what a friggin' show...definitely worth the drive from vermont. my first DT show ever, and definitely will not be my last.
got to chat with some folks before the M&G - mainly a guy that looked like actor ron perlman, and a guy from providence (i think) who brought his guitar to get signed. everyone there for the M&G were really nice.
the M&G was awesome. as i feared, this 43 year old guy turned in to a 13 year-old at a bieber concert. i was so nervous around the guys, it was all i could do to keep it together. when i walked up for the picture, JP looked and smiled at me and for a moment i thought he was going to put his arm around me and welcome me in to the group lol. going through the autograph line was cool, but again my words failed me when i tried to talk to the guys.
i think i told MM that i looked forward to hearing him with the band for many years to come. JR looked a little perturbed or had something on his mind. maybe he was having an 0ff-day or not feeling all that great. JMX looked directly at me as i blurted out something...not sure if he asked me a question or if he was just giving me his undivided attention, but i couldn't hear him all that well so i'll never know.
i joked with JP something about "i told myself i would keep it together here, but i don't know..." to which he gave me a big smile and said "well, don't lose it on me now" LOL. i told him that i really apprecicated the M&G opportunity. i told labrie that i loved his voice, and that i didn't give a shit what the critics say about it, to which he replied "bleh-fuck the critics. who gives a shit what they say, right?" made me grin from ear to ear. the guys were all very friendly and cordial. what an experience. would do it again in a heartbeat.
on to the show...i had 4th row (floor), right center. if MP was still in the band, i proably would have been spit on!
never heard of trivium before, but what an opener. not my kind of music really, but i have to agree that they had great stage presence and a great job of getting the crowd pumped up for DT.
my god - what a show by DT. what a SHOW! being in the 4th row, it was pretty loud - seemed a little excessive considering the size of the theater. i think i was getting 1/2 of what was coming off stage and 1/2 of what was coming through the front speakers. the vocal and music seemed almost the same level, which made it a little difficult to make out labrie. but i am not complaining by any means.
a very entertaining, energetic show. the opening video is hilarious. great stuff. the guys looked happy, healthy, and were having fun up there. loved labrie's pirate coat and that mic stand kicks ass. got to see JR with the zenn riffer jamming it up with JP center stage, and JMX and JP getting together a couple of times. there was a spot where JP got up on the drum riser and motioned with his head to JMX to come on up. it looked like Myung shook his head "no" at first, but he ended up climbing up there too. friggin' awesome.
any video you've seen of MM's drum solo does not do it justice. you have to see this guy. he is an UNBELIEVABLE MONSTER! how he doesn't break 5 drum heads a show, i'll never know. very intense - bashing the life out of those drums - but never out of control. he's having the time of his life up there, and he is so enjoying this opportunity. thank god JP and the guys kept this thing going and we are pretty fortunate to have a great guy like mangini in the band. there will always be a place in my heart for MP, but mangini is the real deal folks. phenomenal.
i was a little surprised we got the same show as the 10/8 show since they have been alternating, but maybe it was because they had the opportunity of Eugene Friesen performing with them or just because they had a day off.