Thoughts on the RCMH Show

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Flew into New York on Friday. First family trip on a plane with our one-year old. Wife felt nauseous on the way up, I felt it on the way back, but baby was completely fine the whole time. We did a ton of walking on Saturday to where I was concerned I was too tired for the concert. But of course once it started, I was charged up and ready to go.

The show was great. I saw them back in February but from the pit - The only time I've ever been that close for a concert and very much a rare occasion. For this show, I was back further, which allowed me to better appreciate the light and video show. There were some really awesome moments like the laser/smoke show for Hollow Years.

I was just two rows back from the band's families. I didn't recognize many of them - Mainly just Petrucci's wife, and I'm assuming their kids.

The Vacant -> Stream of Consciousness -> Octavarium combination was completely insane and I honestly don't know that I've ever seen another three song run at any concert that epic. Vacant is a really great tone setter that sort of throws up an alley-oop for SOC to then dunk - Both songs are better together than apart. Then Octavarium is just... Easily in the running for their best song. It's both quintessential Dream Theater and also unlike anything else they've done.

When they started playing Best of Times, it really hit me how special a moment this was for the band. I'm also not sure they'll ever play it again. I felt really lucky to be present for a historical Dream Theater moment. I don't plan on flying to New York for every show, but I will absolutely do it at least once more. It was an incredible weekend!

[hefdaddy42]

Sort of weird to see how much people loved TBOT across the internet. I've always thought it was incredibly underrated but noticed fans seemed to be so down on it or just did not care.

Personally, I don't like the song at all.  But if I had been at the show, I would have been excited to see it, given the circumstances.

[genome]

Yeah, you're right. If they'd played Spirit at tempo, they'd JUST have fit it in. But I dunno, as I said after the show when Paul said it'd been in the setlist, it wasn't needed after The Best of Times. I imagine they dropped it because of time constraints but I like to romantically think it was dropped because of the impact The Best of Times had.

I was wondering if two songs back-to-back about bereavement and/or passing away would've cheapened the moment for MP

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Sort of weird to see how much people loved TBOT across the internet. I've always thought it was incredibly underrated but noticed fans seemed to be so down on it or just did not care.

I'm also not the biggest fan of it personally, but I think this was a good example of how the surrounding context can sometimes be as important as the thing itself. The emotion and significance of the song was so palpable when they started playing it... I just sort of sat back and experienced it. It was really beautiful.

[jasc15]

Then Octavarium is just... Easily in the running for their best song. It's both quintessential Dream Theater and also unlike anything else they've done.

I agree.  And I got to see it for the Score performance.  It has everything they are good at with none of the superfluous fireworks.  Well written and arranged, and great lyrical concepts (ok, maybe the lyrics in the Full Circle section are a bit funny).  And John can really belt out an emotional epic solo (Razor's Edge) when he wants to.

[jingle.boy]

Personally, I don't like the song at all.  But if I had been at the show, I would have been excited to see it, given the circumstances.

The lyrics get a little too campy, but hey... it's very personal to MP, so I give it a pass.  Other than that, it's a fantastic tune, and arguable the best solo out of JP in the entire catalogue.  It's certainly my #1.

[DTiwbwMP]

Eh, TDEN is a poor substitute for TITL.

An even poorer substitute was Barstool Warrior. That can't hold a candle to This is the Life!

[Stadler]

I'm also not the biggest fan of it personally, but I think this was a good example of how the surrounding context can sometimes be as important as the thing itself. The emotion and significance of the song was so palpable when they started playing it... I just sort of sat back and experienced it. It was really beautiful.

I'm repeating myself now, but that's me right there.  After what I saw in Wallingford and RCMH, as long as Octavarium is in there, the rest of the show could be drawn out of a hat and I don't think it would have mattered.  It was the vibe.  I got a lot of joy, energy and excitement from that show, and to be honest, after 400+ shows, it's getting rarer and rarer that that happens. To have it from a band that's 40 years in, to me, is almost too much to ask for at this point. 

