2016-02-18 & 19 - Palladium, London UK

[ErHaO]

A New Beginning live audio (no vid)!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-piPJypVxkk

Sounds awesome!

It sounds great. The vocals are a bit off in a few spots, but otherwise perfect.

Yes, a few rough spots but overall actually quite a bit better than I was expecting. He pulled of some parts really well and, based on this, I am definitely looking forward to the Nefaryus-centered pieces  Same goes for the other vids, some notes sound flat and sometimes the sound he makes is a bit unpleasant/weird, but there are many parts where he sounds vivid and on point. Pronunciation may be a bit weird at times, but I can understand the words he is saying so far. This is really a far cry from the Wacken show last year and some of the vids I saw of that festival tour (which were all pretty damn awful in terms of vocals). He also does some soft parts without being too breathy, which is nice. I liked his performance at Theater Equation last year, but I do think he was a bit monotonous at times (with most lines sung with his breathy style, which he (too) often tends to do in softer parts in general). He manages the different vocal styles well in the vids so far.

[genome]

I think JP's wife and daughter were sat in the royal box? He was looking up to them occasionally. He got distracted at one point and played a wrong chord and laughed.

Found the video of this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niQA5hNAEZ8

At 0:15 

[genome]

No word of a lie someone near me has come dressed up as Faythe!

Here's a picture of her

[genome]

Just wondering if anyone is going to tonight's show and heading to the Argyll Arms beforehand?

You have PM!

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

I think JP's wife and daughter were sat in the royal box? He was looking up to them occasionally. He got distracted at one point and played a wrong chord and laughed.

Found the video of this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niQA5hNAEZ8

At 0:15 

Never noticed the little arm rest JLB has on his mic stand before. 

[Jinx]

Genome you were closer than me so can verify - the acoustic was on like a stand that JP just stood behind during those parts, with his normal guitar still on him ready to jump between them flawlessly. And they just took the whole stand away when it wasn't needed. Is that what I was seeing?

[genome]

I think so. Would've been cool to keep it there as there was plenty of space.

Hopefully they turn it up tonight!

[Kotowboy]

Palladium London - Upper Circle view

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUnJEXIyvEs

Mangini finally got rid of those other 2 bass drums ! His kit looks a lot less silly now.

[jcmoorehead]

No word of a lie someone near me has come dressed up as Faythe!

Here's a picture of her

That's awesome. I have to admit since the album came out I have been wanting to do a cosplay of one of the characters but I'm already deep in planning my Evangelion cosplays so it will have to wait.

[Kotowboy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fxUj1LvSNY


First three songs.

[nattmorker]

Palladium London - Upper Circle view

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUnJEXIyvEs

There's something like an ipad or a mirror next to JM's pedalboard. I hadn't notice.

[bosk1]

Not familiar with the specifics of what he uses, but I know a lot of newer boards now have interfaces where you can control them with a tablet.  Some can be synced with a master that controls the main soundboard as well.

[SebastianPratesi]

Any of you who attended the show happens to remember if the scream at the end of "My Last Farewell" was pre-recorded, or if James did it live?
Also: during that scream, was there any animation of the characters? Maybe that way we could know if the scream is Daryus or Gabriel.

[CharlesPL]

TA (Other version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_43bg6CSmY

[Kotowboy]

There's something like an ipad or a mirror next to JM's pedalboard. I hadn't notice.

it's a mirror. so he can see how astonishing he looks

[alirocker08]

A lot of what I have to say about last night has already been said, but I'd just like to say that live, the Nomac tracks are bizarrely unnerving when combined with the visuals. Overall I'd say that the album is far better performed than it is recorded, I gained a real appreciation for some of the tracks that I was pretty lukewarm towards on release.

Also, it was really great to meet folks, you're all pretty cool

[Logain Ablar]

Any of you who attended the show happens to remember if the scream at the end of "My Last Farewell" was pre-recorded, or if James did it live?
Also: during that scream, was there any animation of the characters? Maybe that way we could know if the scream is Daryus or Gabriel.

