Okay...okay! I Know I've already done TWO of these, but I didn't really "clock" either one of them, and I wanted to be a little more realistic in my selections. Also I wanted to correct some mistakes that I made, especially regarding some songs that I wanted in the show, but forgot about and put the "wrong" ones in instead. Best of all, this time there will be NO medleys! The total playing time clocks in at about ten minutes shy of three hours, unless the band were to do some extended jams/instrumental passages. Now, some people might think that I'm "pandering" or "going for the obvious" or "being too commercial" with some of my selections, but you'll never please everybody, no matter what you do. As Mike Portnoy once said about the release of one of their albums "We could deliver the second coming of CHRIST and still not please everybody!" Another thing that some people may not like is that this show is planned as a retrospective of their ENTIRE CAREER, with at least one song from every album More or less in chronological order. But at least they're all FULL-LENGTH songs, the shortest one being just shy of five minutes!
But since we are still on the "Along for the Ride" tour I wanted to include a few extra songs from the new album, and fortunately MOST of those songs are SHORT enough that they'll fit in with my format.
Anyway-on with the show!
First Set:
The Intro Tape will be "eve"
Opener>
1) Surrender to Reason
2) Lost Not Forgotten>
I thought it would be fun to start by inverting a couple of newer songs like they sometimes do anyway. Also I wanted to include an extra song from "Dramatic" because it was the first DT album that Mr. Mangini played on, so he can be in more "familiar territory." So after the first two songs, Mr. LaBrie would give a little speech thanking the audience, welcoming them to the show, and explaining that tonight's show is going to cover the entire history of the band (or something to that effect) Starting with
"When Dream and day unite:"
3) Only a Matter of Time>
More or less my favorite song off the album. The "Budokan" version was excellant, so I'm sure it'll still sound great.
4) Metropolis> This is one song the audience never seems to get tired of, and I guess I really don't, either.
5) Scarred>
I know this song was in the previous setlist, but it's still thev 20th anniversary of "Awake," so why not keep the longest single song from that album in the set?
6) Just Let Me Breathe>
I kind of wanted to include a more "epic" track like "Lines in the Sand" or "New Millennium" but I think this onev fits better time-wise. Besides, I don't think they've played this song since "Metropolis 2000."
7) The Spirit Carries On>Another song the audience never seems to get tired of, and is also the right length to fit my "format"
8) Keyboard Solo>
Mr. Rudess could maybe play some samples from the original "Overture" and/or expand the piano intro by at least a minute or two, going into...
9)...About to Crash>This track fits my idea because of the strong guitar and piano parts in it, it would make a good segue from- Keyboard Solo-to itself-to...
10)...Guitar Solo> a good way to come out of "Crash." Mr. Petrucci normally plays a 7 or 8 minute solo, but maybe this time he could play a shorter (like around 5:00), heavier solo that would fit in perfectly with the heavy "fuzz-tone" intro to...
11)...As I Am>
After the heaviness of that song we'll conclude the first set by "bringing it down" and "mellowing it out" with the song that the tour is/was named for. That way we ease the audience into the intermission instead of just throwing us/them into it. Also I thought it would be a good idea to "bookend" the first set with a couple of songs from the new album. And so we finish Part One with...
12) Along for the Ride
INTERMISSION:
When I saw the A.f.t.R. show at the Mesa Arts Center on Easter Sunday of this year, they showed some hilarious videos from youtube or whatever of people making fun of the band, the band making fun of themselves, etc., during the intermissiopn, but it was only for about ten minutes. I would like to see more of this, and when I mean more, I would like it to go for at least 15 min., maybe 20.
Anyway, back to our regularly scheduled program!
Second Set:
1) Sacrificed Sons> I don't think they've played this song since the "Octavarium" tour. I don't like a lot of James LaBrie's lyrical contributions to the band, but in this case he nailed it! This song strikes an emotional chord with a lot of people, and I think it's a pretty good representation of the album. Also, I think the slow intro is a good way to ease the audience (and themselves) back into the show...
2) Forsaken> The only thing that made it easy for me to pick this song was it's length. I do like this song, and a lot of us like horror/vampire stories, so I'm not unhappy with it. But...I would like to maybe have included "Constant Motion." However, without Mr. Portnoy there to sing his part of it, it just wouldn't sound as good. I don't like overdubs-especially vocals-at live shows. There's already too much of that in the "Luna Park" video.
3) A Rite of Passage> On my previous list or lists I included "The Count of Tuscany" because for some stupid reason I clean forgot about this song. It's pretty much my favorite (other than "The Shattered Fortress"and their fantastic cover of "Stargazer") off of B.C.&S.L. It's a cool song about a controversial subject, has great instrumentation, and a very singable chorus. What's not to like? And it would be a great segue-way into the...
4)...Drum Solo> A lot of people like the extended jams/instrumental pieces, so you might like my idea: The Drum Solo would go straight into...
5)... Enigma Machine>...Which would incorporate a lead/solo bass jam by Mr. Myung for about two or three minutes, expanding a six minute instrumental to about nine. Also, I wanted to spread the new tracks out instead of cramming them all into the first set or at the end of the show.
6) On the Backs of Angels>Lyrically, this is more or less my favorite song from "Dramatic." It seems to have something to do with conspiracy theories, and I'm somewhat of a conspiracy buff.
7) A Change of Seasons> Yes, that's right! The first big one, in it's ENTIRETY! Another song that has been MIA for WAY too long! I think it's been about ten years since they've played it, and I'm sure Mangini has never played it at all. I thought it would be interesting to place it here in the set, instead of having it be the VERY last song, or put in too early, because at this point in the show, the band would hopefully be a little more relaxed and not want to "rush" through it. BUT...the audience would probably think that was it. But wat!...There's more! First there's ONE MORE SONG ito conclude the second set:
8) Behind the veil> I think this song is the most interesting song lyrically from the new disc. I've always liked songs and stories about the conflict between good and evil, and this one is kind of like a condensed version of "In the Presence of Enemies."
So there we have it: Two sets that when I added them up totaled about 80 min. each, thus fitting into the "less than three hours format."
What's that you say? "What about an ENCORE?" No encore? Would I do that to you? Of COURSE not!...And you KNOW that there's only ONE way we could properly wrap this thing up. If you peeked at the end (And SHAME ON YOU if you did!) then you ALREADY KNOW...that the encore is....:
PULL ME UNDER!!!>
I swear I think I'm the only one who included this (Their best-known song!!) in my "perfect set list." I can understand why. it's been "done to death," and they don't do much with it when they play it live. But...a lot of us still love this song. It's the one that put them on map! So to speak. I really think that after the more than two-and-a-half hours of over-the-top insanity that I've just served you with, concluding with this song would be THE way to satisfy the most number of people. I think it would probably do it for me.
Anyway, my friends, thank for your patient indulgance if you've borne with me up until now. I hope you enjoyed my selections and my comments, and asny feedback would be MORE than welcome!
And so...until I change my mind again...