[MirrorMask]

I was wondering if two songs back-to-back about bereavement and/or passing away would've cheapened the moment for MP

Most likely, it was just months ago that they dedicated the song (Spirit) to his sister who just died before the show, this was the moment to properly celebrate his father.

[TAC]

So, I've been thinking about The Best Of Times being played.

I have loved the song since Day 1. When I first heard it on BC&SL, I was balling just in the intro, knowing the subject matter. My father was still alive at the time, but during that time, there was an estrangement between me and my parents, and his absence then was devastating.

Anyway, when I got up Sunday morning and saw that they played it...honestly, I was kind of pissed. They couldn't have played it last week? Or on the whole tour? And if this is going to be a one off, I'm not going to be happy. Not everyone can travel to New York City to go to a Dream Theater concert. I've defended the song, as it's a Top 15 DT song for me.


Anyway, I thought the performance was amazing. The violinist was a nice touch, though the WWRD angle is still a bit cheesy to me. What Rush did was make a string of really mediocre bunch of albums over their final 30 years, something some DT fans feel that DT has...but I digress..
Back to the performance, the opening intro, and then the full band coming in was amazing. And I love the fact that JP's outro solo was done up on the riser to MP's left. I thought that was a totally classy move by JP.


But I do want to talk about the video presentation. In general, I found the videos for this tour way better than the Dreamsonic tour. I felt that that presentation was almost juvenile, like some kid's art project.
This year, I feel like the graphics were more in line, and I while I think they generally overdid the Dr. Who style trippy visuals, they did work amazing in SOC.

I loved the opening with the key and the film box, especially the film with the BC&SL cover art. The projector was cool too. But then it just seemed like an endless collage of stock photo google images of a father and son. I mean, did Hugh Syme put this together? The photos of MP and his father were very touching, and I wish that sentiment was more noted in the video. maybe the rest of the band and their fathers would've been a nice touch too. At one point in the video, the father picked up the child and it looked like something out of The Astonishing videos. And as classy as JP's solo is, I thought, again, that the Dr Who style graphics were..I don't want to call them distasteful...but I just didn't think they were appropriate for that moment. Just give me a blank screen, a DT logo, or a classy image to give the solo the space it deserves.

[Awaken]

The lyrics get a little too campy, but hey... it's very personal to MP, so I give it a pass.  Other than that, it's a fantastic tune, and arguable the best solo out of JP in the entire catalogue.  It's certainly my #1.

While I'm not sure it's 'the best' solo, it's certainly something special and was a real treat to see live.  Totally agree w you on the song as a whole, though. 

I'm a big fan of the song musically, one of the times the Rush inspiration corner has worked really well (imo).  Getting to see JP rip through that intro was just as much a highlight as the solo for me.  Lyrically - a lot of it resonates much better now that I have another 15+ years of life to look back on.

[jingle.boy]

maybe the rest of the band and their fathers would've been a nice touch too

That would've been a very good idea.  Opportunity lost.

[cramx3]

So, I've been thinking about The Best Of Times being played.

I have loved the song since Day 1. When I first heard it on BC&SL, I was balling just in the intro, knowing the subject matter. My father was still alive at the time, but during that time, there was an estrangement between me and my parents, and his absence then was devastating.

Anyway, when I got up Sunday morning and saw that they played it...honestly, I was kind of pissed. They couldn't have played it last week? Or on the whole tour? And if this is going to be a one off, I'm not going to be happy. Not everyone can travel to New York City to go to a Dream Theater concert. I've defended the song, as it's a Top 15 DT song for me.


Anyway, I thought the performance was amazing. The violinist was a nice touch, though the WWRD angle is still a bit cheesy to me. What Rush did was make a string of really mediocre bunch of albums over their final 30 years, something some DT fans feel that DT has...but I digress..
Back to the performance, the opening intro, and then the full band coming in was amazing. And I love the fact that JP's outro solo was done up on the riser to MP's left. I thought that was a totally classy move by JP.


But I do want to talk about the video presentation. In general, I found the videos for this tour way better than the Dreamsonic tour. I felt that that presentation was almost juvenile, like some kid's art project.
This year, I feel like the graphics were more in line, and I while I think they generally overdid the Dr. Who style trippy visuals, they did work amazing in SOC.

