MP's Shattered Fortress Tour

[TheCountOfNYC]

Last night was the best concert I've ever been to, and that's saying a lot considering how many bands I have seen. It truly felt like an experience, and you can tell how much love went into this from all members. Eric Gillette is a monster, Ross Jennings was the perfect choice to sing Labrie's parts, and the rest of the Haken guys killed it to the point that I consider the next local Haken show a must see. And of course, Mike was a beast as usual. He is just so much fun to watch play. If this is how Dream Theater shows were with MP in the band, then I'm truly sorry that I never got to see them before he left. I can't stress enough how great this was.

Also, Next to None were great.

[cramx3]

Really awesome concert last night.  The vibe in the building was great.  Sold out and packed to the top.  Loud energetic crowd.  The sound was pretty good where I was.  I had a VIP ticket so I got to watch from the balcony, which was packed, but after moving around, I finally found a spot with a decent view.  Caught the last, and long, song from Next To None.  They were better than I expected.  It was pretty clear a lot of the Portnoy extended family was there to support as well, which was cool.  No matter the twitter shit or whatever MP gets (and sometimes deserves) he really put together something special last night.  It didn't feel like most concerts.  I can't remember the last time a Dream Theater show was that energetic.  Crowd chanting and singing along.  As for the performance, it was much better than I expected.  I love Haken and knew the guys had the chops, but it actually sounded like it could have been DT.  There were a few parts that weren't pulled off as well as DT would have, but it felt fine to me.  It felt live and raw, something DT hasn't felt in concert for awhile for me.  Eric's guitar playing was superb.  Ross's vocals were on spot, and dare I say, actually better than Labrie at this point.  Not meant to knock on Labrie (I love him) but Ross really impressed me a few weeks ago with Haken and seeing him pull off DT and I am just floored with how good of a performer he really is.  I guess I wasn't crazy about Eric's vocals, needed a bit more power behind his voice and when MP sang, I wasn't totally digging it, even if it made sense within the song (Repentance).   It definitely seemed the SFAM songs were the big hits of the night.  Really happy I came out for this concert.  Huge DT fan and it felt like this concert hit on so many things missing in DT's live show. 

Mike Portnoy's Shattered Fortress Live New York City (got MP's entire speech in there)

One of my favorite moments, the guitar outro to This Dying Soul https://twitter.com/Cramx3/status/912387981952024578

and some pics...

[TAC]

That's cool, Cram!

[MinistroRaven]

Now we know the Perruccis were there.

[Samsara]

Would not shock me in the slightest if JP is there too. The guys were friends since they were what, 18?

The issue now in DT is -- they have a drummer they want to do right by, and JLB is more comfortable without MP. If one day MM leaves of his own accord, and MP and JLB can iron out their issues, MP will be back in DT. I wouldn't hold my breath, but stranger things have happened.

Glad that the Petrucci fam and the Portnoy fam are still friends.

[TAC]

Would not shock me in the slightest if JP is there too. 

I think JP is on tour with DT now, no? They were in Australia I thought.

[Zook]

Would not shock me in the slightest if JP is there too. The guys were friends since they were what, 18?

The issue now in DT is -- they have a drummer they want to do right by, and JLB is more comfortable without MP. If one day MM leaves of his own accord, and MP and JLB can iron out their issues, MP will be back in DT. I wouldn't hold my breath, but stranger things have happened.

Glad that the Petrucci fam and the Portnoy fam are still friends.

If DT were to one day reunite with MP, and JLB stuck around, that'd be great. What concerns me with that scenario is that MP would try to pick up where he left off with BCSL, and I don't want that. No more "tough guy vocals". Also, he'd probably pull a Hagar/Roth and refuse to play the "other drummer's" songs.

[JayOctavarium]

Now we know the Petruccis were there:

something something marriage analogy something

[Zook]

Now we know the Petruccis were there:

something something marriage analogy something

Portnoy... Mormon?

[TAC]

 

[MinistroRaven]

MP to JP:

“Hey John now that you’re away, look who came to visit us”

[JayOctavarium]

Okay... I should know this, but who is who?

[Zook]

Okay... I should know this, but who is who?

I believe from left to right: JP's daughter, JP's wife, MP's wife, MP's daughter.

[TAC]

Okay... I should know this, but who is who?

The guy in the front is MP.

[JayOctavarium]

Okay... I should know this, but who is who?

The guy in the front is MP.

THAT's what he looks like?

I always pictured a camel...

[gzarruk]

Okay... I should know this, but who is who?

The guy in the front is MP.

THAT's what he looks like?

I always pictured a camel...

 

[Lethean]

Would not shock me in the slightest if JP is there too. The guys were friends since they were what, 18?

The issue now in DT is -- they have a drummer they want to do right by, and JLB is more comfortable without MP. If one day MM leaves of his own accord, and MP and JLB can iron out their issues, MP will be back in DT. I wouldn't hold my breath, but stranger things have happened.

Glad that the Petrucci fam and the Portnoy fam are still friends.

If DT were to one day reunite with MP, and JLB stuck around, that'd be great. What concerns me with that scenario is that MP would try to pick up where he left off with BCSL, and I don't want that. No more "tough guy vocals". Also, he'd probably pull a Hagar/Roth and refuse to play the "other drummer's" songs.

I don't think it's just JLB and that the band wants to stand by MM.  I think Jordan is also a lot happier with MM - not because he doesn't like Mike as a person, but I think he feels more comfortable with his role and not feeling pushed into directions that perhaps he doesn't care for.

[TheCountOfNYC]

Would not shock me in the slightest if JP is there too. The guys were friends since they were what, 18?

