Dream Theater North American Tour Dates (Feb-Mar, 2025)

[hefdaddy42]

I've been trying to avoid setlist spoilers for the show and have done a reasonable job, but was looking for update about James' health ahead of the Dallas date and had a song spoiled. One of the metal news aggregators spoiled another for me. All together, I know four of the songs they're doing. I should've gone completely dark. Someone tell me I haven't ruined the experience for myself, I'm feeling a little bummed!

Yeah, you should have gone dark.

But it's an 18 song setlist.  If you know 4, you've still got a lot of surprises coming.

[dualpalmpilots]

It was tough to go completely dark for 6 months, but I'm honestly glad to know that I know less than a quarter of the entire set. Makes a difference for me. It's gonna be a great show.

[hefdaddy42]

It was tough to go completely dark for 6 months, but I'm honestly glad to know that I know less than a quarter of the entire set. Makes a difference for me. It's gonna be a great show.

Yeah it is.

I've gotta say, I already knew the setlist.  But even then, it's one thing to see it written down, but hearing it, the flow is incredibly great.  Maybe as good a setlist as I've seen from them in that regard.

[Stadler]

Yeah it is.

I've gotta say, I already knew the setlist.  But even then, it's one thing to see it written down, but hearing it, the flow is incredibly great.  Maybe as good a setlist as I've seen from them in that regard.

I get it, Tastes/Preferences, but knowing [two specific songs] are coming not only doesn't diminish my excitement, it enhances it.   Greatly. 

[dualpalmpilots]

Yeah it is.

I've gotta say, I already knew the setlist.  But even then, it's one thing to see it written down, but hearing it, the flow is incredibly great.  Maybe as good a setlist as I've seen from them in that regard.

Incredible. This will be my tenth time seeing them, the first time was 20 years ago on Gigantour. I was 15. I feel as excited for it now as I did then.

[DTiwbwMP]

The setlist is incredible. The only song that I didn't think hit a homerun was Barstool Warrior. Good song no doubt but just didn't do IT for me LIVE.

[pg1067]

I've been trying to avoid setlist spoilers for the show and have done a reasonable job, but was looking for update about James' health ahead of the Dallas date and had a song spoiled. One of the metal news aggregators spoiled another for me. All together, I know four of the songs they're doing. I should've gone completely dark. Someone tell me I haven't ruined the experience for myself, I'm feeling a little bummed!

I know the entire setlist, and I think most folks here do as well.  I haven't "ruined" anything for myself, and I don't think anyone else here feels that anything has been ruined, so I'm not sure anyone other than you can speak intelligently about whether your knowledge of less than a 1/4 of the set list will "ruin" anything for you.

P.S.  Hanging around in this thread probably isn't a good idea if you don't want setlist info.

[TAC]

P.S.  Hanging around in this thread probably isn't a good idea if you don't want setlist info.

 

[RaiseTheKnife]

DT M&G QUESTIONS 2025 (part 1)

RALEIGH, NC - MEET & GREET QUESTIONS:  Taken from the Meet & Greet at Raleigh North Carolina, February 7, 2025.  I prewrote the questions, but the responses are an approximation based on my best recollection. [SPOILER ALERT for those trying to avoid setlist spoilers]

John Petrucci

• RTK: Any chances of seeing a printed guitar tab book for Parasomnia?  Or are guitar tab books generally a thing of the past?
• JP:  No, I don't  think they're  a thing of the past.  I need to call my guy to talk about this.  But yeah, we skipped the last album. 
• RTK:  It would be great to complete the set.

Jordan Rudess

• RTK:  The last time Octavarium was in the setlist, you had a massive keyboard setup.  What was the decision process not to use a similar setup this time around?
• JR:  You mean from a long time ago?  The current rig gets basically the same sound, but the old rig mostly just looked cool.  I did bring back the Continuum and Lap Steel Guitar.

Mike Portnoy

• RTK: Are there any Dream Theater songs from the last 15 years that you wish you were involved in the creation?   A song that would have been fun to be part of its development?
• MP:  That's an interesting question, haven't been asked that yet.  I'm not really sure.  Well, there are a couple songs in tonight's setlist, but I'd have to think about that.