I loved the opening with the key and the film box, especially the film with the BC&SL cover art. The projector was cool too. But then it just seemed like an endless collage of stock photo google images of a father and son. I mean, did Hugh Syme put this together? The photos of MP and his father were very touching, and I wish that sentiment was more noted in the video. maybe the rest of the band and their fathers would've been a nice touch too. At one point in the video, the father picked up the child and it looked like something out of The Astonishing videos. And as classy as JP's solo is, I thought, again, that the Dr Who style graphics were..I don't want to call them distasteful...but I just didn't think they were appropriate for that moment. Just give me a blank screen, a DT logo, or a classy image to give the solo the space it deserves.

Regarding playing it at RCMH, I was wondering, since MP's sister passed away during the early tour in Europe, I wonder if this was always the plan to play TBOT in NYC or maybe they pivoted to this idea along the way when realizing, if they don't play it, the people close to them won't get that experience. Just a thought. 

To me, while the song makes sense to play at that time, I really didn't expect it.  It's funny too because I was talking to a friend from twitter at the meet up before the show and he was telling me he knew for a fact they were doing a song they never played for the encore.  I guessed a few, and he said no to them all.  I never guess TBOT and I really should have.  The joke then turned into "they are definitely playing Raw Dog"

Regarding the video. I thought that video was exactly par for the course for the artwork for this entire tour.  Not very good.  Granted, I actually thought the pictures and stuff was mostly well done. I was initially confused because the artwork looked similar to Parasomnia and with the clock, I immediately thought we were getting Bend the Clock (which I did guess earlier to my friend, but was told no).

Being that I was there, I kind of hope this is the one and only time being played.  Would make that pretty unique similar to how I was there for the one and only time Repentance was played. Of course I understand the frustration for those who weren't there.

[Progmaniac1988]

So, I've been thinking about The Best Of Times being played.

I have loved the song since Day 1. When I first heard it on BC&SL, I was balling just in the intro, knowing the subject matter. My father was still alive at the time, but during that time, there was an estrangement between me and my parents, and his absence then was devastating.

Anyway, when I got up Sunday morning and saw that they played it...honestly, I was kind of pissed. They couldn't have played it last week? Or on the whole tour? And if this is going to be a one off, I'm not going to be happy. Not everyone can travel to New York City to go to a Dream Theater concert. I've defended the song, as it's a Top 15 DT song for me.


Anyway, I thought the performance was amazing. The violinist was a nice touch, though the WWRD angle is still a bit cheesy to me. What Rush did was make a string of really mediocre bunch of albums over their final 30 years, something some DT fans feel that DT has...but I digress..
Back to the performance, the opening intro, and then the full band coming in was amazing. And I love the fact that JP's outro solo was done up on the riser to MP's left. I thought that was a totally classy move by JP.


But I do want to talk about the video presentation. In general, I found the videos for this tour way better than the Dreamsonic tour. I felt that that presentation was almost juvenile, like some kid's art project.
This year, I feel like the graphics were more in line, and I while I think they generally overdid the Dr. Who style trippy visuals, they did work amazing in SOC.

I loved the opening with the key and the film box, especially the film with the BC&SL cover art. The projector was cool too. But then it just seemed like an endless collage of stock photo google images of a father and son. I mean, did Hugh Syme put this together? The photos of MP and his father were very touching, and I wish that sentiment was more noted in the video. maybe the rest of the band and their fathers would've been a nice touch too. At one point in the video, the father picked up the child and it looked like something out of The Astonishing videos. And as classy as JP's solo is, I thought, again, that the Dr Who style graphics were..I don't want to call them distasteful...but I just didn't think they were appropriate for that moment. Just give me a blank screen, a DT logo, or a classy image to give the solo the space it deserves.

I feel you with some of the art,

I'll say this much, actually being there I was so emotional and in the moment I didn't even think to notice the art details. I was engulfed in the whole experience if that makes sense. Seemed like everyone one. The vibe in the room was something special. I really never felt anything like it at a show till then.

