Thoughts on the RCMH Show

[nobloodyname]

I'm mostly keeping quiet on the RCMH show, but I was there with ear plugs, so I had a good sound and LaBrie I'd give maybe a B-. Not the worst by far I've heard from him but he missed a lot of notes and was far from excellent. But was fair for modern JLB.

Agree with every word.

[nobloodyname]

And it wasn't just JLB. I was surprised by how much JP was flubbing as well. Didn't bother me since I don't expect perfection, but I wasn't used to it.

Oh, gosh. I feel terrible finally saying this but I thought his playing in The Best of Times was... well... perhaps not quite as accurate as he so often is. Totally understandable given the setting, of course, but it stuck out like a sore thumb to me. I'm not someone who usually notices these things.

[cramx3]

I'm mostly keeping quiet on the RCMH show, but I was there with ear plugs, so I had a good sound and LaBrie I'd give maybe a B-. Not the worst by far I've heard from him but he missed a lot of notes and was far from excellent. But was fair for modern JLB. The part that stood out most was the big climax on octavarium. So many effects on his voice I couldn't even tell what was him at that point.

Honestly, a B- from JLB is basically an A with a curve for his aging voice and history.  Not trying to be defensive about him, just moreso, these days I'll take a B- performance from him because I don't think we will really ever get that A moment again.  It's just not possible.  I did think he sounded better in Philly to start the tour, which makes sense.  But as long as we don't get the D and F performances, this is fine for me.

[MirrorMask]

these days I'll take a B- performance from him because I don't think we will really ever get that A moment again.  It's just not possible.

Well, I know some would say "well, that's the bare minimum" but I think his soft, low voice is still that A moment live. Of course we can't have a DT show with only stuff like Beneath the Surface and Space Dye Vest, but whenever James goes low and soft in the most mellow moments of the songs, it's still chef's kiss.

[NoFred]

RCMH was my favorite show for the vibe and experience, but their across the board performance was noticeably better in Chicago. JLB was on point the whole night.

While it's time to make hay for the 40th, I do think they should work in more rest. Here's the ten day lead in to both shows:
-xx-x-x-x-Chi
x-xx-xxx-xNYC

Must've been exhausted on that last night.

[pg1067]

I found this on Facebook.  Posted in a group of which I'm not a member, but the post showed up on my feed anyway.

It's a MUCH clearer copy of the set list I had posted elsewhere, and you can see that TSCO was on the list.  The one thing I find odd is that JM didn't sign.  Between this and his statuesque performance (only leaving his station during PMU), it really feels (from an outside perspective) that he's really just there to play and nothing else (a lot like a hired gun).  I noticed a few times during the show that, when he wasn't playing, he'd just stand there noodling something random - probably scale exercises - with his volume off.  I actually have video from the Octavarium intro where he just stood there for like 45 seconds noodling away, as it he was bored with what else was happening.  While I can relate about the Octavarium intro being painfully boring, it really struck me as an odd level of detachment/disinterest.

[brakkum]

The one thing I find odd is that JM didn't sign.  Between this and his statuesque performance (only leaving his station during PMU), it really feels (from an outside perspective) that he's really just there to play and nothing else (a lot like a hired gun).  I noticed a few times during the show that, when he wasn't playing, he'd just stand there noodling something random - probably scale exercises - with his volume off.  I actually have video from the Octavarium intro where he just stood there for like 45 seconds noodling away, as it he was bored with what else was happening.  While I can relate about the Octavarium intro being painfully boring, it really struck me as an odd level of detachment/disinterest.

Honestly same. I kinda ignored the noodling, as I assume he's just trying to stay limber, but in other cases I felt like he wasn't totally giving it his all. Like in Vacant for example, he played all the right notes but some of the inflections (that I really love) from the original just weren't there. As if he was just reading the part. Made me a bit sad.

[Schurftkut]

he has an ipad on stage he's constantly looking at, so you're not wrong with "reading the part"

[Stadler]

Eh, I think you guys are projecting a bit.  Robert Fripp sits on a stool, sometimes in the back of the stage, sometimes in shadow.  These people are artists; they can walk to the beat of a different drummer (pun very much intended) at times. 

