2014-01-21 - Obihall - Florence, ITA

[wasteland]

Who's coming? Let's meet up, Italians!

The venue:

[cyberdrummer]

Looks like a very cool venue!

[wasteland]

It is! It's right along the river, a few kilometers away from the old city!

From the outside:

[matte.braso]

farò di tutto per esserci!!



i'll try my best to be there


this will be the third time, first in Fucecchio (Florence) june 2005, last in Perugia february 2012. both great shows.

[matte.braso]

got my ticket (parterre) last week

[The Stray Seed]

Io ci sono!!!!!!!

I'll be coming too tonight =))

[Prog Snob]

It is! It's right along the river, a few kilometers away from the old city!

From the outside:

"Everywhere I look, I see something that reminds me of her."

[genome]

It is! It's right along the river, a few kilometers away from the old city!

From the outside:

"Everywhere I look, I see something that reminds me of her."

[countoftuscany42]

would someone be able to snap some pics of the merch they have? i know it'll be a bit different in the US, but just want to get an idea of what they have/cost.
thanks 

[wasteland]

The gates are opening!! 

[The Stray Seed]

We're in!!!!!!!

[DreamerTV]

The gates are opening!! 

Have a nice one Marco!

[aprilethereal]

It is! It's right along the river, a few kilometers away from the old city!

From the outside:

"Everywhere I look, I see something that reminds me of her."

[wasteland]

Oh, James.

[Setlist Scotty]

Oh, James.

Did he dedicate Space Dye Vest to Blob?   

[Lucho]

would someone be able to snap some pics of the merch they have? i know it'll be a bit different in the US, but just want to get an idea of what they have/cost.
thanks 

https://dreamtheater.fanfire.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Store.woa/wa/artist?sourceCode=DRAWEBWWEUR&categoryName=New%21&artistName=Dream+Theater

[wasteland]

Oh, James.

Did he dedicate Space Dye Vest to Blob?   

No, but that was the highlight of the night. Now that James is on full flight mode the choice to sing the last verse one octave higher is really paying off!

There was a (beautiful!) girll right next to me who had to dry a few tears after the solo. It was all beautiful.

[Setlist Scotty]

Right on. Prog Snob wanted me to ask if it was the same setlist - was it?   

And were there any whispers of the show being recorded?   

[wasteland]

Same set as always, no song was taken out for any reason. It all went really smooth! More details tomorrow!! 

[GasparXR]

Oh, James.

Did he dedicate Space Dye Vest to Blob?   

No, but that was the highlight of the night. Now that James is on full flight mode the choice to sing the last verse one octave higher is really paying off!

There was a (beautiful!) girll right next to me who had to dry a few tears after the solo. It was all beautiful.

Speaking of crying, I might during Illumination Theory, during the string section with the awesome video display. XD

[Thomas Pasieka]

Speaking of crying, I might during Illumination Theory, during the string section with the awesome video display. XD

There is no shame in crying during this section Let it all out. You can blame me later...

[GasparXR]

Speaking of crying, I might during Illumination Theory, during the string section with the awesome video display. XD

There is no shame in crying during this section Let it all out. You can blame me later...

I might thank you instead.

[BlobVanDam]

Speaking of crying, I might during Illumination Theory, during the string section with the awesome video display. XD

There is no shame in crying during this section Let it all out. You can blame me later...

I damn near cry just from hearing that section, so you might just be in trouble if I get to see it live!

[countoftuscany42]

would someone be able to snap some pics of the merch they have? i know it'll be a bit different in the US, but just want to get an idea of what they have/cost.
thanks 

https://dreamtheater.fanfire.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Store.woa/wa/artist?sourceCode=DRAWEBWWEUR&categoryName=New%21&artistName=Dream+Theater

I appreciate the response, but that's obviously not all the merch they have for the tour, it's only what they're currently offering online. Doesn't include posters, hats, etc. like the looking glass tee tho   

[The Stray Seed]

AWESOME concert. The best I've ever been to. I've been to DT gigs since 1999, and James has NEVER had such a powerful voice. Man I just couldn't believe how he could nail all songs from AWAKE, flawlessly. I cried at the end of Scarred (I beg of you, if you find a bootleg, go listen to it and believe your own ears), he hit all the notes, and with a full, amazing voice, without holding back and with no sign of fatigue whatsoever not even at the end of the concert, and the whole band's performance was just stellar, I've never been this much blown away. So much enagy, powa.