So I think it did its purpose for everyone experiencing the show in person. After the fact watching the phone recordings I find it a lot easier to notice those details personally.

[cramx3]

So I think it did its purpose for everyone experiencing the show in person. After the fact watching the phone recordings I find it a lot easier to notice those details personally.

Yup, same. I didn't pay much attention to the video at all in the moment after the intro.

[Stadler]

Love and respect to all the opinions here, but specifically with regards to the videos, the only thing I agree with is that this is head and shoulders over Dreamsonic.

Again, respect, but at no time during either performance did I think "wow, stock Hugh Syme graphics".  Maybe I'm just more of an "in the moment" guy, but I just thought everything worked.  Was it perfect in every way? No.  Was it "Pink Floyd circa 1980 with The Wall"?  No. Am I clamoring for more videos that look like the cover of "The Grateful Dead Dave's Pick's Volume 11: The Convention Center, Wichita, Kansas"?  No.  But on the whole, it added more than it detracted, and there were moments where it was sublime (there was an effect at one point where the screen in front of Mike and the screen behind him matched up and it looked to me like he was actually moving down a road on his kit).

With DT, the focus isn't the light show; that's why I have Kiss (or had, though there are rumors...) or Genesis.  I just know I had an AMAZING 12 hours or so on Saturday, and I can't and won't trade that for the world.

EDIT:  Then again, I was watching TBOT mostly through fuzzy eyes, so there's that; the verse:
Thank you for the inspiration
Thank you for the smiles
All the unconditional love
That carried me for miles
It carried me for miles

Almost brought me to my knees. That was my dad for me (who passed three years this June; we talked almost every day, and I still feel the void regularly.  His love is, frankly, still carrying me).

[cramx3]

Was it "Pink Floyd circa 1980 with The Wall"? 

From where I was, the laser show was one of the coolest changes from my experience at Philly.  Just looked so much cooler from the top of the venue.  And during SoC with the trippy graphics, definitely could have been something from a Pink Floyd concert 

[Chino]

From where I was, the laser show was one of the coolest changes from my experience at Philly.  Just looked so much cooler from the top of the venue.  And during SoC with the trippy graphics, definitely could have been something from a Pink Floyd concert 

Whenever I go see the Trans Siberian Orchestra, I always choose seats further back. The lighting and stage shenanigans are just as integral to the experience as the music, IMO.

[Stadler]

From where I was, the laser show was one of the coolest changes from my experience at Philly.  Just looked so much cooler from the top of the venue.  And during SoC with the trippy graphics, definitely could have been something from a Pink Floyd concert 

HAHA. 

The lasers WERE different, at least they seemed it where I was sitting.  At Wallingford, the cone around Petrooch seemed brighter and seemed to stay longer than at RCMH.  Could be all my perception, though, since the Radio City show FLEW by for me. That was the fastest three hours ever for me.

[TAC]

Again, respect, but at no time during either performance did I think "wow, stock Hugh Syme graphics".  Maybe I'm just more of an "in the moment" guy, but I just thought everything worked. 

I had a comment along these lines at the end of my post, but I ultimately edited it out. To me, it's an obvious point. I am sure I would have the same sentiments as you had I been there, but stepping back, I was disappointed by the video for a song that I personally hold in extremely high regard.

Granted, it's like complaining about the album cover of a great album. It doesn't really matter, except that to me, (making a general comment here) if you're going to have such a video presentation, it should add to the performance, and not distract or devalue it.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

I'm repeating myself now, but that's me right there.  After what I saw in Wallingford and RCMH, as long as Octavarium is in there, the rest of the show could be drawn out of a hat and I don't think it would have mattered.  It was the vibe.  I got a lot of joy, energy and excitement from that show, and to be honest, after 400+ shows, it's getting rarer and rarer that that happens. To have it from a band that's 40 years in, to me, is almost too much to ask for at this point. 

Agreed! I saw a lot of people on social media trying to review the show and throwing out numbers like "9/10", "7/10", "B+" and I was just like... You're well within your right to do that and everyone approaches things differently, but I feel like you're missing the point. Just take in the experience. Acknowledge the significance. Be joyful, energized, and excited.

