. But this is from the outside looking in.
But for me the bottom line is that hearing something new is always important to me when I go to a show (Not just Dream Theater) Comes down to personal choice I guess in the end I guess.