re: Zonder/Portnoy
Zonder's not wrong that Portnoy didn't quite capture the essence of Fates Warning's drum parts. That said, Zonder's comparison of Portnoy's work to Bobby's is wrong. MP came in, learned the song, played them with his own style, doing his friends a solid by filling in. I think the situation would have been totally different if MP joined the band full time. Then I could see MP learning everything note for note, as Bobby did. Again, Bobby is FW's drummer -- the expectation is and should be that he'd learn everything note for note. But when MP filled in, I never expected that, nor do I think anyone should have. I think it was a cool thing hearing MP do the drums. Just as it was cool to see Nick fill in.
MP and MZ bickering on social media and taking shots at one another is stupid though. Pick up the damn phone.
re: Long Day Goodnight
As big a FW fan as I am, I haven't revisited LDG as frequently as I did Theories of Flight. I like it, and I like it better overall than DIADL, but if I am just going by feel, I think Theories is a better record all the way around. But LDG has some stellar stuff. I just need to go back to it more. But the fact I am not compelled to as much, to me is a tell tale sign as to what my preference is.
edit - I just put it on.
re: Parallels reunion shows
>>>>I was supposed to head down there, the Mrs. encouraged me to, but it would have been a whirlwind, and I likely would have ended up sleeping in the airport. LOL. Busy time for me back then. Always wished I would have done it anyway.
re: FW future
>>>>Who knows what they will do? If FW calls it quits on making new music, then why go out on the road and be a nostalgia act? I mean, I get going out in 2021-2022 to do shows supporting LDG. I could also appreciate a 30th anniversary tour of Parallels, given it was their most commercially popular record. But after that? I mean, I could see them doing festivals in Europe, but I wouldn't see them touring the states at all. It sort of runs counter to what FW always sorta did -- supporting its newest music and looking ahead.
I hope I get to see them live a few more times (I think I've seen em 8 times), but once they tour LDG, and maybe do one last Parallels cycle, if they aren't going to make new music, I hope they just shut it down entirely.