[Stadler]

I had a comment along these lines at the end of my post, but I ultimately edited it out. To me, it's an obvious point. I am sure I would have the same sentiments as you had I been there, but stepping back, I was disappointed by the video for a song that I personally hold in extremely high regard.

Granted, it's like complaining about the album cover of a great album. It doesn't really matter, except that to me, (making a general comment here) if you're going to have such a video presentation, it should add to the performance, and not distract or devalue it.

Well, I get it, and it's not like I don't understand your point.  I do. 

Agreed! I saw a lot of people on social media trying to review the show and throwing out numbers like "9/10", "7/10", "B+" and I was just like... You're well within your right to do that and everyone approaches things differently, but I feel like you're missing the point. Just take in the experience. Acknowledge the significance. Be joyful, energized, and excited.

Yeah, to be honest, I'm STILL kind of in a good mood from the weekend, even with a relatively shitty week at work.  That's what music is all about to me, for sure. I couldn't be more grateful.

[hefdaddy42]

The lyrics get a little too campy, but hey... it's very personal to MP, so I give it a pass.  Other than that, it's a fantastic tune, and arguable the best solo out of JP in the entire catalogue.  It's certainly my #1.

Hey, I'm glad you like it. 

[jingle.boy]

Hey, I'm glad you like it. 

I mean ... you do you.

[hefdaddy42]

I mean ... you do you.

Thank you, I will!  And also with you!

[Cavalry of Despair]

I loved the opening with the key and the film box, especially the film with the BC&SL cover art. The projector was cool too. But then it just seemed like an endless collage of stock photo google images of a father and son. I mean, did Hugh Syme put this together? The photos of MP and his father were very touching, and I wish that sentiment was more noted in the video. maybe the rest of the band and their fathers would've been a nice touch too. At one point in the video, the father picked up the child and it looked like something out of The Astonishing videos. And as classy as JP's solo is, I thought, again, that the Dr Who style graphics were..I don't want to call them distasteful...but I just didn't think they were appropriate for that moment. Just give me a blank screen, a DT logo, or a classy image to give the solo the space it deserves.

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.

[Chino]

Agreed! I saw a lot of people on social media trying to review the show and throwing out numbers like "9/10", "7/10", "B+" and I was just like... You're well within your right to do that and everyone approaches things differently, but I feel like you're missing the point. Just take in the experience. Acknowledge the significance. Be joyful, energized, and excited.

I feel bad for artists that take a lot of shit as they start to sunset while still making an honest effort to give a good show to the fans. Meat Loaf used to take a ton. Pretty much everything live after the 3 Bats Live tour was really hard to listen to vocally. The internet used to tear him a new one. I'd still never flinch at going to a show any chance I got. The dude was a living legend. And even if his voice sucked, he was still getting taken off stage on stretchers and oxygen tanks because he was giving it everything he had, for two and a half hours, every single night.

Even if DT starts to fall off in the years to come, I don't care. They're in the living legends category, imo. They'll only be around for so long. I'm going to get in as many viewings as I can, while I can. 

[Stadler]

We talked about this at the show; I'm with you 100%.  I'll take what they can give me, as long as there's effort there. 

[Cocopjojo]

I feel bad for artists that take a lot of shit as they start to sunset while still making an honest effort to give a good show to the fans. Meat Loaf used to take a ton. Pretty much everything live after the 3 Bats Live tour was really hard to listen to vocally. The internet used to tear him a new one. I'd still never flinch at going to a show any chance I got. The dude was a living legend. And even if his voice sucked, he was still getting taken off stage on stretchers and oxygen tanks because he was giving it everything he had, for two and a half hours, every single night.

Even if DT starts to fall off in the years to come, I don't care. They're in the living legends category, imo. They'll only be around for so long. I'm going to get in as many viewings as I can, while I can. 

I agree. I think it helps that LaBrie did the interview a while back where he clearly stated that he just can't hit the same notes he used to. I was thinking about that during this show whenever he changed the vocal melodies to something lower. What else can he do? The fact that he's been up front about it makes it a non-issue for me as long as it still sounds good live, which it did IMO.