Top Of The World Tour 2023

[crystalstars17]

I've just watched some clips from Barcelona concert. No exaggeration, James sounds great. I'm so glad and hyped.

PMU: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AJbennifxM&ab_channel=HellYeah%21
TCOT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlx59v1vIPo&ab_channel=MechDvil7
SS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QNvt2Zt0QE&ab_channel=TonyMu%C3%B1oz
6:00 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_jMwarlHG0&ab_channel=TonyMu%C3%B1oz

I hope they'll add some other unplayed songs for the US dates and make a DVD.

Agreed he sounds really good and much approved from last years tour.  Happy for him and all us fans of his!

I just watched these last night. It's a lot stronger and less concerning than Tel Aviv. And there were many moments when that lovely warm sparkling tenor sound just blossomed and it was like, ✨ THERE you are, James! ✨

I truly hope this is a new direction. Even if he has to change a line now and again as he did here, if we still hear that beautiful sound overall, it's a good direction.

[Dani Helios]

I just noticed the tiny gong that Mangini hits at the end of Grand Finale 

Compared to the size of the one he has on LALP, definitive proof that it's not about the size, but what you do with it

[gzarruk]

Honestly, and I hadn't thought of this before, I don't think the band's current approach does James any favors.  By having the full scale production with the video screens and the click track and the same set list every night, it is set up where nearly everything is perfect, so when the singer is off a bit, it is that much more noticeable.  20 years ago, when they weren't playing the same sets every night and not to a click, the band felt more loose and maybe playing this song we rarely do sounds a bit rough around the edges to where James struggling a bit didn't stand out quite so much.  I guess that's the difference between a rock concert and a rock production.  Not saying the band should now think, "Okay, let's go out and play some stuff wrong to make James sound less bad," merely that the approach sets it up to where any imperfections on the part of the singer, whose instrument is more human than the others, are going to stand out.

I think the biggest disservice to his vocals were the pre-recorded backing tracks. Current day James likes to change vocal lines a lot, sometimes even singing them in the wrong places or with the wrong rhythmic accents, so when they were adding the piped in vocals, those things clashed really bad because he wasn't spot on perfectly in time for every one of those. Now that they, hopefully, retired those for good and got JP to be heard again, it's sounding a lot more "live and organic", though it's obvious that James doesn't have the power he used to have the last decade or so. Which leads us to...

I'm just calling it as I see it.  I love the guy and its more just a shame.  Any aging vocalist going through the same thing is no exception.  I just think the band could do a bit more to accommodate him.

I've been a fan for about 25 years so, not as long as a lot of guys on here and I've only seen them once live so it's not a big thing in that regard, it's just inevitable but still unfortunate.  I just kind of can't swallow some of the praise his vocals are getting here.  As I said I love the guy, but I'm not going to polish his turds.

I agree with most of what you've said here overall. Pointing out the obvious flaws in his current performances isn't hating on the guy, it's just telling it as it is. Surely sometimes people express them in a bad way, and that's not allowed here, but it's not like we all have to blindly praise the guy's abilities just because we're in a fan board. And this same thing applies to all the other members, who each get their own share of hate from different groups for different reasons.

Also...

I just noticed the tiny gong that Mangini hits at the end of Grand Finale 

[geeeemo]

A nice review.

https://www.progjazz.org/dream-theater-aviles-espana-2023/?fbclid=IwAR3X9w6wV7so5uzcH-egCXK214JDMdrQmWyO3mzOo9dWLNDz2JmDUyrWwsA

[wolfking]

I think James would know though that to really feel the joy in life, he'd have to suffer through the pain.

Surrender, Trust & Passion is all he's left to.

I've been a fan for about 25 years so, not as long as a lot of guys on here and I've only seen them once live so it's not a big thing in that regard, it's just inevitable but still unfortunate. 

Can be that I am misreading your post completely, but are you really saying that you only 've seen them once, live? Now, I can follow that when you live in Alaska, but how come you don't visit them more often?

I'm in Australia.  I actually don't know how many times they have been out here.  I saw them on the SC tour.  I knew they came here on the Black Clouds tour but I missed that one.  I've never been a big concert guy nevertheless.

[PreHilbert]

The Napoli show was bonkers. There were about 10000 people in attendance, they played top notch with a lot of interaction with the crowd, and James was superb even if he cut off some high notes from the most difficult songs. In fact he did not do it uniformly, he nailed Pull me under to the wall while CIAW was a bit underwhelming in the middle part which is very high. Overall he knocked it out of the park. I will try to post some videos tomorrow.

[devieira73]

I just noticed the tiny gong that Mangini hits at the end of Grand Finale 

Really cool, he really plays it! (It would be a triggered gong?): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTyW9yQlLEQ (around 41:30)

By the way, I totally suport only JLB and JP making all the vocals, in their possible capabilty (and, one step futher, no playback at all - or barely - for the band). Like someone said here the pre-recorded vocals are hurting JLB much more than helping him. I don't mind the click track for the videos, lights or whatever, but keep the band playing live all they can and, also, save a little part of the show without the click track, to make room for some improvisation. DT was always great at that until 2010, why not now? I think they still can do it.

