If YOU were writing the set list for the next DT tour...

[Setlist Scotty]

He fulfilled that playing it with Haken.

But that's not DT, which I believe is the key. You'll notice that while MP had one of the shows filmed (I think in the Netherlands), it has never been released. Of course there could have been other reasons to hold off on releasing it before MP returned to the band, but now that he is back in the band, there's all the more reason for them to do it as a band as was originally intended. The big question would be that when they do decide to tackle it (whether on this tour or one in the future), will they play it at every show like MP had intended for the 2011-2012 tour that never was, or will it just be played at certain shows?

[pg1067]

I think we'll finally see "The Best of Times" performed live (perhaps as part of the entire 12-step suite).

I don't understand this.  What does TBOT have to do with the 12SS?

I really hope they don't turn this into "Mike Portnoy's Dream Theater."

[Glasser]

But that's not DT, which I believe is the key. You'll notice that while MP had one of the shows filmed (I think in the Netherlands), it has never been released. Of course there could have been other reasons to hold off on releasing it before MP returned to the band, but now that he is back in the band, there's all the more reason for them to do it as a band as was originally intended. The big question would be that when they do decide to tackle it (whether on this tour or one in the future), will they play it at every show like MP had intended for the 2011-2012 tour that never was, or will it just be played at certain shows?

Off topic note. I wish MP would release a Shattered Fortress show, he records EVERYTHING so its a matter of time, pun intended.   

[Setlist Scotty]

I really hope they don't turn this into "Mike Portnoy's Dream Theater."

Why would it? If anything, it's less that than it was when he split from the band, considering what he and the other guys have been saying in interviews.

[hefdaddy42]

Why would it? If anything, it's less that than it was when he split from the band, considering what he and the other guys have been saying in interviews.

Playing the 12-Step Suite in its entirety and The Best of Times would totally lean in the direction of "Mike Portnoy's Dream Theater". 

I for one would rather see his influence in other ways, rather than using half of the setlist time on songs associated with his personal life.

[devieira73]

Even though JP isn't a fan of medleys, I think this time they'll play Instrumedley, just to at least have a little bit of each album in this tour. Hopefully even something from the Majesty demos (and sorry for the broken record here! ). I was betting that they would release the new album around September, mirroring ADTOE's schedule, but since the interview with JLB and the lack of news about the album so far (and it looks like JLB is still recording the vocals), it really seems like a release for 2025. I hope they release at least one or two singles already this year, to see them live in December.

Just for comparision, OTBOA was released on June 29, 2011 and it seems that ADTOE was announced even sooner, at least on June 8, 2011 (https://ultimateclassicrock.com/dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events-new-album/).

[Setlist Scotty]

Even though JP isn't a fan of medleys, I think this time they'll play Instrumedley, just to at least have a little bit of each album in this tour. Hopefully even something from the Majesty demos (and sorry for the broken record here! ). I was betting that they would release the new album around September, mirroring ADTOE's schedule, but since the interview with JLB and the lack of news about the album so far (and it looks like JLB is still recording the vocals), it really seems like a release for 2025. I hope they release at least one or two singles already this year, to see them live in December.

Just for comparision, OTBOA was released on June 29, 2011 and it seems that ADTOE was announced even sooner, at least on June 8, 2011 (https://ultimateclassicrock.com/dream-theater-a-dramatic-turn-of-events-new-album/).

FYI, SFaM follows an even closer schedule (or at least starting point) to the new one. They started work on it on February 8, completed work on the album before doing their first gig in South Korea with JR as a band member (July 31), completed mixing (or I guess remixing) and mastering on August 26, released Home as a promo single October 11 and the full album October 26.

If they followed the schedule they did for SFaM, they could quite easily have the new album released a couple weeks before the start of the tour if there aren't any hang ups that would push the schedule back (as was the case with JP wanting to remix SFaM). Then again, JP had made that comment in a brief video earlier this year that (I'm paraphrasing) "you have no idea what's in store for you" regarding the new album. That could be typical new album hype, but it does make me wonder if it's something more than just a new album with MP back.

As for the Instrumedley, it's possible they might bring it back, but I could quite easily see MP put together a new Instrumedley as well. I thought using TSF as a foundation (much the same way TDoE was a foundation of the original) would be perfect since it would be very easy to weave in and out of various excerpts of the 12SS besides instrumental bits from other songs. But I doubt that will happen since the band still hasn't performed the full 12SS yet, which I believe will happen either on this tour or the next.

[KevShmev]

Playing the 12-Step Suite in its entirety and The Best of Times would totally lean in the direction of "Mike Portnoy's Dream Theater". 

I for one would rather see his influence in other ways, rather than using half of the setlist time on songs associated with his personal life.

