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

[Shadow2222]

Yeah, even in Score in the animation Rudess turns into Santa Clause for that part

[Cecilia]

CT show.

Meet and greet was cool. I chickened out on getting The Astonishing for my coworker's kid signed. I went with the VIP poster and drumhead. I'll give her whichever Mr. C doesn't want for his studio.

Not much to report on the conversations I had. Told MP same stuff I always say- my forum name, he said he remembers me. He asked if I had seen them on this tour yet. I told him to say hi to Marlene for me.

I thanked JP for being so cool to Mr. C and his band the times they have opened for Judas Priestess over the years, and he has been Rena's guitar tech. He laughed at that part, and asked about Mr. C's band. We talked about that and another one of his bands for a minute, so that was cool.

Teen/early 20s year old me is super happy to have finally met the band together. I have met them all separately on several occasions, and met them with MM when he joined. 

Sorry I didn't get to the meetup. They said we could leave and come back into the venue, but discouraged it.

All in all, the show was pretty good. Band was on point, and JLB was better than expected.

It was cool to see songs I haven't seen in a few years-

AiA, Vacant and SoC. Brought me back to 2003, the ToT tour, and when I was in high school.

8v, I haven't seen since the 20th anniversary Radio City show. Kinda wish they brought back those visuals.

The Mirror was the best.

Next up Radio City!

[voncorn]

-

[Progmaniac1988]

Ah morning after reflection...

The band sounded so tight! And the energy in the room was something special. James sounded really good. There was few moments he "talked" a vocal line. He was right on the money throughout the show.

And man I'm glad MP plays without a click. There has been a stiffness to their live shows the last few times I saw them. They just sounded so energetic. Even my wife who's not the biggest DT fan said she really enjoyed most the show, and prefers this live line up.

Myung was nice and loud in the mix! Portnoy sounded amazing, and what's to really say about JP and JR??? They were incredible.

The setlist - *spoiler alert*
I loved it. Under a glass moon, panic attack, and the dark eternal night were removed for a right of passage, constant motion and as I am. I loved seeing those songs! Constant motion was an unexpected highlight. Goosebumps during hollow years and octavarium!

Amazing show! Hopefully NYC will have the other songs rotated in that were not played at CT.

[Awaken]

Echoing the sentiments from the CT show last night - band was tight and the sound was perfect.  The Oakdale is a great venue, one of the best the State has to offer (IMO).  Great time connecting w Stadler and Chino prior to the show and during intermission. 

Loved the entire setlist, as stated we got the 'B' set (idk if that's what it's called).  I was hoping for Panic Attack, UAGM and ADET but Constant Motion and a Rite of Passage were just awesome live.  They have so many of those songs that I kind of gloss over when listening but live . . . man they are great live tunes.

Woke up this morning and pulled the trigger on a ticket to RCMH, already looking forward to next Saturday.

[Glasser]

I went to the CT. show very excited and optimistic and was completely shocked at how flat it fell. The band looked like they didn't want to be there, they also looked like they all did a shot of NyQuil before going on stage. JLB sounded decent at best. The energy was not there at all. I've seen them many many times over their career and this was hard to watch. 

[TAC]

I went to the CT. show very excited and optimistic and was completely shocked at how flat it fell. The band looked like they didn't want to be there, they also looked like they all did a shot of NyQuil before going on stage. JLB sounded decent at best. The energy was not there at all. I've seen them many many times over their career and this was hard to watch. 

Wow!

Hopefully saving their energy for Boston!

[Glasser]

Wow!

Hopefully saving their energy for Boston!

It seems I'm the only one who feels this way so I wouldn't worry.

[nobloodyname]

I went to the CT. show very excited and optimistic and was completely shocked at how flat it fell. The band looked like they didn't want to be there, they also looked like they all did a shot of NyQuil before going on stage. JLB sounded decent at best. The energy was not there at all. I've seen them many many times over their career and this was hard to watch. 

"Hard to watch", blimey!

[Progmaniac1988]

I went to the CT. show very excited and optimistic and was completely shocked at how flat it fell. The band looked like they didn't want to be there, they also looked like they all did a shot of NyQuil before going on stage. JLB sounded decent at best. The energy was not there at all. I've seen them many many times over their career and this was hard to watch. 

Complete opposite reaction here lol, that's basically how I felt during the view tour and dreamsonic lol

I'd agree James was solid, but not at his absolute best. Nothing sounded straight up bad like the dreamsonic tour tho to my ears. His voice seemed to be pushing a bit around the end of octavarium on. I think he's still recovering.

