Space Dye Vest Live At Tarrytown

[KevShmev]

I know this isn't technically a Dream Theater gig, but I never thought we'd be discussing the pros and cons of how Jordan chooses to play Space Dye Vest live... never thought we'd be sitting around musing over how good James LaBrie's choices of songs to play were, and absolutely never thought that KevShmev would be kicking around on the internet musing on how well Jordan played what's since become Kev's signature song.

Heh.  Well, I have always been very complimentary of JR's piano skills, and this was an all piano performance, so there ya go.  It is when he goes nuts on the synths and tries to bend notes into submission, where I often object.

Speaking of the fact that James nominated it... does this make anyone else kinda think that perhaps that bit of acquired wisdom about the band not being interested in playing rarities might've been a little bit... well, wrong? I remember everyone (and possibly MP himself, although I could absolutely be misremembering on that account so I'm not going to put words in his mouth) going on about how if it weren't MP in charge of the setlists, we'd never get spoiled with all these B-Sides or songs from WDADU and the odd curiosities and we'd just get Pull Me Under each night and blah blah blah.

But DT haven't even played a single gig yet and James has already gone to Jordan and said "hey, you know that eighteen-year-old song that neither of us wrote? Let's dig that out and play it live, it's pretty cool and I bet the fans would love to see it."

Actually, on that note, is it just me, or are DT getting a lot cooler lately? Not saying MP was holding them back... the man was absolutely prolific and I'm grateful for every single second he was in the band. But they seem to be doing no wrong. Spoiling us with twitter accounts and little gigs on the side and rarities all sorts of wee trinkets - drummer announcement or no. Which is either setting them up for a massive fall, or it might end up being considered the moment the band grew the beard.

Amazing that twenty-six years into their career and it feels like the most exciting bits could still be yet to come. They're firing on more cylinders than they ever have in the past. DT are f'ing unique.

I had been thinking this same thing.  I get the impression that the old way of doing set lists was basically Portnoy saying, "Okay, we are gonna play this and not play that."  Sure, the other guys could make suggestions that he's consider, but ultimately he made the call.  Now, maybe the guys will all kick ideas around and we'll get some songs and stuff we wouldn't have gotten before.  Could be pretty cool, indeed.

[bosk1]

Does this mean that we might get to hear SDV on a DT tour?

While I'm still not a fan, there are so many people out there that would be VERY appreciative if that happened.  And they are badly in need of a different slow song to fill the obligatory ballad spot in place of Hollow Years, which, IMO, has gotten WAY more play on the last few tours than it deserves, especially given how many other quality DT songs have not gotten nearly the same treatment in recent years.

[Nihil-Morari]

Another Day, Anna Lee, The Silent Man, Don't Look Past Me, Cover My Eyes, One Last Time...

[ZeppelinDT]

Anna Lee

This.  Times a million.

[Jamesman42]

Anna Lee

This.  Times a million.

[bosk1]

Another Day

NO!!!!  This song should be permanently retired from the tour circuit.  

[jsem]

Another Day

I wouldn't complain about that. With real sax, and not keyboard sax.



Otherwise, this:

Anna Lee

This.  Times a million.

[Chino]

Another Day

NO!!!!  This song should be permanently retired from the tour circuit.  

I say this in all do respect.... FFFFUUUUUUUU!

[bosk1]

And I don't mean any disrespect to any fans who like the song.  But the vocals are written in such a way that it is nearly impossible to even come close to doing the vocal lines justice in a live setting.  Can you point to even a single version any time after 1993 that sounds good?

[jonny108]

Another Day

NO!!!!  This song should be permanently retired from the tour circuit.  

Is that sarcasm?  I sure hope so!   Come on...it's a brilliant song!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz2h9ZTjzeI&feature=related - Here ya go Bosk!

[bosk1]

No, it's not sarcasm.  See my post right above yours.  In a live setting, James struggles with this song to the point that it is painful to listen to.  And the way the vocal lines are written, that isn't a slam on him at all.  It's just not a song that can easily be replicated in a live setting by a male singer and have the vocals sound decent.

EDIT:  Nice ninja edit.  Yeah, that one is much better than most I have heard.  But there are still plenty of moments where he was REALLY straining, and you could tell.  And some of those key, soaring high notes just don't sound right when he sings a different harmony either.  I know people have this irrational freakout when James hormonizes the F# in LTL when he feels like he can't hit it, and I'm fine with him doing so.  But the soaring highs in Another Day seem a lot more important to me in terms of the overall feel of the song.  It just feels like the whole song is thrown off when he doesn't actually hit the notes well.

[Mladen]

If they're gonna play something from Images & Words, the right choices are Wait for sleep and Learning to live. As for Space-dye vest, I have no idea where it would fit in the set list, but I'd be fine if they didn't play it.

[jonny108]

Yeah I can see where your coming from Bosk, now I've posted that video from 2007 where he did pretty good, maybe a couple of flats here and there but for me it's not painful to listen to, plus James has been saying his pipes are better than ever now. They could always make little changes to the vocal melody in order for him to be able to sing it and it still sound good.  

[perfey]

Great performance! A little bit to rushed maybe, but great nontheless! To finally see it live, I never would have thought that, its amazing really, hope they bring it out on the next world tour. Props to the fan who uploaded this historic perfomance, I'll see the next songs recorded soon too.

