Some plebeians think that DT is on the decline (as far as live shows go)

[Madman Shepherd]

Jordan also gets the luxury of looking at the music notes every night when he plays.

I never got that - more than half of the time he's not really looking at them, so, why does he have them?

He would have played the parts enough times to know it mostly by heart, so it's probably more of a backup for little sections and passages he may not recall exactly. I doubt he's too reliant on them for the most part though.

To be honest I think that because he is classically trained and was taught from an early age (like 4,5,6 years old?) it is probably so ingrained in his regiment that not having them would throw him off.  Obviously like mentioned he doesnt look at them a lot of the time but for a guy that has been doing this for half a century, to ween him from that might be pretty difficult.

There was an interview with Petrucci (I think) and Portnoy from 1994/1995 where they asked why Jordan didn't end up joining the band and Portnoy jokingly stated "Because he reads sheet music on stage and that is a big no no" or something along those lines. 

[Orion1967]

Portnoy fanboyZzzzzzzzz

+1

[?]

I think the complaints are coming from MP fans and people who are butthurt over the end of the rotating setlists, because otherwise they're deaf and blind.

Another group of complainers might be the ones who were disappointed by ADTOE and think DT are playing too much new stuff.

I have never seen DT live before so it's hard for me to say, but judging by the live videos they seem more energetic and relaxed on this tour.

[johncal]

Well isn't this lovely? We've all decided that anyone who thinks DT's live shows were at all better with MP must be either raging MP fanboys, "plebeians", or butthurt because of setlists. And apparently you also have to be a raging MP fanboy to not like ADTOE.

*backs out of DT side*

We have decided.

[MoraWintersoul]

So now I'm a raging MP fanboy. Niiiiice.

[hefdaddy42]

So now I'm a raging MP fanboy. Niiiiice.

Congratulations.

j/k

[cosmotobe]

vocal backing tracks  -> DT on the decline

[theseoafs]

vocal backing tracks  -> DT on the decline

r u being cereal?

[cosmotobe]

r u being cereal?

full english breakfast

[MoraWintersoul]

Yes, because apparently, having only one person (JP) to back you up, and also often not do it very well, is better than a backing track.

[cosmotobe]

Yes, because apparently, having only one person (JP) to back you up, and also often not do it very well, is better than a backing track.

You may not believe it, but that's the way I see it.