I know the differences are subtle, but I noted a difference between this tour and Dreamsonic, for example.  It is who he is; I trust that if he didn't want to be there, he wouldn't. He is certainly "strong willed" enough to not play along to the rock star tropes and expectations, so I assume he's strong willed enough to leave if he truly didn't want to be there.

[cramx3]

he has an ipad on stage he's constantly looking at, so you're not wrong with "reading the part"

Could be watching netflix

It kind of stinks that Myung is fairly lifeless.  Some of my favorite parts of the show are the two or three moments where he played his solo, the lights and lasers would go wild, and the crowd would pop. I personally don't think I've noticed or paid enough attention to him over the years to notice if he's been less into it or not though.

[WilliamMunny]

I have no idea if they will release audio but there were no camera filming.

And it wasn't just JLB. I was surprised by how much JP was flubbing as well. Didn't bother me since I don't expect perfection, but I wasn't used to it.

Well, sounds like a live release won't be in the works then.

Either way, I'm all for a 'live' performance and perfectly ok with a band being off or on from song to song. JLB has had a few pretty amazing shows in this last run, so ideally they would film a bunch and then select a compilation, as opposed to just hoping for a great show from everyone. Probably not in the cards financially, but that would be my preference.

As for JP...I've talked about that a bit over the past year. As a guitarist who practically worshipped the man's playing at one point, I'm way more prone to noticing his flubs than, say, Portnoy (I still have no idea what 'that fill' means).

For his style of playing, JP is, well, he's no longer in his prime. There is simply a level of stamina and dexterity required that diminishes with age. He is, hands down, a brilliant player, and 99.8 % of the audience likely leaves every show only thinking about how JLB sang, but I def think JP has lost a bit on his fast ball.

Fortunately, there is way more to playing than nailing the solo to "As I Am." (which he still does, just not every single night).

[Dream Team]

One thing I've learned from this thread is that they didn't sound like Floyd or the Dead. THANK GOODNESSS for that. Moving on, I accept JLB for what he can do these days, the main thing that irritates me is stuff like "praahmess" instead of "promise". Enunciate correctly dude.

Do we have a consensus on the officially confirmed live release(s) from this tour so far?

[nobloodyname]

We do, yes. Paris.

[pg1067]

It kind of stinks that Myung is fairly lifeless.  Some of my favorite parts of the show are the two or three moments where he played his solo, the lights and lasers would go wild, and the crowd would pop. I personally don't think I've noticed or paid enough attention to him over the years to notice if he's been less into it or not though.

I have no idea what's on the iPad.  If it's sheet music that he actually NEEDS, then having it that low is kinda dumb.  Regardless, I no more begrudge him for using it than I do JR, who has had sheet music on a tablet for two decades.  That said, and while I don't expect any of them to act like they did 30 years ago, take a look at some videos from the early days.  JM moved around a lot.  Even through the early '00s, he wasn't glued to a single spot on the floor.  If he even once looked toward the crowd, I don't remember it.  I get that it is, to some extent, part of the JM mystique, and I obviously have no idea what's going on in his head, but he really does project disinterest and detachment.

[hefdaddy42]

I would rather him just stand there and play in his own little world than do the faux "rockstar" act if he doesn't really feel that.  

[TAC]

I actually noticed JM bobbing his head a bit more than usual in Boston.

[nobloodyname]

[...]and while I don't expect any of them to act like they did 30 years ago, take a look at some videos from the early days.  JM moved around a lot.

Yeah, some of that early 90s footage is amazing. Well worth checking out. He was a proper nutter. (In the best way possible.)

[TAC]

Yeah, some of that early 90s footage is amazing. Well worth checking out. He was a proper nutter. (In the best way possible.)

The first time I saw DT, who I wasn't familiar with at the time, I was right in front of JM.

My two impressions of DT..
The drummer is amazing, and
The bass player is a madman.