Agreed.  I think the band, and Petrucci especially, is too smart to bring him back and allow him to turn the band back into the "Mike Portnoy and Friends" thing it had become prior to his departure in 2010. 

Besides, the 12SS isn't that great as a whole anyway, and the band has a ton of good songs that are long overdue to be played again. Wasting an hour of a set on something Portnoy already got out of his system with the Shattered Fortress shows is totally unnecessary.

[devieira73]

As Scott pointed out, I also was thinking about a new version of Instrumedley to cover instrumental parts from songs of albums not represented in the setlist.

[devieira73]

Incredible how fast they made an album so complex like SFAM.

[gzarruk]

Incredible how fast they made an album so complex like SFAM.

To be fair, they already had the Met. Pt. 2 song written as a starting point, they didn't start SFAM from scratch.







...And for ADTOE, they already had IAW

[Mosh]

Honestly the idea of them including 6 lengthy songs (12SS + TBOT) devoted to some of Mike Portnoy's most personal lyrics is really weird to me. I don't see how that wouldn't come off as the "Mike Portnoy show." I think it's highly possible we get TBOT on this tour and maybe one or two 12SS songs in the rotation, but that's it.

With that being said though, I also think performing the 12SS with Dream Theater has to be a major bucket list item for MP. And, who knows, maybe the other guys want to do that too. They helped construct the behemoth after all. I think the biggest struggle there is just the amount of setlist time dedicated to that. And with the amount of work to prepare those five songs, including some of their most challenging material, I have a hard time seeing them one and done-ing it too. I think it's on the to do list but not a high priority, but I could be wrong of course.

One thing I continue to be curious about is what MP's bucket list looks like. He got to do some DT stuff outside of DT and of course DT did a lot of stuff without MP. Both parties performed The Shattered Fortress, but never together. Is it something that MP prioritizes revisiting with DT? Does he care that much about having not played Space Dye Vest live even though the rest of DT has? He got to do 12SS but does it matter if DT never did it? Are unplayed Mangini era songs bucket list items? Even songs that were played live in the Mangini era that rarely, if ever, saw the light of day live in the MP days such as Don't Look Past Me or even Hell's Kitchen. It'll be interesting to see the setlist decisions based around his time out of the band.

[TAC]

I can't see them playing the 12SS AND TBoT in one show, but I can see them playing the 12SS in select cities, while also including TBoT in the master setlist. If they do it, I think it has to be on the fall tour. I don't think there's going to be room for it while touring the new album.

I see Octavarium as the encore.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

I agree they aren't gonna do the 12SS.

If anything they should just do The Mirror/Lie

[Setlist Scotty]

I can't see them playing the 12SS AND TBoT in one show, but I can see them playing the 12SS in select cities, while also including TBoT in the master setlist. If they do it, I think it has to be on the fall tour. I don't think there's going to be room for it while touring the new album.

If they plan to do the 12SS and TBoT on this tour, this is what I imagine is the most likely scenario. I can also see them still doing the 12SS at a few shows after the release of the new album, but probably very few.

[gzarruk]

This could be a hint for the upcoming set from Jordan, but I hope they don't play that one this time...

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/QBnXHjofVMNoKQio/?mibextid=WC7FNe

[Mosh]

I feel like Overture/Strange Deja Vu is a very plausible show opener. Won't be surprised at all, or something like Glass Prison into Strange Deja Vu like in the Six Degrees days.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

This could be a hint for the upcoming set from Jordan, but I hope they don't play that one this time...

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/QBnXHjofVMNoKQio/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Nice catch. High probability that they play this in my book. I am just hoping they give Spirit Carries on a rest.

[devieira73]

Overture/Strange Deja Vu is always a great scene from that memory.
Maybe it will be part of Instrumedley 2? Anyway, all of Scenes was played live recently and some of it will be played this time again, no doubt. And I think that the less expected songs will come from other albums.

[gzarruk]

I still don't understand wanting a new Instrumedley, if they want a long instrumental in there, just do Stream of Consciousness.

[KevShmev]

I still don't understand wanting a new Instrumedley, if they want a long instrumental in there, just do Stream of Consciousness.

Agreed.  Ditching the medleys in general was a major positive in the live sets during the Mangini era, and it would feel like a major regression if they went back to doing any medleys.  Why spend all that time writing and crafting songs if you are just going to hack them up and stitch a bunch of pieces that don't really go together in one big mess of a medley?  Play the songs.

[TAC]

Agreed.  Ditching the medleys in general was a major positive in the live sets during the Mangini era, and it would feel like a major regression if they went back to doing any medleys.  Why spend all that time writing and crafting songs if you are just going to hack them up and stitch a bunch of pieces that don't really go together in one big mess of a medley?  Play the songs.