Overall my favorite show I've seen from them since progressive nation.

[TAC]

It seems I'm the only one who feels this way so I wouldn't worry.

Damn allergies!

[TheCountOfNYC]

This was my sixth time seeing Dream Theater, first time with Mike back in the band, and this was by far the best they've ever sounded. This isn't a "oh everything's better because Portnoy's back" thing btw. While at last shows the mix was basically guitar and drums with a little bit of vocals coming through and they were way too loud even for me, this show there was a good balance of everything, although some of Jordan's patches can still be higher in the mix, and the volume was at a much more bearable level. Combine that with James sounding great, definitely the best I've ever heard him, and this is the best version of them I've seen considering instrumental performance has never been an issue when I've seen them.

[crystalstars17]

The band sounded so tight! And the energy in the room was something special. James sounded really good. There was few moments he "talked" a vocal line. He was right on the money throughout the show.

Agreeing. They were on fire 🔥 James sounded beautiful, probably the best I have heard him live - good breath support and resonance for those long, soaring lines 💙 I thought the setlist was a triumphant anniversary setlist for their 40th, and though I missed hearing something from The Astonishing, I was happy to hear songs from the last decade+ ✨

My only complaint was with the venue, not that the venue itself was bad, but their staff is really militant about phones. This was the third time seeing them there and we've never been treated so badly. My husband and I were told not to use our phones or we'd be kicked out. Plenty of other people were using their phones in our section and were not treated like this, maybe because we were on the aisle (7th row in front of JR). They could've kindly informed us of the rule instead of being so rough right off the bat. I actually apologized to the man but was terribly embarrased. They should make an announcement at the beginning if phones are not allowed, instead of treating people so rudely. Because of this, I missed recording the Octavarium intro, which I waited almost ten years to hear live. It's not as if I would be selling my videos or benefiting from them in any way except for my own memories.

My husband is finally joining this forum and will be posting a review! 😁 I'll point out his post so you can welcome him when he arrives. I told him he'd find his people here. 😅

[Progmaniac1988]

Agreeing. They were on fire 🔥 James sounded beautiful, probably the best I have heard him live - good breath support and resonance for those long, soaring lines 💙 I thought the setlist was a triumphant anniversary setlist for their 40th, and though I missed hearing something from The Astonishing, I was happy to hear songs from the last decade+ ✨

My only complaint was with the venue, not that the venue itself was bad, but their staff is really militant about phones. This was the third time seeing them there and we've never been treated so badly. My husband and I were told not to use our phones or we'd be kicked out. Plenty of other people were using their phones in our section and were not treated like this, maybe because we were on the aisle (7th row in front of JR). They could've kindly informed us of the rule instead of being so rough right off the bat. I actually apologized to the man but was terribly embarrased. They should make an announcement at the beginning if phones are not allowed, instead of treating people so rudely. Because of this, I missed recording the Octavarium intro, which I waited almost ten years to hear live. It's not as if I would be selling my videos or benefiting from them in any way except for my own memories.

My husband is finally joining this forum and will be posting a review! 😁 I'll point out his post so you can welcome him when he arrives. I told him he'd find his people here. 😅

Yeah, the staff was very odd. Like you pointed out I noticed them saying things to random people but not everyone. Someone to my right was threatened to be kicked out after recording just one song near the end, and the guy in front of my wife basically recorded 50% of the show and not a word was said to him. Odd...

The oakdale is also LOUD. My wife and I were thinking "are we just getting old???" But I saw other comments commenting on volume, so maybe it's not just us? lol

That band themselves were fantastic tho!


Looking forward to your husbands review!

[Progmaniac1988]

Now the wait for RCMH, got a feeling this one will be one to remember

[red barchetta]

Started listening to Dream Theater at 47.  Now 16 years later, it was my 5th show last wednesday in Montreal + saw Petrucci solo with Portnoy 2 years ago in a small club. 

This year was the best show I saw from them and Labrie's vocals took me by surprise and he looks in a great shape as well.  Great setlist, heard Octavarium for the first time.

My only minus to the show is about how so loud is the sound.  I think they would get a much clearer sound if they would turn it down just a little bit.  Even when Jordan plays a solo piano piece, it is just not a perfect sound.  I'm not complaining about the fact that it's loud.  I take it anytime but it is more about the quality of the output.  Just a touch lower.

[Glasser]

Welcome to the matrix.... I must have seen the show in another dimension I guess. 

