According To James LaBrie, the band will be playing..

[GuyWhoRunsTheRRFB]

Freakin' Illumination Theory on the upcoming tour.  I feel like my brain might melt. 

https://bit.ly/1ly7Pro

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Interesting, how will they be doing the orchestral section? Backing tapes, real orchestra, or maybe Jordan will synthesize it?

Pretty awesome either way, though.

[TheGreatPretender]

While that is awesome, I pretty much expected them to play it on the upcoming tour. Considering how much hype they built up for it, calling it the centerpiece of the album and everything, I'd be really surprised if they did NOT play it.

[JiM-Xtreme]

  Wow, really?

You're kidding me! I would never have guessed, even in my wildest dreams that they would incorporate the big epic from their latest album into the setlist, just like they have on every album from the last decade!




















Sorry, I'll stop now. 

[OsMosis2259]

Interesting, how will they be doing the orchestral section? Backing tapes, real orchestra, or maybe Jordan will synthesize it?

Pretty awesome either way, though.

It looks like Jordan will play it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLX2-yTrsc0

[TAC]

OK, all sorts of cool things in that article, including plans for DT13, a live DVD, and "A COOL EVENT IN BOSTON"!!!!!!!!!!!

[wolfking]

While that is awesome, I pretty much expected them to play it on the upcoming tour. Considering how much hype they built up for it, calling it the centerpiece of the album and everything, I'd be really surprised if they did NOT play it.

Pretty much this.

Still good to get confirmation that it will definitely get played.

[teclas]

If you read the whole Billboard arcticle, Petrucci says that they're planning 'a cool event in Boston" and the details will be revealed soon....

[wolfking]

It also says that Petrucci is the one that confirms IT being played, not JLB.

[Mebert78]

Looks like I'll be going to Boston soon, which is something I've always wanted to do.  I wonder what they have planned.

[Setlist Scotty]

Wow, really?

You're kidding me! I would never have guessed, even in my wildest dreams that they would incorporate the big epic from their latest album into the setlist, just like they have on every album from the last decade!

LOL! So freakin' true! And as TGP said, it would be more surprising for them not to play it. In fact, I'd bank on them playing it at every Evening With show, aside from perhaps places where they do back-to-back shows in the same city...and from the schedule posted, there are no such dates on the books as of now.

[rickhawk80]

Good stuff in the full Billboard article here: https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5862286/dream-theater-planting-seeds-for-album-no-13

[TAC]

Looks like I'll be going to Boston soon, which is something I've always wanted to do.  I wonder what they have planned.

You've never been to Boston?

I can't wait to find out either!

[TheGreatPretender]

Wow, really?

You're kidding me! I would never have guessed, even in my wildest dreams that they would incorporate the big epic from their latest album into the setlist, just like they have on every album from the last decade!

Are you being sarcastic or not!? I can't tell without the green text! 

[wasteland]

Interesting, how will they be doing the orchestral section? Backing tapes, real orchestra, or maybe Jordan will synthesize it?

Pretty awesome either way, though.

It looks like Jordan will play it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLX2-yTrsc0

Gotta love the brief apparition of the Easter Egg near the end. The fact itself that the piece came to his mind in a period of pre-tour home preparations is a good sign for all of us who love this little extra and would love to see it featured on the live set.

[Madman Shepherd]

Still nice to get a confirmation.   

[Jinx]

My favourite part of that article is JPs last line where he confirms a DVD for this tour 

[Sacul]

March 25 is the date for the Boston show. SFAM and Awake were both released in October 1999/1994 respectively, so...

[rumborak]

Given how everything is to click these days, I expect a taped orchestra. Like Queen did with Bohemian Rhapsody.

[dparrott]

Too bad we can't get videos of the rehearsals.  DT raw in a small rehearsal space! 

[JayOctavarium]

Well I figured this was a given.

[Sycsa]

Given how everything is to click these days, I expect a taped orchestra. Like Queen did with Bohemian Rhapsody.

I wager Jordan will play it, just like in that recent video where he was showing off a new keyboard.

[sueño]

nice   

[wolven74]

I find it more cool that they plan to release a new blu ray/dvd of this tour.