Yup!

[wolfking]

Agree, medleys are awful IMO, from any band.

[gzarruk]

Why spend all that time writing and crafting songs if you are just going to hack them up and stitch a bunch of pieces that don't really go together in one big mess of a medley?  Play the songs.

[Setlist Scotty]

Agreed.  Ditching the medleys in general was a major positive in the live sets during the Mangini era, and it would feel like a major regression if they went back to doing any medleys.  Why spend all that time writing and crafting songs if you are just going to hack them up and stitch a bunch of pieces that don't really go together in one big mess of a medley?  Play the songs.

Because they have way too much material in their catalog to play, and because sometimes (admittedly not always), some medleys - such as the Instrumedley - do an awesome job of piecing together parts of different songs into something different to surprise fans. I know the first time I saw the Instrumedley live, which also happened to be the first time it was ever performed (2002/08/10 in Los Angeles), my head was spinning from the way they went from one part into another, especially where it was almost seamless. And I know that there's a noticeable number of people who in general are not medley people that *do* still like the Instrumedley. I think that's saying something.

Finally, just because they spent "all that time writing and crafting songs" doesn't mean that those songs are forever damaged if they're not played in full. The studio versions are still there to be listened to whenever and however often you care. Besides, how often have some of you critics been upset because they only did parts of their big epics (in particular ACoS, SDoIT and ItPoE)? For the most part, I bet none of you. Hell, even JP himself willingly played only parts of SDoIT and ItPoE during the MM-era of the band. So I'm sorry, but I don't buy the whole "play the full song or nothing" attitude.

[crystalstars17]

Agree, medleys are awful IMO, from any band.

💯

[KevShmev]

Because they have way too much material in their catalog to play, and because sometimes (admittedly not always), some medleys - such as the Instrumedley - do an awesome job of piecing together parts of different songs into something different to surprise fans. I know the first time I saw the Instrumedley live, which also happened to be the first time it was ever performed (2002/08/10 in Los Angeles), my head was spinning from the way they went from one part into another, especially where it was almost seamless. And I know that there's a noticeable number of people who in general are not medley people that *do* still like the Instrumedley. I think that's saying something.

Finally, just because they spent "all that time writing and crafting songs" doesn't mean that those songs are forever damaged if they're not played in full. The studio versions are still there to be listened to whenever and however often you care. Besides, how often have some of you critics been upset because they only did parts of their big epics (in particular ACoS, SDoIT and ItPoE)? For the most part, I bet none of you. Hell, even JP himself willingly played only parts of SDoIT and ItPoE during the MM-era of the band. So I'm sorry, but I don't buy the whole "play the full song or nothing" attitude.

Playing a bunch of songs in a medley is different from not playing songs in full, but that was some impressive goal post moving there.  

But since you went there, name one Dream Theater song in the Mangini era that they played in abridged form vs. how it is featured on the studio album from which it originated (and not counting stuff like the long fadeout at the end of Losing Time/Grand Finale or the isolated piano at the tail end of Strange Deja Vu that leads into Through My Words on the record or stuff like that).  In the Presence of Enemies Part 1 is its own song on the studio album, and they played the song in full on the D/T-Scenes joint tour in 2019.  For whatever their intentions were or however some view it, the Six Degrees suite is eight songs on the studio album, so which of them wasn't played in full?  I know you will say, "In the Presence of Enemies and Six Degrees are two singular tracks as a whole," and that is fine, but I suspect Petrucci doesn't see it that way, otherwise why did they never played abridged parts from The Count of Tuscany, Octavarium, A Change of Seasons or Illumination Theory live from 2012-2023? 

[hefdaddy42]

Because they have way too much material in their catalog to play

That's not a problem to solve, and if it was, medleys wouldn't solve it.

and because sometimes (admittedly not always), some medleys - such as the Instrumedley - do an awesome job of piecing together parts of different songs into something different to surprise fans. I know the first time I saw the Instrumedley live, which also happened to be the first time it was ever performed (2002/08/10 in Los Angeles), my head was spinning from the way they went from one part into another, especially where it was almost seamless. And I know that there's a noticeable number of people who in general are not medley people that *do* still like the Instrumedley. I think that's saying something.

I am one of those people.  They hit the one-in-a-million with Instrumedley.  Now they need to leave it alone.

Finally, just because they spent "all that time writing and crafting songs" doesn't mean that those songs are forever damaged if they're not played in full. The studio versions are still there to be listened to whenever and however often you care.

That's irrelevant.  We are talking about live performances.

Besides, how often have some of you critics been upset because they only did parts of their big epics (in particular ACoS, SDoIT and ItPoE)? For the most part, I bet none of you. Hell, even JP himself willingly played only parts of SDoIT and ItPoE during the MM-era of the band. So I'm sorry, but I don't buy the whole "play the full song or nothing" attitude.

