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

[Setlist Scotty]

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.

Thank you! I'm of the same mindset. And besides, you can be sure that DT would never perform a full set of songs that were completely different from the way they originally appeared on the album, but only a few at most. Considering that they're going to be doing another Evening With tour, that would probably account for 1/5 of the show if even that.

[Adami]

Thank you! I'm of the same mindset. And besides, you can be sure that DT would never perform a full set of songs that were completely different from the way they originally appeared on the album, but only a few at most. Considering that they're going to be doing another Evening With tour, that would probably account for 1/5 of the show if even that.

Indeed. I also recognize I'm not their audience. The odds of me going to see a DT show these days (or almost any show) are close to none. So if they're a band to cater to their fans wishes, then mine isn't one they should be considering.

If most of their ticket buying fans want them to stand there and play their songs from the album, then that's what they should do.

But if they decide to change that and go nuts, I'll be sure to buy the live recording.

[hefdaddy42]

I'm all for changing up arrangements, extending instrumentals/jamming out sections, or making weird changes to songs.

I just don't like 5 sections of individual songs stitched together into a medley.  Play one or two of those 5 songs in full, and mess with them all you want.

[TAC]

I'm all for changing up arrangements, extending instrumentals/jamming out sections, or making weird changes to songs.

To a point, I guess. The version of Solitary Shell they did in 2010 showed that this idea may have jumped the shark.

[hefdaddy42]

To a point, I guess. The version of Solitary Shell they did in 2010 showed that this idea may have jumped the shark.

I don't remember.  What did they do?

[Lonk]

I don't remember.  What did they do?

I think TAC means the extended instrumental section.

https://youtu.be/0c_bi8hZOLo?feature=shared&t=231

[TAC]

Yes. I just found it cheesy


I took these pics at the Boston show..

[Setlist Scotty]

To a point, I guess. The version of Solitary Shell they did in 2010 showed that this idea may have jumped the shark.

That was one of the few times that I wasn't super excited about them changing things up. But the changes they've made to TKH, HY, CiaW and many others, I've loved. Even what they did for BTL - stretching out the "Zappa section (not a Zappa fan at all) – in general I'm fine with.

[TAC]

That was one of the few times that I wasn't super excited about them changing things up. But the changes they've made to TKH, HY, CiaW and many others, I've loved. Even what they did for BTL - stretching out the "Zappa section (not a Zappa fan at all) – in general I'm fine with.

Can't argue with TKH and HY, and they have always done a great job with CiaW live and made it much better than it ever was on Awake.

[pg1067]

I think TAC means the extended instrumental section.

https://youtu.be/0c_bi8hZOLo?feature=shared&t=231

Yeesh...that's the sort of stuff I hate.  It reminds me of metal shows from the '80s when everyone but the guitarist would leave the stage, and the guitarist would just play really fast for 2-3 minutes (see also, 99.9% of non-Neil Peart drum solos).  The only difference here is that the other guys stayed on stage and played a backing track.  Blech...

[brakkum]

I think TAC means the extended instrumental section.

https://youtu.be/0c_bi8hZOLo?feature=shared&t=231

That's way more boring than I remember it being

[KevShmev]

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.     

On their original studio albums, which is what I was talking about, that is incorrect.  But you know this already.  If you want to argue over semantics and/or move the goal posts again, I will bow out of this now.

[Setlist Scotty]

On their original studio albums, which is what I was talking about, that is incorrect.  But you know this already.  If you want to argue over semantics and/or move the goal posts again, I will bow out of this now.

No goal post moving about this at all.  It has been clearly established *why* both epics were indexed to more than a single track on their respective albums, and it had *nothing* to do with them being multiple songs. On top of that, the idea that both are in fact single songs has also been verified by the fact that both appear as single tracks on the follow live albums (Score and CiM). So if anyone's moving the goals posts, it's you. 

[Mladen]

If they were to in fact represent every album throughout the anniversary tour, they could perform a song or two from the following albums every night...

When dream and day unite
Images and words
Metropolis pt. 2: Scenes from a memory
Six degrees of inner turbulence
A Dramatic turn of events

...and then have rotating songs from these albums:

Awake / Falling into infinity
Train of thought / Octavarium
Systematic chaos / Black clouds and silver linings
Dream Theater / The Astonishing
Distance over time / A View from the top of the world

That way, we get both the long requested rotating set lists back, as well as the representation of every album throughout the tour.

[devieira73]

Just out of curiosity, a 2h 19min playlist containing the most played live DT songs from every album:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6cXcdbMkmh2yap3HPbjzPf?si=ZMAufZPIRXqL06IS5X0ufg&pi=2Ae-EMJCTqeZt
Sure, I guess it's far from the ideal setlist for everyone here.

[mariner]

There is no way that can be accurate.  For example Strange Deja Vu has been played on multiple tours.  Songs like The Looking Glass were only played on 2 tours.