[Wim Kruithof]

I'm in Australia.  I actually don't know how many times they have been out here.  I saw them on the SC tour.  I knew they came here on the Black Clouds tour but I missed that one.  I've never been a big concert guy nevertheless.

Me neither, always been more the 'spinning vinyl in my own home with a good beer'-type, but Dream Theater became my every-tour-exception. And since I've missed so many years, I visit them every time I can.

Their aging to an age that good health is a blessing but surely not garanted. Neither for the band as for their wives. There could very well come a period that one of them needs to be home and they can't tour all over the world anymore. So I count each time I still am able to see them as a blessing overall.

The Napoli show was bonkers. There were about 10000 people in attendance, they played top notch with a lot of interaction with the crowd, and James was superb even if he cut off some high notes from the most difficult songs. In fact he did not do it uniformly, he nailed Pull me under to the wall while CIAW was a bit underwhelming in the middle part which is very high. Overall he knocked it out of the park. I will try to post some videos tomorrow.

Now that's brilliant to read! Looking forward to your video's...

[wolfking]

The Napoli show was bonkers. There were about 10000 people in attendance, they played top notch with a lot of interaction with the crowd, and James was superb even if he cut off some high notes from the most difficult songs. In fact he did not do it uniformly, he nailed Pull me under to the wall while CIAW was a bit underwhelming in the middle part which is very high. Overall he knocked it out of the park. I will try to post some videos tomorrow.

I am definitely interested in your videos then as that's a big statement.

[DreamerTV]

The Napoli show was bonkers. There were about 10000 people in attendance, they played top notch with a lot of interaction with the crowd, and James was superb even if he cut off some high notes from the most difficult songs. In fact he did not do it uniformly, he nailed Pull me under to the wall while CIAW was a bit underwhelming in the middle part which is very high. Overall he knocked it out of the park. I will try to post some videos tomorrow.

Although i understand your post concert excitement, i have to say the attandance must be a bit inaccurate as the Palapartenope can hold up to 6,5k people, and from what i could see until yesterday afternoon there were a couple of hundreds still unsold.

But that's great to hear you had a great experience!

SDOIT final section https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgGJmFozOLg - i totally understand James saving his voice, as this is going to be a 3 days in row run for them in Italy.

[Mladen]

It's John Myung's birthday today! Hopefully someone brings out a cake tonight during the show and we get a video of it tomorrow. 

[TAC]

Awesome. Then we can bitch about James singing Happy Birthday. 

[Mladen]

I bet the backing track will do all the heavy lifting.

[MirrorMask]

Also, brace yourselves for The Count of Tuscany being played.... in Tuscany 

[TAC]

Also, brace yourselves for The Count of Tuscany being played.... in Tuscany 

Count on it.

[gzarruk]

Also, brace yourselves for The Count of Tuscany being played.... in Tuscany 

Count on it.

That was no accident.

[SeRoX]

https://youtu.be/kv7GWuK_amM?t=442

Once again at Italy concert James is out of DT's high standards. Shame. 

[gzarruk]

https://youtu.be/kv7GWuK_amM?t=442

Once again at Italy concert James is out of DT's high standards. Shame. 

Poor Eric's gonna need healing waters to bury all his pain

[goo-goo]

On a another (drummer) note, I absolutely LOVE this Mangini drum setup. Hope he sticks with it.

[RaiseTheKnife]

Gotta give credit for DT for swapping out About to Crash with About to Crash (Reprise) in the same setlist spot for the subsequent leg.  Very clever.  I wonder if that was pre-planned or if it came about as they pondered how to mix it up for the European dates.

[MirrorMask]

Most likely the second option.

[evilasiojr]

https://youtu.be/kv7GWuK_amM?t=442

Once again at Italy concert James is out of DT's high standards. Shame. 

That was  absolute hilarious 

[gzarruk]

Gotta give credit for DT for swapping out About to Crash with About to Crash (Reprise) in the same setlist spot for the subsequent leg.  Very clever.  I wonder if that was pre-planned or if it came about as they pondered how to mix it up for the European dates.

I really liked the way they connected ATC with TMOLS for the first tour legs, but I think the 3 SDOIT tracks they're doing now work better with the audience than Ministry.

[Tomislav95]

The only thing I'm going to bitch about is how much I prefer this setlist over last tour show I attended but at least I got The Ministry
When it comes to James, I think the band could accommodate him with a bit easier setlist. For example, why PMU? To be honest, he always struggled with I&W but killed on songs from 6DOIT, Octavarium etc.

[wolfking]

The only thing I'm going to bitch about is how much I prefer this setlist over last tour show I attended but at least I got The Ministry
When it comes to James, I think the band could accommodate him with a bit easier setlist. For example, why PMU? To be honest, he always struggled with I&W but killed on songs from 6DOIT, Octavarium etc.

That's the point I've been trying to make Tomi.  The band simply aren't helping James here with song selections.

[Wim Kruithof]

Although I really follow what you're saying, it could also be the other way around. It could very well be that the band which to accommodate him more, but that LaBrie refused an easier setlist. He obviously got an ego on the plate here and maybe he is not ready to accept the aging of his voice.