[cramx3]

I have no idea what's on the iPad.  If it's sheet music that he actually NEEDS, then having it that low is kinda dumb.  Regardless, I no more begrudge him for using it than I do JR, who has had sheet music on a tablet for two decades.  That said, and while I don't expect any of them to act like they did 30 years ago, take a look at some videos from the early days.  JM moved around a lot.  Even through the early '00s, he wasn't glued to a single spot on the floor.  If he even once looked toward the crowd, I don't remember it.  I get that it is, to some extent, part of the JM mystique, and I obviously have no idea what's going on in his head, but he really does project disinterest and detachment.

Oh yeah, from the things I've seen he was different back then. From my time as a fan going to their shows since 2007, I never got to see that.

I would rather him just stand there and play in his own little world than do the faux "rockstar" act if he doesn't really feel that. 

Same. 

[Stadler]

One thing I've learned from this thread is that they didn't sound like Floyd or the Dead. THANK GOODNESSS for that. Moving on, I accept JLB for what he can do these days, the main thing that irritates me is stuff like "praahmess" instead of "promise". Enunciate correctly dude.

Do we have a consensus on the officially confirmed live release(s) from this tour so far?

I'm a big fan of LaBrie, but that's my one criticism.  He does the "rock'n'roll inflection thing" a lot. 

[Herrick]

Just a counterpoint to those who said they didn't pay the video too much mind during the performance, I will say that I had the same feelings as you regarding the pictures in the moment. I almost immediately thought "damn, I can't believe they're using AI generated father and son images for a song that's so personal." Of course, MP has the final say on what is or is not appropriate for a tribute to his father, so I respect his decision, but personally I would've omitted those parts entirely and just left the space for the real photos of Mike and his dad. Otherwise, I thought the video was nice, I liked the intro with the key and box as well.

Anyway, point is, it didn't detract from the impact of the experience in any discernible way, but it did stand out to me.

I also found that very strange. I didn't know they were AI images. It was very touching when real pictures of The Portnoys showed up but then they cut back to those other non-Portnoy images.

I'm mostly keeping quiet on the RCMH show, but I was there with ear plugs, so I had a good sound and LaBrie I'd give maybe a B-. Not the worst by far I've heard from him but he missed a lot of notes and was far from excellent. But was fair for modern JLB. The part that stood out most was the big climax on octavarium. So many effects on his voice I couldn't even tell what was him at that point.

I couldn't really hear LaBrie during that part. I mean I heard him and I know the words but I couldn't tell what he was saying.

Eh, I think you guys are projecting a bit.  Robert Fripp sits on a stool, sometimes in the back of the stage, sometimes in shadow.  These people are artists; they can walk to the beat of a different drummer (pun very much intended) at times. 

I know the differences are subtle, but I noted a difference between this tour and Dreamsonic, for example.  It is who he is; I trust that if he didn't want to be there, he wouldn't. He is certainly "strong willed" enough to not play along to the rock star tropes and expectations, so I assume he's strong willed enough to leave if he truly didn't want to be there.

Myung seemed the same way he was the other 3 times I've seen them over the past 6 years. I really don't know what people expect from him.

[Progmaniac1988]

Oh, gosh. I feel terrible finally saying this but I thought his playing in The Best of Times was... well... perhaps not quite as accurate as he so often is. Totally understandable given the setting, of course, but it stuck out like a sore thumb to me. I'm not someone who usually notices these things.

They learned a 14 min song that's never been played before DURING A VERY SCHEDULE HEAVY TOUR! It's also over 15 years old! So god knows when any of them even played it last. Probably was during recording. So no shit it ain't gunna be perfect lol. It's incredibly impressive they played it as well as they did in that circumstance.

Forgive me if im coming off harsh, but come on guys lol

[nobloodyname]

You must have missed the parts where I acknowledged that

Forgive me if I'm coming off harsh, but come on guys lol

[Progmaniac1988]

You must have missed the parts where I acknowledged that

Forgive me if I'm coming off harsh, but come on guys lol

All good man 😂

[Mladen]

I noticed a few times during the show that, when he wasn't playing, he'd just stand there noodling something random - probably scale exercises - with his volume off.  I actually have video from the Octavarium intro where he just stood there for like 45 seconds noodling away, as it he was bored with what else was happening.  While I can relate about the Octavarium intro being painfully boring, it really struck me as an odd level of detachment/disinterest.

