Rate the 2011/2012 Tour Cycle

[wasteland]

Simple, sharp and clean. Rate the latest DT tour.

I gave it a 9. Would have been 10 had the setlist enjoyed a more thorough rotation and had the shows been "Evening Withs".

Still, I can't really give anything less than 9, as the performance, the stage production and the batch of song played were extremely satisfactory to me. I heard of some acoustic issues here and there, but from what I understood it was mainly due to the Venue's staff or its architectural limitation (Long Island). So, a full 9, placing this tour right behind the epic ToT tour and tied with IAW's and SDOIT's cycles. 

Speak your opinion!



Note: I've made that you can change your vote once it's cast.

[DebraKadabra]

I'd say 9 for the non-variant setlists.  Otherwise?  STELLAR.

[Grinch]

8 for the non-variant setlists and because of JR's ridiculous hydraulic stand.

[MoraWintersoul]

8 for the non-variant setlists and because of JR's ridiculous hydraulic stand.

I might change my vote to 8 then, based on JP's awful shirts on the last leg, I MEAN WHAT'S UP WITH THAT JP.

[wasteland]

8 for the non-variant setlists and because of JR's ridiculous hydraulic stand.

I might change my vote to 8 then, based on JP's awful shirts on the last leg, I MEAN WHAT'S UP WITH THAT JP.

Sush

There was nothing wrong with JR hydraulic stand (cool addition), and only something sliiiiighly wrong with JP's attire.

[Cedar redaC]

9, that was my first show and I have nothing to compare it to. The only thing I would have changed would have been a bigger encore. I think two songs would have blown my mind.

Still a great show though, the setlist, the overall vibe of the show, the band, and the fans all made it a very memorable experience.

[ResultsMayVary]

I'd give it a 9, as well. Great setlists, despite the lack of rotation that we're used to. They played for 2+ hours at most shows. And their live show was the best I think it ever has been.

[Grinch]

8 for the non-variant setlists and because of JR's ridiculous hydraulic stand.

I might change my vote to 8 then, based on JP's awful shirts on the last leg, I MEAN WHAT'S UP WITH THAT JP.

I agree with you on the shirts, I might have to lower my vote down to 7

[TAC]

The show I saw in Boston on 7/16/12 might have been the best performance that I have ever seen from the band.

[DebraKadabra]

Based on the YouTube vids, the 2012 East Coast shows were the ones to be at.

[Mladen]

Saw them twice on this tour and I had a fantastic time at both concerts, not being disappointed in absolutely anything. I don't see a reason to give it less than a 10. 

[wasteland]

Saw them twice on this tour and I had a fantastic time at both concerts, not being disappointed in absolutely anything. I don't see a reason to give it less than a 10. 

Hooray! Fezen and Budapest?

[MoraWintersoul]

Seriously though, seeing such high ratings from usually-spoiled Dream Theater fans (take that as a compliment, I know I'm always proud to say that)... yeah, I'll be there next time and I hope their game will be on the same level. Couldn't settle for anything less than that, they're my favorite band.

[Octavaripolis]

I give this an 8. A slightly longer show would be nice, skip the opening act (oh, go to hell Periphery-fans...) and vary the setlists a bit more. I saw two shows with one inbetween and got to see the exact same show twice except for the encore..

[Zydar]

I'm bummed I didn't see them this tour, but I'll try to remedy that with the next one.

[?]

I'm bummed I didn't see them this tour, but I'll try to remedy that with the next one.

This. But judging by the setlists, videos and gig reports it seems that the tour was pretty awesome - I'm looking forward to the DVD!

[bobs23]

For me, had I have seen one show I would give them a 10.
Having seen multiple shows on each US leg, I would say that the early shows had some real enthusiasm. As each leg wore on. the performances got more stale and sterile. On the last US leg (summer 2012) I had tickets to multiple shows, and ended up not going to most of them. I didn't see any emotion on stage  or that DT fire. On listening back to many of the shows from the last leg, the musical performances were still on par. The problem for me is that LA sounded like Philly which sounded like Boston which sounded like San Antonio. My favorite band became very boring.

[wolfandwolfandwolf]

Gave it a 9 for the non-varied sets and lack of evening with formats.  But wow, what a great show these guys can play.  Has me excited about their future. I truly feel the best is yet to come for them now, especially now that they're making arguably better music than they have in almost ten years.

[Mladen]

Saw them twice on this tour and I had a fantastic time at both concerts, not being disappointed in absolutely anything. I don't see a reason to give it less than a 10. 

Hooray! Fezen and Budapest?

Yep, nice to see you recall correctly. 