Can't remember what was happening in the visuals, but the scream was pre-recorded, and sounded to me like it came from the back of the theater, like a "surround sound" effect. Some of the nomac sounds seemed to come from behind as well.

[Mladen]

The look on JP's face once the show is done - priceless. You made it, John! 

Thanks a million for all the information, photos and videos, I immensely appreciated it. I'm following.

[Chino]

Does James laugh on stage during Three Days?

[Gh101]

Does James laugh on stage during Three Days?

Nope nor does he do 'you murderer, your day will come!'

[MirrorMask]

Does James laugh on stage during Three Days?

Nope

Ok I'm selling my ticket

Bummer!

[Kotowboy]

I wouldn't either now that James' voice is really good again.

[SebastianPratesi]

Any of you who attended the show happens to remember if the scream at the end of "My Last Farewell" was pre-recorded, or if James did it live?
Also: during that scream, was there any animation of the characters? Maybe that way we could know if the scream is Daryus or Gabriel.

Can't remember what was happening in the visuals, but the scream was pre-recorded, and sounded to me like it came from the back of the theater, like a "surround sound" effect. Some of the nomac sounds seemed to come from behind as well.

Thanks!

[Prog Snob]

Palladium London - Upper Circle view

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUnJEXIyvEs

Whatever that white thing is on Jordan's shirt looks like it's part of his goatee. 

[Clancy Wiggum]

But what got me was the whole encore situation. DT made it perfectly clear that there would not be one, but there will always be the ignorant idiots who still expect too much. After TA, when the band did their final bow and had a picture taken with the crowd, this should have also been confirmation that it was the end of the show. DT have only ever done their bow AFTER any encore. When the lights remained down for the credits, there was some cheering for an encore, which I joined in with. Even though I knew it wouldn't happen there was a small part of me that though maybe just maybe but I wasn't going to be disappointed if the house lights came up, which they did.. and were met with a huge boo from a large portion of the crowd. It didn't even sound like it was in jest. I even heard someone say "They are having a laugh ain't they...?". Everything is never enough I guess.

I agree with much of your review but, with respect, I don't think this is right. As you say, a "large portion of the crowd" were booing, which by that logic means a large portion of the crowd are also "ignorant idiots". That's unfair.

DT may have made it clear that there would be no encores but evidently there are dedicated fans who keep up to date with important announcements and those that just enjoy their music. Many were disappointed at the lack of encores so we shouldn't underestimate the numbers of those that fall into the latter category.

Will be interesting to see how this topic pans out over the rest of the tour. My guess would be that we'll be hearing a lot more about this one and two possibilities are that the band either will play encores later on in the tour in response to fan pressure or will be reluctant to drop them for future tours.

Anyway, that aside I do agree with most of what you thought and I enjoyed it too. As you say, it was a good performance, particularly given that it was an early tour show. Anyone seeing them this tour is in for a treat and if you're seeing them beyond the early stages of it you're going to get something extra special. You could tell how much effort they'd put in by the joy/relief on MM's face at the end.

[bosk1]

I really like John Myung's new wardrobe look. 

[Prog Snob]

Black?

[mike099]

Black?

To me it would be worth more than an encore to see JM dressed all in white and the rest of the band in all black.

[escruting]

The question i'm missing is, did Labrie sing the ending to A Tempting Offer saying "dec---i-i-ddde" or "decide"? JP said on Reddit that there was nothing wrong with that part on the album...

[Prog Snob]

Black?

To me it would be worth more than an encore to see JM dressed all in white and the rest of the band in all black.

Maybe he an Jon Anderson can exchange wardrobes.

[SebastianPratesi]

Black?

Black is the new black.

[Prog Snob]

That's exactly how I feel.

[TK1234]

The look on JP's face once the show is done - priceless. You made it, John! 

Absolutely, that was a great moment!

[ariich]

Just a quick post to say that the sound is absolutely superb tonight. It's loud, crisp, clear and well balanced. Like, among the best sound I've heard at a show.

[bosk1]

Hopefully it stays that way during the encore.  I heard that is where they have been having sound issues the most.