[hefdaddy42]

Does this mean that we might get to hear SDV on a DT tour?

Maybe.  Remember, JLB and JR decided to play this on a non-DT gig.  It may still be true that JR and JM don't care for it very much, so JLB and JR may have decided to do it while they can.  We don't really know.

But I would love to hear some commentary from the guys about it.

[Implode]

While I would have preferred a slower tempo, I thought the "noodling" was very tasteful. I greatly enjoyed this, and I hope they give this song more plays more often.

[cyberdrummer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LItltT4fcrM&feature=player_embedded

Short interview/conversation with JLB and Project RnL.

JLB has definitely dyed his hair! 

[rumborak]

I'm somewhere between orcus and SnakeEyes in my opinion. Jordan held back quite a bit with his usual flourishes, nonetheless I can't say he captured the mood of the song very well. His play was very aggressive, and IMHO the song feeds off the softness and monotony. And the mini-arps (i.e. breaking up the chords ever-so-slightly) kinda broke the monotony.

rumborak

[Innervisions]

Hey guys, I'm Eyal Amir who played with JR on the show. For me it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be on the same stage with Jordan, Eren and JLB! Also, James sand SDV so beautifully... You should have listened to the performance on the soundcheck!

BTW, check out an interview we've done with James right after the show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LItltT4fcrM

[jonny108]

James has gone a bit......ginger???

[SnakeEyes]

Hey guys, I'm Eyal Amir who played with JR on the show. For me it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be on the same stage with Jordan, Eren and JLB! Also, James sand SDV so beautifully... You should have listened to the performance on the soundcheck!

BTW, check out an interview we've done with James right after the show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LItltT4fcrM

Why'd Jordan play a bunch of fast licks over Space Dye Vest?

[bosk1]

Because it sounded cool.  Now quit yer whinin'.

[SnakeEyes]

What's wrong with asking him a question?  A musical question, at that.

[Metabog]

Another Day

NO!!!!  This song should be permanently retired from the tour circuit.  

Is that sarcasm?  I sure hope so!   Come on...it's a brilliant song!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz2h9ZTjzeI&feature=related - Here ya go Bosk!

That was just amazing. I'm in a computer lab at university, and everyone just saw me freak out when he said "right for you they'll fall". There was maybe one flat note in there, and you can't expect it to sound exactly like on the album, no band on this Earth sounds exactly the same live, and they need to protect their voice for a full show.

Considering James can do this kind of stuff again, I say they should keep doing Another Day.

[Raziel666]

Why'd Jordan play a bunch of fast licks over Space Dye Vest?

Because it's his style. Take it or leave it!

[ReaPsTA]

I understand what JR and JLB were trying to do with the song.  It reflected genuine affection for the material, and I did think some of the melodies JR did during the sample breaks were nice.  I just didn't like it, and I'm not sure exactly how well it worked.  It's more a spacey ambient piece with piano.  JR and JLB did more of a classical piano/prog thing with it.  No unhappiness, just not for me.

More than anything, I'm just happy they played it.  The song deserves better than not having been played for 16 years.  I really appreciated the genuine attempt to do something special.

[SnakeEyes]

Because it's his style. Take it or leave it!

That's a copout.  Have you heard "Disappear"?

[orcus116]

So am I the only one who noticed how matter of factly James sang the song?

[ZBomber]

Also, I felt like an ass, but when JLB was singing the "never be open again" lines I couldn't help it but crack up pretty loudly.

Yeah, I heard you. 

YOU RUINED THE SONG FOR ME YOU BIG JERK. I'll never be open again...

[rumborak]

So am I the only one who noticed how matter of factly James sang the song?

I didn't get that impression. It's just really low for James, so it didn't cut through.

rumborak

[orcus116]

Maybe that's it. It just didn't look like he really gave a shit. He would sing a line just barely and then lower the mic and stare off stage. Hopefully another recording will surface somewhere.

[SnakeEyes]

Well, that's the problem with Jordan overplaying on this song - it's distracting to the important part of the song, which is the lyrics/ melody, which is probably why you felt like James "didn't care" or whatever. 

[ReaPsTA]

So am I the only one who noticed how matter of factly James sang the song?

I don't see what was wrong with that.  It's basically the way he tries to capture KevMo's voice, for better or worse.  I liked how he delivered some of the lines quite a bit.

Well, that's the problem with Jordan overplaying on this song - it's distracting to the important part of the song, which is the lyrics/ melody, which is probably why you felt like James "didn't care" or whatever.  

This post makes me wonder if you actually watched it.  Unless I'm wrong (not impossible), he didn't go crazy over the vocal sections.

[bosk1]

Maybe that's it. It just didn't look like he really gave a shit. He would sing a line just barely and then lower the mic and stare off stage. Hopefully another recording will surface somewhere.

I think that's also a characteristic of bootleg video.  You usually have someone filming from pretty far back, and it's just one static camera angle, so there's often a feeling of disconnect between band and audience.  At least, that's how I often feel when watching bootleg vids.

[rumborak]

What's really funny, and a thing MP never understood, is now that the song has been performed live, the magic has a bit disappeared. There are issues with translating it to a live setting, and from this point on it's no longer this untouchable ivory tower song, but just another DT song. MP spent 15 years trying to battle KM, and the only thing he needed to do was to play SDV live.

rumborak