Here are there 15 most played songs according to setlist.fm

Pull Me Under
Metropolis Pt. 1
The Spirit Carries On
Take the Time
Under a Glass Moon
Surrounded
Learning to Live
Strange Deja Vu
Another Day
Lie
Fatal Tragedy
Home
As I Am
Peruvian Skies
Wait for Sleep

[Setlist Scotty]

There is no way that can be accurate.  For example Strange Deja Vu has been played on multiple tours.  Songs like The Looking Glass were only played on 2 tours.

Correct. But it's a list that contains the most played songs from each respective album, although especially with some of the MM-era albums, more than one song has the same number of times appearing live so it's not as if there aren't other songs that could be put in their place.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

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.

Thank you, Caught in a New Millenium is an example I couldn't name. I wouldn't quite call them medleys bu t they're also not full song performances. I guess the best word for them might be mashups? (even tho that's not really a good literal descriptor either). To me medley is something that is kind of obvious to everyone (oh it's a bunch of highlights of other songs) where this is more of like "wow they were playing one song but then just did stuff from another song!"

Also agree with getting weird live. I have gone to a lot of jam band shows in my day and the surprises and general lack of being able to anticipate ANYTHING about the show is something I really like. DT used to be more in that vein but after MP left they moved away from that almost entirely

[pg1067]

There is no way that can be accurate.  For example Strange Deja Vu has been played on multiple tours.  Songs like The Looking Glass were only played on 2 tours.

It's the most played song from each album (according to setlist.fm).

The Looking Glass is the most played song from DT12 (actually, it's one of three most played songs, with both Along for the Ride and The Enemy Inside being played the same number of times).

TSCO is the most played song from SFAM, so there's no need to consider Strange Deja Vu, even though SDV has been played 4.68x more often than The Looking Glass.

[devieira73]

Correct. But it's a list that contains the most played songs from each respective album, although especially with some of the MM-era albums, more than one song has the same number of times appearing live so it's not as if there aren't other songs that could be put in their place.

Yes, my bad. Indeed from each album, not from all the albums. I guess saying "every album" means the latter. BTW, I didn't check the accuracy of this list, I got it from a news music site. Anyway, I think it's really cool ANTR being the most played from BCSL.

[pg1067]

Yes, my bad. Indeed from each album, not from all the albums. I guess saying "every album" means the latter. BTW, I didn't check the accuracy of this list, I got it from a news music site. Anyway, I think it's really cool ANTR being the most played from BCSL.

FWIW, according to setlist.fm, TCOT has been played at 222 shows (every show ISO View, European festival dates in summer 2011, and what looks like all of the shows ISO BC&SL, except the Iron Maiden openers).  ANTR has been played at 201 shows (every show on the DOT tour and what looks like all of the same BC&SL shows as TCOT).

That, along with Along for the Ride having the same number of plays as TEI and TLG, is the only place where setlist.fm disagrees with your list.

[Setlist Scotty]

Anyway, I think it's really cool ANTR being the most played from BCSL.

Except it isn't.    That honor goes to TCoT.   

According to setlist.fm, the rankings are as follows:
Majesty demos – Another Won (59)
WDaDU – Ytse Jam (305)
IaW – Pull Me Under (847 – highest ranked song)
Awake – Lie (419 – tenth highest ranked song)
ACoS – Innocence (267)
FII – Peruvian Skies (354)
SFaM – The Spirit Carries On (584 – third highest ranked song)
SDoIT – Solitary Shell (234) if counting parts; The Glass Prison (125) for full songs
ToT – As I Am (384)
8v – Panic Attack (194)
SC – The Dark Eternal Night (230)
BCaSL – The Count of Tuscany (222)
ADToE – Breaking All Illusions (279)
s/t – Along for the Ride, The Enemy Inside, The Looking Glass (tie for 97)
TA – Our New World, The Gift of Music (tie for 153)
d/t – Pale Blue Dot, Unthethered Angel (tie for 128)
AVFtTotW – The Alien (128)

edit: ninja'd by pg1067

[devieira73]

  I'm not well today! Sure I wanted to say The Count of Tuscany, of course! The only big epic on the list.

[devieira73]

Well, thinking better, this setlist would be a hell of a 2h 17min show:
Majesty demos – Another Won
WDaDU – Ytse Jam
IaW – Pull Me Under
Awake – Lie
FII – Peruvian Skies
SFaM – The Spirit Carries On
SDoIT – The Glass Prison
ToT – As I Am
8v – Panic Attack
SC – The Dark Eternal Night
BCaSL – The Count of Tuscany
ADToE – Breaking All Illusions
s/t – The Enemy Inside
TA – The Gift of Music
d/t – Pale Blue Dot
AVFtTotW – The Alien

[crystalstars17]

Well, thinking better, this setlist would be a hell of a 2h 17min show:
Majesty demos – Another Won
WDaDU – Ytse Jam
IaW – Pull Me Under
Awake – Lie
FII – Peruvian Skies
SFaM – The Spirit Carries On
SDoIT – The Glass Prison
ToT – As I Am
8v – Panic Attack
SC – The Dark Eternal Night
BCaSL – The Count of Tuscany
ADToE – Breaking All Illusions
s/t – The Enemy Inside
TA – The Gift of Music
d/t – Pale Blue Dot
AVFtTotW – The Alien

The songs in bold are the only ones on this list I would care to hear live.