I remember this from the show I attended in November, since I was standing on the JM's side of the stage. Whenever he wasn't playing, he would still practice with his volume off. It's both odd and interesting. As a result, standing in the middle or on JP's side is more entertaining. Maybe that's why JLB spends more time on JM's side of the stage than on JP's side, to give the audience some level of excitement. That would mean JLB is aware of the situation, though.

JM's been an enigma for years. On the last several tours, him and JP would rock out side by side every now and then, he'd even stand by Mangini's drum kit and play along with him. He's pretty much fixed to his position on this tour. The only other recent tour I remember him performing like that was The Astonishing tour. I have no idea what that depends on.

Interestingly enough, in between songs, JM would talk to his technician and crack jokes, they would actually be laughing during the breaks. Again, odd. 

[nobloodyname]

Also mildly intriguing is the fact he's been much more visible and communicative during this album cycle so far.

[genome]

I have met Myung and he's not shy at all off stage. Very chatty and engaged, lovely guy actually. And his handshake nearly broke my wrist

[Mladen]

Also mildly intriguing is the fact he's been much more visible and communicative during this album cycle so far.

This is also true. He appears in more interviews than usual and even kids around. He's truly difficult to analyze. Also, why do we try to analyze him? 

[Stadler]

Re: JM's noodling; a couple of the times I saw Slash with Myles Kennedy, he was doing the same thing.

[ZirconBlue]

One thing I've learned from this thread is that they didn't sound like Floyd or the Dead. THANK GOODNESSS for that. Moving on, I accept JLB for what he can do these days, the main thing that irritates me is stuff like "praahmess" instead of "promise". Enunciate correctly dude.

Do we have a consensus on the officially confirmed live release(s) from this tour so far?

Clear enunciation and proper vocal technique are often at odds.  Vowel modification is common, and often desirable, when singing.  

[Adami]

Clear enunciation and proper vocal technique are often at odds.  Vowel modification is common, and often desirable, when singing. 

Broadway singers might disagree, but I hear your point in much of this. However, his....enunciation...has gone so far off the deep end that we're not talking healthy vowel modification. He just pronounces words VERY strangely when he sings.

[brakkum]

Myung seemed the same way he was the other 3 times I've seen them over the past 6 years. I really don't know what people expect from him.

To clarify: the only thing I was criticizing was some parts where he simply "played the notes" whereas the recorded version has a little more sauce to it. But I'm a bass player, so I really notice those parts. Everything else is JM as usual still in my eyes, he's always noodled quietly onstage I think.

[pg1067]

Myung seemed the same way he was the other 3 times I've seen them over the past 6 years. I really don't know what people expect from him.

I mean...

It's a rock concert.  While the music is paramount, there's a bit more to it.  It'd be nice if he'd look up and acknowledge the crowd once in a while.  Maybe smile now and then; look like it's not a chore to be out there.  A modicum of interaction with the other guys in the band (JLB came over and put his arm around JM a couple times, and JM acted like he wasn't there).  Obviously, it takes tremendous concentration to play DT's music, but the other three instrumentalists have no problem with these things.

[King Postwhore]

I mean...

It's a rock concert.  While the music is paramount, there's a bit more to it.  It'd be nice if he'd look up and acknowledge the crowd once in a while.  Maybe smile now and then; look like it's not a chore to be out there.  A modicum of interaction with the other guys in the band (JLB came over and put his arm around JM a couple times, and JM acted like he wasn't there).  Obviously, it takes tremendous concentration to play DT's music, but the other three instrumentalists have no problem with these things.

I came across I&W Live in Tokyo om Youtube and John used to move around a lot on stage back in the day.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

I have met Myung and he's not shy at all off stage. Very chatty and engaged, lovely guy actually. And his handshake nearly broke my wrist

I had the same experience. Dude has Alex Honnald rock climber hands.