[wolven74]

On another note.... holy shit.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCnoP2qH_wg

[BlobVanDam]

Given how everything is to click these days, I expect a taped orchestra. Like Queen did with Bohemian Rhapsody.

I wager Jordan will play it, just like in that recent video where he was showing off a new keyboard.

I could really see them going either way on that one. One of many things I'm interested to see with the upcoming tour.

[JayOctavarium]

Given how everything is to click these days, I expect a taped orchestra. Like Queen did with Bohemian Rhapsody.

I wager Jordan will play it, just like in that recent video where he was showing off a new keyboard.

I could really see them going either way on that one. One of many things I'm interested to see with the upcoming tour.

HOW ABOUT BOTH?

Jordan mimes it.

[Daso]

I find it more cool that they plan to release a new blu ray/dvd of this tour.

Me too. It was pretty obvious they would play Illumination Theory, but we couldn't take a blu ray/dvd for granted, even considering this tour has certain particular elements that raised its possibilities of getting an official live recording like this.

Given how everything is to click these days, I expect a taped orchestra. Like Queen did with Bohemian Rhapsody.

I wager Jordan will play it, just like in that recent video where he was showing off a new keyboard.

I could really see them going either way on that one. One of many things I'm interested to see with the upcoming tour.

It would be great to get an orchestra to play it on certain special dates or something...

[BlobVanDam]

Given how everything is to click these days, I expect a taped orchestra. Like Queen did with Bohemian Rhapsody.

I wager Jordan will play it, just like in that recent video where he was showing off a new keyboard.

I could really see them going either way on that one. One of many things I'm interested to see with the upcoming tour.

HOW ABOUT BOTH?

Jordan mimes it.

No thanks!
It would be better if JR played it on the Zen Riffer with a layered accordion/mandolin patch, while the big screen showed scenes from Lady and the Tramp.

I'm sorry, I just spoiled the surprise for the upcoming tour. My bad.

[JayOctavarium]

Given how everything is to click these days, I expect a taped orchestra. Like Queen did with Bohemian Rhapsody.

I wager Jordan will play it, just like in that recent video where he was showing off a new keyboard.

I could really see them going either way on that one. One of many things I'm interested to see with the upcoming tour.

HOW ABOUT BOTH?

Jordan mimes it.

No thanks!
It would be better if JR played it on the Zen Riffer with a layered accordion/mandolin patch, while the big screen showed scenes from Lady and the Tramp.

I'm sorry, I just spoiled the surprise for the upcoming tour. My bad.

wut

[bosk1]

On another note.... holy shit.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCnoP2qH_wg

Probably would fit better in the Illumination Theory thread than here.  But I will say, the kid definitely has some chops, and I really like his interpretation.  VERY nice job!  I'll also add that, as much as it pains me to say it, that is a REALLY nice edit of the song the way it transitions from Live, Die, Kill directly into The Pursuit Of Truth, and it takes what is a very good song and makes it a GREAT song.

[Lucien]

Given how everything is to click these days, I expect a taped orchestra. Like Queen did with Bohemian Rhapsody.

I wager Jordan will play it, just like in that recent video where he was showing off a new keyboard.

I could really see them going either way on that one. One of many things I'm interested to see with the upcoming tour.

HOW ABOUT BOTH?

Jordan mimes it.

No thanks!
It would be better if JR played it on the Zen Riffer with a layered accordion/mandolin patch, while the big screen showed scenes from Lady and the Tramp.

I'm sorry, I just spoiled the surprise for the upcoming tour. My bad.

After all, you MAKE THE EFFING VIDEOS. Or do you just do the 3d videos?

[BlobVanDam]

After all, you MAKE THE EFFING VIDEOS. Or do you just do the 3d videos?

I only do 3D video. Several people contribute to the overall video show.

[Prog Snob]

Cool event in Boston???  Do I have to attempt to make three shows.  The wife has family up there so maybe a road trip.

[OsMosis2259]

I'm taking a wild guess that the cool event in Boston could be a live orchestra during IT(possibly other tracks as well) conducted by Eren Basbug who was also the guest on DT12. He goes to Berklee College of Music in Boston as well.