James Labrie

• RTK:  With so many wives and children of Dream Theater being musicians, have you ever considered getting everyone together for a big jam family gathering?
• JL:  No, it would be impossible with everyone so spread out all over the place.  And if we got together we'd probably do something else.
• RTK:  Like barbeque?
• JL:  Yeah, but a jam would be cool.

John Myung

• RFK:  Do you have a favorite Dream Theater album for its cover art.
• JM:  I'd have to think about that.  [pauses to consider]  Probably Image & Words.

I have a M&G next week in Los Angeles, so I may have a second round of questions.  Although I'm tempted to prepare some DT trivia questions this time around.

[Skeever]

DT M&G QUESTIONS 2025 (part 1)

RALEIGH, NC - MEET & GREET QUESTIONS:  Taken from the Meet & Greet at Raleigh North Carolina, February 7, 2025.  I prewrote the questions, but the responses are an approximation based on my best recollection. [SPOILER ALERT for those trying to avoid setlist spoilers]

John Petrucci

• RTK: Any chances of seeing a printed guitar tab book for Parasomnia?  Or are guitar tab books generally a thing of the past?
• JP:  No, I don't  think they're  a thing of the past.  I need to call my guy to talk about this.  But yeah, we skipped the last album. 
• RTK:  It would be great to complete the set.

Jordan Rudess

• RTK:  The last time Octavarium was in the setlist, you had a massive keyboard setup.  What was the decision process not to use a similar setup this time around?
• JR:  You mean from a long time ago?  The current rig gets basically the same sound, but the old rig mostly just looked cool.  I did bring back the Continuum and Lap Steel Guitar.

Mike Portnoy

• RTK: Are there any Dream Theater songs from the last 15 years that you wish you were involved in the creation?   A song that would have been fun to be part of its development?
• MP:  That's an interesting question, haven't been asked that yet.  I'm not really sure.  Well, there are a couple songs in tonight's setlist, but I'd have to think about that.

James Labrie

• RTK:  With so many wives and children of Dream Theater being musicians, have you ever considered getting everyone together for a big jam family gathering?
• JL:  No, it would be impossible with everyone so spread out all over the place.  And if we got together we'd probably do something else.
• RTK:  Like barbeque?
• JL:  Yeah, but a jam would be cool.

John Myung

• RFK:  Do you have a favorite Dream Theater album for its cover art.
• JM:  I'd have to think about that.  [pauses to consider]  Probably Image & Words.

I have a M&G next week in Los Angeles, so I may have a second round of questions.  Although I'm tempted to prepare some DT trivia questions this time around.

Pretty decent questions. I'd ask Jordan if John would ever let him play guitar on a Dream Theater album, and then ask John the same question.

[gzarruk]

I have a M&G next week in Los Angeles, so I may have a second round of questions.  Although I'm tempted to prepare some DT trivia questions this time around.

Great questions!

I'd ask MP, as he's clearly the most invested in these things, to finally put the debate to rest on whether SDOIT disc 2 is just one song or not. Same thing with ITPOE and A Mind Beside Itself.

[gzarruk]

According to setlist fm they just played today that other song we saw was being rehearsed for this leg of the tour.

[Metro]

According to setlist fm they just played today that other song we saw was being rehearsed for this leg of the tour.

If that's true...ew.

[Shadow2222]

Oh no, oh noooo, not at the expense of Panic Attack especially. Bummer

I also see that Dark Eternal Night got swapped back for Constant Motion and As I Am is back in, which I'm guessing meant no Under a Glass Moon unless they took Midnight Messiah out, which seems unlikely.

[Stadler]

Oh no, oh noooo, not at the expense of Panic Attack especially. Bummer

I also see that Dark Eternal Night got swapped back for Constant Motion and As I Am is back in, which I'm guessing meant no Under a Glass Moon unless they took Midnight Messiah out, which seems unlikely.

Dammit.

[EvantheMotel6Owmer]

Panic Attack out for Rite of Passage is a lame swap, tbh.

[NoFred]

Yeah that's a terrible trade

[Laughingplace56]

Oof that's a terrible choice. I was super bummed to think I had missed out on seeing Constant Motion, but I don't think it's worth getting that back if it means losing PA and UAGM to THAT song of all things.     

[jimgolf]

I respect the bands decision for the change to *that* song, but I much prefer the set list I got in Philly.