"Upset" isn't the word I would use, but I didn't like when they used pieces of ACOS or 8VM in medleys throughout the years.  Because playing medleys is the problem.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

It'd be cool if they threw some curveballs into the performances. No medleys, but like maybe if they did a song like Untethered Angel instead of that songs normal instrumental break they could insert the instrumental parts from Endless Sacrifice. Keep the fans on their toes, ya know?

[brakkum]

It'd be cool if they threw some curveballs into the performances. No medleys, but like maybe if they did a song like Untethered Angel instead of that songs normal instrumental break they could insert the instrumental parts from Endless Sacrifice. Keep the fans on their toes, ya know?

How is that not a form of medley I don't think there's a minimum song count to label something a medley. At my first DT show the encore was the Pull Me Under/Metropolis Pt. 1 medley. It was largely both songs played in full if I recall, but it still was not individual performances of those songs.

The problem is that people want to see a song in full to appreciate something they enjoy. For example I've been to 9 DT shows and will say that I've never seen Learning to Live performed live. I've seen large portions of it in medleys, but to me it's still on my DT bucket list to see that song performed live, because I haven't experienced it in full.

[devieira73]

Because they have way too much material in their catalog to play, and because sometimes (admittedly not always), some medleys - such as the Instrumedley - do an awesome job of piecing together parts of different songs into something different to surprise fans. I know the first time I saw the Instrumedley live, which also happened to be the first time it was ever performed (2002/08/10 in Los Angeles), my head was spinning from the way they went from one part into another, especially where it was almost seamless. And I know that there's a noticeable number of people who in general are not medley people that *do* still like the Instrumedley. I think that's saying something.

That's exactly my feeling about it, since I don't like medleys as a rule. Anyways, I mentionded Instrumedley just because I think it's a real possibility for DT to represent all the albums in this tour this way. BUT, my personal preference is that they do it, playing entire songs from all eras and albums by rotating setlists.

[Chino]

It just occurred to me that medleys are the complete opposite of overtures. They happen in the middle of the set and are comprised of musical themes that weren't included in the rest of the performance.

[Setlist Scotty]

Playing a bunch of songs in a medley is different from not playing songs in full, but that was some impressive goal post moving there.  

I fail to see how it really is all that different. And yes, ItPoE and SDoIT are singular tracks, regardless of what the general consensus here is because that's what the band stated.    So yes, those songs were *not* played in full and no one batted an eyelash over that fact; that the sections they played were done in full makes no difference.

As for why they didn't split up parts of the other epics during the MM-era, sure some of that could have come down to JP's hatred for medleys, but it also could be because he wanted to focus on other songs. But there were two examples besides those 2 tracks, both on the 2015 tour. The first was the abbreviated intro to BitS; yes it was prerecorded and the part the band played was the same as on other tours, but the point stands. And also at shows where they were able to play their full intended setlist, they tagged Innocence from ACoS on to the end of CiaW. So while not often, even during the MM-era, it did happen (besides the breaking up of ItPoE and SDoIT).

That's not a problem to solve, and if it was, medleys wouldn't solve it.

Including parts of songs that would otherwise not get played (for whatever reason – too obscure, JL can't hit the notes anymore, etc.) would tick off more songs having been performed at least in part, especially if nothing from the representative album would otherwise not be in the setlist, so I disagree.

I am one of those people.  They hit the one-in-a-million with Instrumedley.  Now they need to leave it alone.

Two things: you don't think it's possible for MP to come up with something equally creative? Obviously not, but being a master at arranging, I think you're selling the man short on his abilities. Not only that, but since you don't like medleys, I'd wager you had the same feeling for the Instrumedley until you heard it for yourself, and yet your attitude changed. *If* MP were to do another Instrumedley, how do you know you wouldn't have the same experience again?

That's irrelevant.  We are talking about live performances.

Exactly. So take it for what it is: the band performing something different from the way it is on the album. If you don't like it, you still have the original version to listen to when you get home.

[Glasser]

It'd be cool if they threw some curveballs into the performances. No medleys, but like maybe if they did a song like Untethered Angel instead of that songs normal instrumental break they could insert the instrumental parts from Endless Sacrifice. Keep the fans on their toes, ya know?

That's interesting but it would still fall into a medley scheme.

[Adami]

That's interesting but it would still fall into a medley scheme.

I mostly dug Caught in a New Millenium.

Me? I love when things get weird live. I really get bored with "here's a perfect recreation of what you have at home but now you can stare at us do it."

Get nuts. Change up arraingments. Turn some songs acoustic. Do medleys. Merge songs. Make it unique.