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

[RaiseTheKnife]

Thanks, RTK, really interesting!
By the way, I didn't know JM wrote the lyrics for March the Tyrant! Is it in the Majesty Official Bootleg?  I can't remember that in the liner notes. Is there any site that lists DT demo songs and who wrote their lyrics?

I don't recall that its in the Majesty liner notes.  There was a cover letter by DT's very first manager introducing the demo to a few key industry people and I think the letter lists the song writing credits.

[durga2112]

RaiseTheKnife, you have this Meet & Greet stuff down to a science! Thanks for sharing all of this.

Also, between things like this and listening to some of the old DVD commentaries (where he's spouting trivia every couple of minutes) recently, I have realized that Portnoy truly belongs in this band - he's not just the drummer, he's their biggest fan and he lives and breathes Dream Theater. If he ever writes a memoir, it will be a day one purchase for me.

[pg1067]

DT M&G QUESTIONS 2025 (Part 2)

Hoping that someone will ask at some point whether they considered doing a WDADU song or otherwise mentioning Charlie.

[RaiseTheKnife]

For this anniversary tour, I think that should be considered asked and answered.  I think MP would have mentioned it when I asked about March 6.

[direwhale]

I'm going to the San Jose Civic show on Monday. Do any of you have suggestions of questions I should ask at the Meet and Greet?

[cramx3]

Nothing special for the WDAU aniversary date in Denver... so does that mean they are saving smething for RCMH?

Speaking of... FINALLY, just got a second hand ticket for RCMH.  Must say, my wait strategy DID NOT pay off this time    You win some, you lose some, but I will be in the building and that's what matters most.

[Lonk]

I'm going to the San Jose Civic show on Monday. Do any of you have suggestions of questions I should ask at the Meet and Greet?

Don't feel like you need to ask anything. You can always just pay them a compliment or make a comment. If you do decide to ask a question, just make sure it's something you are interested in knowing and that you are being respectful.

For example, I did M&G for the TA tour and I gave James a compliment on his performance in the album (Which I think he appreciated, since he gave me a fist-bump  ) and asked JP a question about his guitar setup. Another time I asked JR about his Wizard guitar.

[gzarruk]

I'm going to the San Jose Civic show on Monday. Do any of you have suggestions of questions I should ask at the Meet and Greet?

I'd greatly appreciate it if you could ask them (most likely JP and/or MP) about the Lost Not Forgotten Archives/official bootlegs. Any plans to release more of them or are they gone for good? Even before he rejoined, MP said he had contributed to "several new releases" from his archives, yet we only got one of those.

[devieira73]

I'd greatly appreciate it if you could ask them (most likely JP and/or MP) about the Lost Not Forgotten Archives/official bootlegs. Any plans to release more of them or are they gone for good? Even before he rejoined, MP said he had contributed to "several new releases" from his archives, yet we only got one of those.

I'm really curious about it too.

[durga2112]

Ask when Metropolis Pt. 3 is coming out. 

[hefdaddy42]

Ask when Metropolis Pt. 3 is coming out. 

Please do not do this

[Glasser]

Please do not do this

[durga2112]

Serious question: do they have any plans to complete the series of cover albums they did in the 2000s? (assuming I'm remembering correctly that they had plans to cover five albums) And if not, will they ever reveal what the fifth album would have been?

[direwhale]

Serious question: do they have any plans to complete the series of cover albums they did in the 2000s? (assuming I'm remembering correctly that they had plans to cover five albums) And if not, will they ever reveal what the fifth album would have been?

Maybe... If I remember... 

[hefdaddy42]

Serious question: do they have any plans to complete the series of cover albums they did in the 2000s? (assuming I'm remembering correctly that they had plans to cover five albums) And if not, will they ever reveal what the fifth album would have been?

I don't think it was a plan.  I think it was a "plan."

[gzarruk]

Serious question: do they have any plans to complete the series of cover albums they did in the 2000s? (assuming I'm remembering correctly that they had plans to cover five albums) And if not, will they ever reveal what the fifth album would have been?

Scotty would definitely know the answer to this.

[TAC]

I'd greatly appreciate it if you could ask them (most likely JP and/or MP) about the Lost Not Forgotten Archives/official bootlegs. Any plans to release more of them or are they gone for good? Even before he rejoined, MP said he had contributed to "several new releases" from his archives, yet we only got one of those.

YES! Great question.

[Stadler]

Serious question: do they have any plans to complete the series of cover albums they did in the 2000s? (assuming I'm remembering correctly that they had plans to cover five albums) And if not, will they ever reveal what the fifth album would have been?

I thought it was already "revealed" to have been "Moving Pictures".

[Skeever]

Serious question: do they have any plans to complete the series of cover albums they did in the 2000s? (assuming I'm remembering correctly that they had plans to cover five albums) And if not, will they ever reveal what the fifth album would have been?