The issue now in DT is -- they have a drummer they want to do right by, and JLB is more comfortable without MP. If one day MM leaves of his own accord, and MP and JLB can iron out their issues, MP will be back in DT. I wouldn't hold my breath, but stranger things have happened.

Glad that the Petrucci fam and the Portnoy fam are still friends.

If DT were to one day reunite with MP, and JLB stuck around, that'd be great. What concerns me with that scenario is that MP would try to pick up where he left off with BCSL, and I don't want that. No more "tough guy vocals". Also, he'd probably pull a Hagar/Roth and refuse to play the "other drummer's" songs.

Honestly, with all due respect to MP (who is my all time favorite drummer), there are quite a few MM parts that I don't think he could physically play even if he wanted to. Their drumming styles are completely different (hell, despite his immense ability, there are some points with MM when DT plays older songs that I catch myself saying "that doesn't sound right") so I can't even imagine how MM's parts would sound with MP playing them.

[RodrigoAltaf]

Would not shock me in the slightest if JP is there too. The guys were friends since they were what, 18?

The issue now in DT is -- they have a drummer they want to do right by, and JLB is more comfortable without MP. If one day MM leaves of his own accord, and MP and JLB can iron out their issues, MP will be back in DT. I wouldn't hold my breath, but stranger things have happened.

Glad that the Petrucci fam and the Portnoy fam are still friends.

If DT were to one day reunite with MP, and JLB stuck around, that'd be great. What concerns me with that scenario is that MP would try to pick up where he left off with BCSL, and I don't want that. No more "tough guy vocals". Also, he'd probably pull a Hagar/Roth and refuse to play the "other drummer's" songs.

Honestly, with all due respect to MP (who is my all time favorite drummer), there are quite a few MM parts that I don't think he could physically play even if he wanted to. Their drumming styles are completely different (hell, despite his immense ability, there are some points with MM when DT plays older songs that I catch myself saying "that doesn't sound right") so I can't even imagine how MM's parts would sound with MP playing them.

I think he could still play the MM era songs, but he´d play them his own way. He did play Apocalypse 1470 B.C. with PSMS, a Derek Sherinian song that´s rather complex, and simplified it a lot.

An hey, wasn´t there a guy who posted on YouTube some videos of the drum parts of ADTOE "as if they were played by MP"? I saw this years ago and can´t find it anymore, but the result was amazing. The dude had all MP´s mannerisms and fills down to a T!!!

But even if MP returns to DT, I don´t think he´d want to play MM´s songs. I guess we´ll have to wait and see.

[Nick]

In case anyone missed it in the picture thread, here is our group shot from NYC:

[TAC]

Nice hat, Mill!
Cram looks possessed.
Stadler...Oxford shirt??
..and I can't believe the smartest guy on DTF is a Caveman! (apparently the only one who knows how to actually flick a bird)

[Stadler]

Nice hat, Mill!
Cram looks possessed.
Stadler...Oxford shirt??
..and I can't believe the smartest guy on DTF is a Caveman! (apparently the only one who knows how to actually flick a bird)

Dude, that's my concert shirt.   I wear it to just about every show (and I'll wear a band shirt or something underneath).  Was wearing it when I met my favorite musician of all time ever - Ritchie Blackmore - and it goes with me to shows ever since.  Since that time I've hopped the gate and got to within five rows of Chris Cornell for Temple of the Dog (and a picture in the NY Daily News), got front row for Neal Morse (and met them, though that wasn't really "luck"), went on-stage and sang "I Love It Loud" with Gene Simmons (along with about 10 other old, fat guys), shook Keith Urban's hand (and got an autograph for my wife and daughter), and got to hang with Cram for two shows in New York City.   It makes the experience better.  If you saw it up close, it's a fucking mess; holes in the collar, strings from the sleeves and buttons... but it gets me where I need to go.  I'll be wearing it next month when I see Yngwie... maybe he'll unleash the fury! 

[TAC]

Alright alright.. 

[Zook]

Nice hat, Mill!
Cram looks possessed.
Stadler...Oxford shirt??
..and I can't believe the smartest guy on DTF is a Caveman! (apparently the only one who knows how to actually flick a bird)

Looks like the only one doing it wrong to me.

There's really no wrong way to flip a bird, but I can't even get my hand like that.

[portnoy311]

I don't know who Beardy is, but that's how you're supposed to.

[JayOctavarium]

I don't know who Beardy is, but that's how you're supposed to.

That's El Beardo

[Zook]

I don't know who Beardy is, but that's how you're supposed to.

Says who?

[Mladen]

Nice to see some DTF members having a group photo at a show. Care to let us know who's who, please? 

[millahh]

Nice to see some DTF members having a group photo at a show. Care to let us know who's who, please? 

Left-to-right:

me, El Barto, Stadler, cramx3, Nick, Axeman

[Mladen]

Kudos for El Barto having one hell of a beard. Also, I like how the forum moderator is the only one wearing full pants. 

[cramx3]

I didn't know there was a right or wrong way to give the finger, but I think I should get some credit for a double bird.

[bosk1]

I love how, if you didn't know better, Barto looks like a crazed photobomber that nobody knew was there, but who, minutes after the pic was taken, lured the other 5 back to his lair and consumed them all in a cannibalistic orgy.

[gmillerdrake]

I love how, if you didn't know better, Barto looks like a crazed photobomber that nobody knew was there, but who, minutes after the pic was taken, lured the other 5 back to his lair and consumed them all in a cannibalistic orgy.

 

[bill1971]

In case anyone missed it in the picture thread, here is our group shot from NYC:

You guys should have stood together at the show with a big sign saying "Yes. we at DTF are still a "thing"!!"

[TAC]

 


Totally!