[IdoSC]

I'd give it a 9 or a 10 for the sole reason that, other than the fact these setlists probably included less songs than an Evening With set, each of these sets are among, if not the, most enjoyable DT sets for me yet. I can't complain about the rotation because while they barely rotated songs between each show, the overall amount of songs represented in the entire tour, mostly thanks to differing sets between legs, was massive, and featured lots of all-time classics that I was extremely happy to see once again after many years of freakin' Pull Me Under and As I Am (both of these were played in the last tour, but not in every single goddamn show...).

[philmcson]

8, because the setlists were a bit too predictable, but still awesome. However MM improved the sets with drum solos. Still can't wait to refresh memories from the Düsseldorf concert by watching the new DVD...... soon, soon..... 

[cyberdrummer]

I went for an 8. Loved the production and performance, but I missed having a little bit of rotation in the sets.

[SystematicThought]

9. The rotating set-lists would be nice to bring back and I am a bit afraid that they might not be back here in Minnesota after the last show. We were all into it, those of us there, but the seating info I saw the day after the concert said there were a 1,000 open seats

[El Barto]

For me, had I have seen one show I would give them a 10.
Having seen multiple shows on each US leg, I would say that the early shows had some real enthusiasm. As each leg wore on. the performances got more stale and sterile. On the last US leg (summer 2012) I had tickets to multiple shows, and ended up not going to most of them. I didn't see any emotion on stage  or that DT fire. On listening back to many of the shows from the last leg, the musical performances were still on par. The problem for me is that LA sounded like Philly which sounded like Boston which sounded like San Antonio. My favorite band became very boring.

Very similar thoughts.  I caught five shows, and four of them were identical and average. Not bad, but nothing special.  Sterile is an excellent way to put it. The last show (Dallas, second leg) really knocked me on my ass.  First time I've ever seen them really give a shit about playing Dallas.  So overall I give it a 4. Considering one great show out of five, a 2 might have been more appropriate, but that Dallas show really was good.

Looks like I have the low score as of right now.

[wasteland]

Wait, by rating the tour with 4 you are saying that it was "insufficient, outright disappointing". Is this, in all fairness, what you think? I get what you and bobs said, but the rating you gave as a result of that baffles me a bit.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Too put it simple: I've seen them 4 times and this tour was the best so far. Both sound, visuals and presence were generally better than previous tours! 

So it's a 9 from me!

[El Barto]

Wait, by rating the tour with 4 you are saying that it was "insufficient, outright disappointing". Is this, in all fairness, what you think? I get what you and bobs said, but the rating you gave as a result of that baffles me a bit.

Where did "insufficient, outright disappointing" come from?  As for my rating, I certainly would consider 4 mediocre nights and 1 great one to be a disappointment.  Particularly because of the very high regard I held their live act in formerly. 

[wasteland]

Wait, by rating the tour with 4 you are saying that it was "insufficient, outright disappointing". Is this, in all fairness, what you think? I get what you and bobs said, but the rating you gave as a result of that baffles me a bit.

Where did "insufficient, outright disappointing" come from?  As for my rating, I certainly would consider 4 mediocre nights and 1 great one to be a disappointment.  Particularly because of the very high regard I held their live act in formerly.

Where I live, every school performance until University is evaluated with a 1 to 10 scale. 4 is "Insufficient, not goot at all. Fail grade". So, that's the way I have always interpreted a 4.

[El Barto]

Figured it was something like that.  Based on our Yank school grades, I'd give them a C-.  You can't fail them, they are DT after all, but this was not a particular satisfactory tour, either. 

[wasteland]

I'm curious to see if those who attended the european shows agree with those complains. I am brought to believe by some supposition that they won't.

[El Barto]

I'm curious to see if those who attended the european shows agree with those complains. I am brought to believe by some supposition that they won't.

My experience from the last time this came up is that very few people from anywhere shared my complaints. The fact that the two people in this thread that weren't impressed are both yanks (at least I think Bob is) is more a function of percentage of forummers who got to see them this go around than quality of shows or fans.

[cyberdrummer]

I'm curious to see if those who attended the european shows agree with those complains. I am brought to believe by some supposition that they won't.

I did enjoy the London show in February 2012 (and preferred the setlist), but I have to say the three summer 2011 shows I saw (which included a headlining slot at High Voltage) had much more energy and were generally more fun.

[wasteland]

Well, it could have been just my show, but I have rarely seen the band so happy and active on stage as they were in Milan (and I have seen a lot of their concerts on film).

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I vote 10. I saw them twice (once in Mexico City and once in LA), and well I did get different sets; audio-wise both shows sounded better than ever (I'm an Audio Engineering student so normally I get picky with that stuff), the production looked really professional (compared to Systematic Chaos and Black Clouds, where I thought the ants and the silver drops in the sides of the stage looked lame-ish  ) and the band was more motivated than past times I saw the band live.

[SeRoX]

I gave 7.

-1 because the lack of rotation.
-1 because needless JR's long solos with his toys.
-1 because they didn't come to Turkey this year.