For the whole set, I couldn't take my eyes off Mangini. He is just awesome to watch and his power and sound live was unbelievable. He had a problem during the kick-off fill of Breaking All Illusions (I don't know if a cymbal fell or what), but he recovered pretty quickly. Other then those few seconds, for the rest of the three hour show he was flawless, without a doubt the best drummer I've ever seen live. His precision, his strength (up to the end of the gig), his passionate playing, and his technical level are just beyond amazing.

The lights have been greatly improved, and provided a fantastic scenery for the band, highlighting the best moments in a dramatic way.

Sound was perfect. I could hear every instrument loud and clear. I really liked the sounds Jordan chose, and JP's output sound was great and majestic as usual. Bass had a really crunchy and deep sound, and drums - as said before - were beyond perfection.

They did an interval after Breaking All Illusions, and I couldn't believe my eyes! They put on funny videos from youtube concerning DT, just like those of the action figures, the triangle-man selections, the cut-outs of John and James, the JP vs Satriani video, tweens covering DT songs, orchestras covering DT songs, and many more. It was such a funny and amazing moment, and it was so cool of them to put those videos on!!

Also, at the end of the show, they put the Easter Egg on, and it was such an amazing way to wrap the whole thing up.

Overall a totally amazing experience!!!!!

EDIT: I forgot to mention the videos they put during the songs!!! The intro video is absolutely awesome (thank you Blob for making such a beautiful animation gem)! And I really, really loved the funny animation of Enigma Machine. Actually, I've never had so much fun during a DT concert, I think their decision of taking themselves less seriously really is for the best!! Anyway, all videos they played were really beautiful, a huge improvement for the show. PS: the animation on The Embracing Circle (Illumination Theory) really is as touching as some of you have said! I really felt like crying!

[TAC]

Awesome recap, Seed, thank you.

I love Scarred and I can't wait to see Mangini playing the outro.

[The Stray Seed]

He won't let you down TAC!!! He played the outro with such energy and feeling... It really felt like he himself had been involved in the writing of the song. His playing was so emotionally driven!!

Also, you are welcome!!! It was really fun to write that little recap =)

[Prog Snob]

Right on. Prog Snob wanted me to ask if it was the same setlist - was it?   

And were there any whispers of the show being recorded?   

You shouldn't listen to that guy; he's a troublemaker.   

[wasteland]

I agree with everything Seed said, except for the sound. From where I was (some four meters in front of the soundboard), my ears would saturate often, but I adjusted midway through the first set.

Also, James's voice. MY FU**ING GOD. He was powerful, precise, engaging, smiling, everything you could dream for a frontman. He gave the microphone to the crowd multple times, high-fived the first row, hugged JM, belted high notes right in JP's face to his amusement and never failed to sustain even the hardest words, like the long "signal" in BAI and the final "inside" in TEI.

I understand that the live effect plays wonders on one's perception of the singer's performance, but I can tell you this: I attended and recorded Milan 2012, which I thought was a great performance by him. The recording I made confirmed this ( he was not quite at LALP levels, but getting closer to it). This time I had the distinct sensation of a much stronger performance.

By the way, when I met James at the gates I told him what I thought of his performance, and he was visibly pleased, just as much as he was when he got surrounded by two very comely girls for a picture. 

[?]

You met James?! Lucky you...

Thanks to both of you for reports; can't wait to experience this myself!

[Tomislav95]

Is there any live video on YT? Thank You, Seed and Wasteland, I'm so hyped now (12 more days )

[GasparXR]

Really glad that your concert turned out great!  Even more excited for Toronto now. Also awaiting further recording whispers.