Edit: Don't get me wrong, the show had some nice moments. Hollow Years, The Spirit Carries On, This Is The Life were excellent! It was cool to see Octavarium live since I saw it at the Score show.

[nobloodyname]

Agreeing. They were on fire 🔥 James sounded beautiful, probably the best I have heard him live - good breath support and resonance for those long, soaring lines 💙 I thought the setlist was a triumphant anniversary setlist for their 40th, and though I missed hearing something from The Astonishing, I was happy to hear songs from the last decade+ ✨

My only complaint was with the venue, not that the venue itself was bad, but their staff is really militant about phones. This was the third time seeing them there and we've never been treated so badly. My husband and I were told not to use our phones or we'd be kicked out. Plenty of other people were using their phones in our section and were not treated like this, maybe because we were on the aisle (7th row in front of JR). They could've kindly informed us of the rule instead of being so rough right off the bat. I actually apologized to the man but was terribly embarrased. They should make an announcement at the beginning if phones are not allowed, instead of treating people so rudely. Because of this, I missed recording the Octavarium intro, which I waited almost ten years to hear live. It's not as if I would be selling my videos or benefiting from them in any way except for my own memories.

My husband is finally joining this forum and will be posting a review! 😁 I'll point out his post so you can welcome him when he arrives. I told him he'd find his people here. 😅

Your first show with MP and without a click, right? If I remember correctly, you were worried about the click going. Sounds like you found it okay?

[crystalstars17]

Your first show with MP and without a click, right? If I remember correctly, you were worried about the click going. Sounds like you found it okay?

Yes and yes 🙂 I had no problems with it!

[cramx3]

My only complaint was with the venue, not that the venue itself was bad, but their staff is really militant about phones. This was the third time seeing them there and we've never been treated so badly. My husband and I were told not to use our phones or we'd be kicked out. Plenty of other people were using their phones in our section and were not treated like this, maybe because we were on the aisle (7th row in front of JR). They could've kindly informed us of the rule instead of being so rough right off the bat. I actually apologized to the man but was terribly embarrased. They should make an announcement at the beginning if phones are not allowed, instead of treating people so rudely. Because of this, I missed recording the Octavarium intro, which I waited almost ten years to hear live. It's not as if I would be selling my videos or benefiting from them in any way except for my own memories.

Weird, I kind of thought the band was done with the ushers being a negative to the show. I didn't have this issue at that venue a couple years ago.

[Stadler]

I posted in the other thread; great hang with Awaken and Chino before.  Awesome seeing you guys.

I thought the sound was clearer, but a touch loud.  My ears were ringing after the show and that doesn't usually happen.  Clear though; that's the first time I've REALLY heard John Myung's bass. A treat.

Cried a little during "This Is The Life" and not embarrassed to admit it. That song means a lot to me, and they delivered.

To Glasser's point; I don't think it detracted from the show at all, but I do see where he's coming from. They're in their late 50's and early 60's and it's a full on three hour show.  No one was running, no one was bouncing.  But having said that, I don't agree in the sense that I didn't sense at any point that they were making musical choices - notes, tempos, cutting songs - in service to that.  They're in the middle of the tour, and let's be honest, here: I'm CT born and bred, lived here probably 60% of my life, maybe more, and we're NOT Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, or Boston.

I didn't say this in the other thread, but that was at least the second best, if not the best, I've ever seen them.  I don't have the body count some of you do - that was number five for me, six will be Saturday - and the only show that MIGHT have been better was Prog Nation, and I'm not even willing to say that at this point, because that was a relatively shorter show. That three hours never once ever seemed like a slog, or that it was dragging. The show started at 7:35-ish, and the first time I looked down at my pone it almost 9:00.  And after the break, it ZOOMED by. 

Phones: I didn't see even one person in my section - I was row R in Section 103 - get chastised for using their phones.

[Bardic Tortoise]

Also, was it also during "Octavarium" when he went to get a sip of water after the first few lines and then nearly missed his next line? He even laughed a bit during the delivery.  It's little moments like that that I love about concerts.

A similar thing happened at the Boston show, maybe also during Octavarium, though I can't recall for sure. James came back from an instrumental break and was sort of strolling toward the mic stand to sing his next part when realized the mic wasn't on the stand. He looked around for a second like, "What?" and then had to scurry back to the where he had left the mic on the riser with his water bottles. It turned out there was plenty of time, so he wasn't late for his entrance or anything, but it was a fun little moment to witness.