It's possible they swapped it for a more difficult to sing song because of James being sick.

(I'm speaking In code, but hopefully you gather the two songs I'm referencing).

[Deadeye21]

Yeah, rough trade. I will say though that I am glad to see a certain song back over one that made it into the list this year. I think it ends the first set far better than just cutting to intermission.

[El Barto]

Y'all shouldn't assume it's permanent. They're playing 3 cities within 3 hours of each other. A whole lot of us will catch multiple shows. Since they've already rehearsed more songs than they can play any given evening a little variation makes sense here. I'd honestly be surprised if Dallas gets the same set that Houston did tonight.

In any case, I thought it was a very good setlist. And as I'm sure people have already mentioned countless times, this is the best stage production they've ever had, and it's not even close. Very good show all the way around.

[MidnightSlice]

Some people (Me) like the other song better than Panic Attack. Yes I said it. Quibble over a few songs but this setlist is pound for pound as good as any I've seen (not the heavyweight some of you are, this is my 11th time). The euro/sa setlist was more to my liking anyway. I felt this setlist flowed really well. Yes I was there. It was so nice to see Portnoy with them again. It felt complete. 

[wolfking]

Some people (Me) like the other song better than Panic Attack. Yes I said it.

I'm with you.  I think it's way better than PA.  I never understood why it always received so much hate.

[SeRoX]

AROP live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPZ7lGBl6iE

I can see James is not recovered fully but still pretty good performance.

[hefdaddy42]

Panic Attack out for Rite of Passage is a lame swap, tbh.

We got Panic Attack in Raleigh, but honestly, I don't like either song. So it wouldn't matter to me which one we got.

The rest of the setlist was fire, so I don't care about getting one or even multiple songs I dislike, especially with the knowledge that lots of other fans like those songs a lot.

[gzarruk]

MP said they would "sprinkle" a couple different songs in and out of the set. It wouldn't surprise me if they started some sort of A/B setlist thing now.

BTW, it seems they're always doing one less song now, but I get it.

Also, now we have 11 out of 16 studio albums represented for the 40th anniv. tour. Just missing WDADU, SDOIT, DT, TA and A View.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

SDOIT seems like an odd one to leave out. It's a top 2 album from the classic line up.

[Zydar]

I'm kinda surprised they haven't played anything from WDADU yet as a tribute to Charlie. He's a part of those 40 years too they are celebrating.

[Metro]

I'm kinda surprised they haven't played anything from WDADU yet as a tribute to Charlie. He's a part of those 40 years too they are celebrating.

MP mentioned they rehearsed a song they hadn't played in 20 years. I'm betting on The Killing Hand. And they'll be in Denver on March 6th, the anniversary of WDADU so maybe they play it then.

[mrpmrpmrpmrp]

The setlist is incredible. The only song that I didn't think hit a homerun was Barstool Warrior. Good song no doubt but just didn't do IT for me LIVE.

Pretty decent questions. I'd ask Jordan if John would ever let him play guitar on a Dream Theater album, and then ask John the same question.

I have asked him that on his Instagram live before he doesn't like that question just as a heads up.

[gzarruk]

SDOIT seems like an odd one to leave out. It's a top 2 album from the classic line up.

My guess is they're saving SDOIT for when they do TGP and the rest of the suite. Both Mike and James have expressed their desire to play the whole thing in recent interviews, so it's just a matter of when.

IIRC, MP's original setlist plan was to do DT11 (16 in this case) as set 1 and the suite as set 2. We'll see once the proper Parasomnia tour starts.

[hunnus2000]

My guess is they're saving SDOIT for when they do TGP and the rest of the suite. Both Mike and James have expressed their desire to play the whole thing in recent interviews, so it's just a matter of when.

IIRC, MP's original setlist plan was to do DT11 (16 in this case) as set 1 and the suite as set 2. We'll see once the proper Parasomnia tour starts.

I will be able to make that tour. Any idea when it will begin? I seen interviews about late 2025.

[gzarruk]

I will be able to make that tour. Any idea when it will begin? I seen interviews about late 2025.

He said during the Fall season.

[ReaperKK]

JP once said years ago that he "doesn't do that winger shit" in reference to that question.

[gzarruk]