I sure hope not

[El Barto]

A: I'd kill to see them cover Moving Pictures.

B: I recall that they were only doing that on the second night of two-night stands. Those no longer seem to be a thing, so I wouldn't bet on it happening.

[Cool Chris]

A: I'd kill to see them cover Moving Pictures.

Not challenging, genuinely curious... Why?

[Stadler]

Bart can answer himself, but I'm with him on this.  I think that's the optimum album to cover; still some prog (The Camera Eye), some zeitgeist songs (Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta) and some things that might be fun for the band to play.  It's also one of the better balances of guitar and keys, and also has Geddy singing in a reasonable range.   Not for nothing, but I hear a LOT of "Moving Pictures" in "Images And Words". 

[TAC]

but I hear a LOT of "Moving Pictures" in "Images And Words". 

When I first heard I&W, I always said that THIS is the music Rush should be making.

[Mosh]

I would prefer never to hear DT cover anything again.

[El Barto]

Not challenging, genuinely curious... Why?

I dig the album, and Dream Theater is an exceptional cover band. They occasionally pick some clunkers, but when they pick the right albums they're capable of hitting it out of the park. Plus, I dig interesting live bits. The people who were on hand to see the DSotM cover in London are quite fortunate, in my book.

[SeRoX]

When I first heard I&W, I always said that THIS is the music Rush should be making.

I imagine Geddy Lee singing Learning To Live or Metropolis. Uhhh no. I can't stand his voice, even at his prime time. Oddly enough despite of his vocals I love Rush, especially early stuff.

[TAC]

I imagine Geddy Lee singing Learning To Live or Metropolis. Uhhh no. I can't stand his voice, even at his prime time. Oddly enough despite of his vocals I love Rush, especially early stuff.

Well, I didn't mean literally I&W, but I meant more musically speaking.

[SeRoX]

Well, I didn't mean literally I&W, but I meant more musically speaking.

Yeah I get it but I just imagine it vocally.    But yeah Rush could do I&W-ish sound justice.

[cramx3]

I would prefer never to hear DT cover anything again.

I can understand not wanting to see DT do a cover at the show you go to, but boy would it be unfortunate if they never did covers anymore.  They, historically, just do them so well IMO.

[DTiwbwMP]

AFAIC, DT could do a cover at EVERY show they do! Just watching them play anything is cool with me.

[ganpondorodf]

I know that if DT were playing two nights in my city, and the second night was the only one that fit with my schedule, I'd be a little pissed if a hefty chunk of the setlist was taken up with 'Master of Puppets... with KEYBOARDS!'

[pg1067]

Serious question: do they have any plans to complete the series of cover albums they did in the 2000s? (assuming I'm remembering correctly that they had plans to cover five albums) And if not, will they ever reveal what the fifth album would have been?

I thought it was already "revealed" to have been "Moving Pictures".

I thought that as well.  In fact, I recall one of the tours back in the mid- to late '00s, they had a two night stint in Calgary, and I thought for sure they'd be covering a Rush album (likely Moving Pictures) on the second night.  I have serious thought to flying up there for it.  In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't because I recall they didn't do anything special.

I had a lengthy discussion/argument with Scotty a while back about this.  My position has always been that, if you know about the cover show before you drop money for the ticket, that's fine.  However, if I had shown up and got a bunch of Pink Floyd material, I'd have been PISSED.  Scotty seemed to think it was well known that this was a possibility when they played back-to-back nights, but I sure as heck didn't know about it back when they did these.  By the time I heard about it, they weren't doing it anymore.

[TAC]

However, if I had shown up and got a bunch of Pink Floyd material, I'd have been PISSED.

I agree. I mean, it's a delicate thing. I wouldn't care to see Master Of Puppets either.


My wish was always a two night stint in Boston and they play Boston's 1st album.

[CodyWanKenobi]

Saw the show on Saturday. My takeaways:

• First show of theirs I've seen in years that wasn't the loudest concert I've ever been to.
• The band sounded great!
• I thought James killed it!  A couple of rough moments, but definitely the best he's sounded out the 9 DT shows I've been to.
• Setlist was great!
• Couldn't hear MP's cymbals that great. Thought the live mix was a little eh - Jordan was REALLY loud, which wasn't that bad considering I feel like he's usually buried. Definitely got better as the show went on, particularly during the second set.
• The crowd was fuckin awesome. 100% the best crowd at a DT show I've ever been to. They even stood! Everyone sat throughout my last five or six DT shows, so this was a pleasant change!
• The closer was an absolute bucket list song for me (song before encores - trying to be spoiler free). Wanted to fuckin cry man. And wow, what a beautiful set design - the visualizers were amazing. Definitely had that arena show vibe to it in a more intimate (albeit 6000 seat venue lol) setting.
• Lastly, the new songs were killer live!

Thoroughly ecstatic with the experience.

[Glasser]

I thought it was already "revealed" to have been "Moving Pictures".

Yes please.