[Bardic Tortoise]

Phones: I didn't see even one person in my section - I was row R in Section 103 - get chastised for using their phones.

My section of the theater in Boston was really cracking down on the phones. The ushers were warning everyone verbally when we came in that there should be no flash photography or videos, so it felt fair to me. (I wondered if that was the venue's policy or the band's policy.) But the ushers did have to come over and shame some people in my section who were trying to film. They used a little pen-sized flashlight and would just shine it on the person until they noticed and got the hint. I thought it was pretty clever actually. If you just took a picture here or there (which I did), they wouldn't be on your case. Only if your phone was out and pointed ant the stage for several minutes. And honestly, it was kind of nice to not be distracted by other people's phone screens all night.

[hefdaddy42]

At first I thought it wasn't intentional, but now after Philly and keeping an eye out in CT, I'm convinced it is... there's a point in that funky breakdown of Octavarium where green and red lasers start mixing together and alternating. There is no other point in the show where the red and green lasers were on at the same time. I'm convinced it's a nod to the debate of whether or not you could hear jingle bells in that part of song.

Really?

This was discussed at length in 2005.  It's definitely Jingle Bells.  There's no debate.  And yes, that's why the lasers are red and green there. 

[cramx3]

My section of the theater in Boston was really cracking down on the phones. The ushers were warning everyone verbally when we came in that there should be no flash photography or videos, so it felt fair to me. (I wondered if that was the venue's policy or the band's policy.) But the ushers did have to come over and shame some people in my section who were trying to film. They used a little pen-sized flashlight and would just shine it on the person until they noticed and got the hint. I thought it was pretty clever actually. If you just took a picture here or there (which I did), they wouldn't be on your case. Only if your phone was out and pointed ant the stage for several minutes. And honestly, it was kind of nice to not be distracted by other people's phone screens all night.

Woulnd't be surprised if this ends up being the case at RCMH too.  In Philly before the show, I asked the usher standing right next to me if standing and using my camera was allowed, she said yes.

But a red laser light seems like a much better approach than a flashlight shining everyone near the person using their phone   

[ganpondorodf]

I took a handful of short videos, mostly snapchats to bore the bollocks off my wife, in Raleigh and I had an usher right in front of me most of the night who never said boo. I guess it is to do with the venue, but the band presumably gets a say if they DON'T want people using cameras? Not sure.

[Mr.Mister]

Really?

This was discussed at length in 2005.  It's definitely Jingle Bells.  There's no debate.  And yes, that's why the lasers are red and green there.

100% Jingle bells - the animation even showed JR dressed as Santa. QQ on 8V while we are on topic: Is the section "Someone like him?" based on The Godfather? Lyrically it's the story of Michael Corleone, and musically I hear the godfather melody in this section.

[Stadler]

Do we know the time stamp for Jingle Bells? I didn't notice the visuals in CT, and want to be watching for it in NY.

[Lonk]

Do we know the time stamp for Jingle Bells? I didn't notice the visuals in CT, and want to be watching for it in NY.

https://youtu.be/UxhnD6jsUGk?feature=shared&t=1042

It's around 17:26 on this video

[durga2112]

I was too mesmerized by the crazy psychedelic video that was playing to pay any attention to lights or lasers during "Octavarium" - that was some unexpectedly trippy shit! 

[Shadow2222]

At the Wheeling concert. James sounds great tonight. At intermission currently - they played the set with Constant Motion and As I Am (boo, same one from Cleveland lol) but they skipped A Rite of Passage. Unsure if time constraints at this venue (because they started right on time, so no delays) or what, but a bummer because it does rock live

[Mr.Mister]

https://youtu.be/UxhnD6jsUGk?feature=shared&t=1042

It's around 17:26 on this video

Also check The Score version - in this part there is a split screen between JR and MP. JR's animation turn into Santa with a beard, the red jacket, and snow.

[TAC]

I was watching the screen during the jingle bells part, so I missed/wasn't paying attention to the red and green lasers.

[mrpmrpmrpmrp]

I AM SO EXCITED FOR SATURDAY HOLY SHCNICKIEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS.

[mikeyd23]

Show in Wheeling, WV last night was really good. Very odd place to route the tour, Wheeling is a very small town in WV, about an hour away from Pittsburgh, two hours away from Columbus, and probably about three hours away from Cleveland. Not sure why they didn't just book in Pittsburgh or Columbus, both of which are obviously much, much bigger markets. Either way, the show was great, band sounded great - James did well - the lighting/video package was very impressive, sound was pretty good. All in all, a good night!