I think it is LaBrie himself, who has been hard on LaBrie.

[nikatapi]

To be fair, James seems to sound much better at the latter dates (from what i've checked on YT)

[SeRoX]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkzRHsY8w4s&ab_channel=DusanJanotak

BITS from Bratislava

I love how James alters "re-new my life..." vocal section. Overall sound good to me and better than 2022 tour.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I don't think the band is selecting songs to accommodate JLB. I doubt he's asking for that either. Given the sensitive nature of the topic, I think it's avoided entirely within the band. Maybe there's a group discussion about what songs should make up a setlist and everyone is asked if it works. I don't think JLB says or is asked if a song is do-able.

[Trav]

I don't think the band is selecting songs to accommodate JLB. I doubt he's asking for that either. Given the sensitive nature of the topic, I think it's avoided entirely within the band. Maybe there's a group discussion about what songs should make up a setlist and everyone is asked if it works. I don't think JLB says or is asked if a song is do-able.

I'm pretty sure when they have been together for 30+ years, they can have these discussions.  There is probably a shortlist of songs that are never gonna happen because of JLB's capabilities. And that isn't a diss at him, that is JP being respectful to him. I'm sure everything is ran by him and he gives it a thumbs up. And probably knows it won't be perfect every night but he goes in trying his best to give the fans a great show. All of this despite the fact that fans on this site and elsewhere will tear the shit out of him no matter what he does.

God bless him for still going out every night and putting his heart and soul into this music.

[gzarruk]

They down tuned IAW a half step for this very reason, so they clearly have some sort of talks about that and there's nothing wrong with it.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I don't think the band is selecting songs to accommodate JLB. I doubt he's asking for that either. Given the sensitive nature of the topic, I think it's avoided entirely within the band. Maybe there's a group discussion about what songs should make up a setlist and everyone is asked if it works. I don't think JLB says or is asked if a song is do-able.

I'm pretty sure when they have been together for 30+ years, they can have these discussions.  There is probably a shortlist of songs that are never gonna happen because of JLB's capabilities. And that isn't a diss at him, that is JP being respectful to him. I'm sure everything is ran by him and he gives it a thumbs up. And probably knows it won't be perfect every night but he goes in trying his best to give the fans a great show. All of this despite the fact that fans on this site and elsewhere will tear the shit out of him no matter what he does.

God bless him for still going out every night and putting his heart and soul into this music.

Being friends for 30 years can just as easily complicate such a discussion.

I am not saying they don't talk about the setlist. Obviously they do. I just doubt there is any avoidance of songs because he allegedly just can't sing them. The only way I could see that is if JLB proactively raised his hand and said he can't do it - also don't think he would say that - but then why wouldn't they just change the tuning like they do with PMU? It's one thing to change tuning a half step on guitar or talk about placement of songs within the set list-- and another thing entirely to preclude songs from the band's rotation.

I don't have any insight into their discussions so I am only speculating, but I highly doubt JP is asking him 'can you sing this anymore?'

What songs do you think are being avoided or should be? The ones that are going to stretch his range are probably fan favorites and cannot be permanently removed from the rotation even if they are a struggle live.

[wolfking]

I don't think the band is selecting songs to accommodate JLB. I doubt he's asking for that either. Given the sensitive nature of the topic, I think it's avoided entirely within the band. Maybe there's a group discussion about what songs should make up a setlist and everyone is asked if it works. I don't think JLB says or is asked if a song is do-able.

I'm pretty sure when they have been together for 30+ years, they can have these discussions.  There is probably a shortlist of songs that are never gonna happen because of JLB's capabilities. And that isn't a diss at him, that is JP being respectful to him. I'm sure everything is ran by him and he gives it a thumbs up. And probably knows it won't be perfect every night but he goes in trying his best to give the fans a great show. All of this despite the fact that fans on this site and elsewhere will tear the shit out of him no matter what he does.

God bless him for still going out every night and putting his heart and soul into this music.

Possibly, but then why are they still playing PMU?  I know because it's their 'hit', but still.

[Trav]

I don't think the band is selecting songs to accommodate JLB. I doubt he's asking for that either. Given the sensitive nature of the topic, I think it's avoided entirely within the band. Maybe there's a group discussion about what songs should make up a setlist and everyone is asked if it works. I don't think JLB says or is asked if a song is do-able.

I'm pretty sure when they have been together for 30+ years, they can have these discussions.  There is probably a shortlist of songs that are never gonna happen because of JLB's capabilities. And that isn't a diss at him, that is JP being respectful to him. I'm sure everything is ran by him and he gives it a thumbs up. And probably knows it won't be perfect every night but he goes in trying his best to give the fans a great show. All of this despite the fact that fans on this site and elsewhere will tear the shit out of him no matter what he does.

God bless him for still going out every night and putting his heart and soul into this music.

Possibly, but then why are they still playing PMU?  I know because it's their 'hit', but still.

[SeRoX]

They need both crowd pleaser and globally known hit in the setlist and that means PMU or possibly Another Day. PMU is quite easier than Another Day. So... Maybe The Mirror/Lie duo may make it better but hard on James, especially The Mirror.