PMU and TSCO are overplayed.

I don't think James should be singing anything from Awake, honestly. Maybe with the exception of Space Dye Vest (or Silent Man, which wouldn't hurt him but I have no particular desire to see it live).

[hefdaddy42]

Except it isn't.    That honor goes to TCoT.   

According to setlist.fm, the rankings are as follows:
Majesty demos – Another Won (59)
WDaDU – Ytse Jam (305)
IaW – Pull Me Under (847 – highest ranked song)
Awake – Lie (419 – tenth highest ranked song)
ACoS – Innocence (267)
FII – Peruvian Skies (354)
SFaM – The Spirit Carries On (584 – third highest ranked song)
SDoIT – Solitary Shell (234) if counting parts; The Glass Prison (125) for full songs
ToT – As I Am (384)
8v – Panic Attack (194)
SC – The Dark Eternal Night (230)
BCaSL – The Count of Tuscany (222)
ADToE – Breaking All Illusions (279)
s/t – Along for the Ride, The Enemy Inside, The Looking Glass (tie for 97)
TA – Our New World, The Gift of Music (tie for 153)
d/t – Pale Blue Dot, Unthethered Angel (tie for 128)
AVFtTotW – The Alien (128)

edit: ninja'd by pg1067

I find these numbers suspect.  By my count, Pull Me Under has been performed live 15,327 times.

[devieira73]

The songs in bold are the only ones on this list I would care to hear live.

PMU and TSCO are overplayed.

I don't think James should be singing anything from Awake, honestly. Maybe with the exception of Space Dye Vest (or Silent Man, which wouldn't hurt him but I have no particular desire to see it live).

PMU and TSCO sure are overplayed live - also not my personal preference, but they always deliver in spades with the crowd, specially in this next tour that will have a lot more kind of "casual" DT fans than the usual.
I just thought the list, based only on statics, came up with a very cool setlist. I didn't even consider JLB actual capability in singing properly those songs.
I also thought MM songs were very well "picked", since it's a good representation of the albums and his era IMO.

And this setlist, for a 3h show, still has room for 30 min from DT16! 

[crystalstars17]

PMU and TSCO sure are overplayed live - also not my personal preference, but they always deliver in spades with the crowd, specially in this next tour that will have a lot more kind of "casual" DT fans than the usual.

You got me there! It is after all the 40th anniversary!

I didn't even consider JLB actual capability in singing properly those songs.

And to clarify, I didn't mean with what I said that "he can't sing them anymore" or anything of the sort. With careful coaching, he absolutely can. It's more about whether he should. I had a teacher once who always repeated the mantra, "just because you can (sing something) it doesn't mean you should". This means that just because you have the skill set to sing a song (range, timbre, power, etc) that doesn't mean that it's the best song for you to sing in public. It may not show your strengths to advantage, or may display your weaknesses. It won't hit the target, or get you a good review...

Awake songs are from a time when his technique was questionable. He was always pushing, perhaps creating or at least reinforcing bad vocal habits. It was right before the most traumatic event of his career, and perhaps there are habits, muscle memory there that he shouldn't be revisiting at this time.

And what did they give him so much of last tour? Songs from Awake. 

I am hoping for the best for him. I am hoping for his wings to be fully restored. Call me a fangirl all you want, I don't care cause you wouldn't be wrong.

I also thought MM songs were very well "picked", since it's a good representation of the albums and his era IMO.

Well done. 🌟

[Glasser]

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.

I agree! And I think what Hovering said was a cool idea as well.

[Setlist Scotty]

And what did they give him so much of last tour? Songs from Awake. 

That's not really true. Only 2 songs from Awake were played on that tour - 6:00 and CiaW. Granted, the first 32 shows in 2023 had both songs in the setlist, but otherwise only one song from Awake at any given show - that's hardly "so much" IMO.

[crystalstars17]

They're still long and demanding songs from a time when he wasn't singing with a healthy technique. From a setlist perspective it may not be a lot, but from a vocal health perspective it should be an era that they avoid or at least handle with caution, not include it in every show.

Aside from that, 6:00 is getting tired. If they must include something from that album at every show, why not Lifting Shadows? That would at least give him a chance to soar, instead of scream.

[axeman90210]

Ooh, I'd love to hear Lifting Shadows live again. An underappreciated gem from Awake.

[efx]

I also really like LSOAD. I do love 6:00 more though and I think it would be the perfect opening song on the tour. As much as I loved MM's takes on most of the catalogue the opening of that song never sounded just right to me. Would love to hear that one with MP one more time at least.

[Ben_Jamin]

My main wish is to hear the entire A Mind Beside Itself suite.

[CraftyCaleb2483]

1: Hell's Kitchen
2: Trial of Tears (with a long intro like in Schmedley Wilcox)
3: A medley of some kind
4: Octavarium
5: Blind Faith
6: The Dance Of Eternity
7: Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (the whole song like in Score)
One final request is for JR to ditch his Geoshred app and go back to the full size continuum, probably not going to happen though