Your Controversial Opinions on DT

[Madman Shepherd]

My controversial opinion:

I like the modern, glossy production. If that means backing and/or click tracks, then so be it. It's still LIVE to me because they are still singing/playing live, and a few feet in front of me no less. The world's seriously greatest musicians. I am grateful!

I agree. I think their live show improved drastically after Mangini joined. I don't think it's necessarily because of Mangini, but they really concentrated on the presentation of the show. Starting with the ADTOE tour they had those weird (but cool) cube shaped screens and a more sophisticated light show. Before then I always felt like their shows were more low budget. Occasionally they would try to be higher budget and it seemed like a poor man's version.

Or he could have just made a pre recorded statement and lip synched to it pretty bad on purpose, lol

  That would have been amazing. 

Oh my god. That would have been some amazing Andy Kaufman stuff right there!

[Trav]

I remember leading up to the ADTOE tour, JP said something along the lines of "we're going to use an actual production company to design our show. Instead of just us doing it." And I'm sure that's what they've done since.  It is much more professional now with lights and video created for each song. Before they kept using the same stock videos for different songs. You can't do what they do now, if the setlist is constantly changing.

[vtgrad]

Personally, I tend toward liking both types of shows.  The larger productions shows (like the ones they've had since ADTOE as discussed) and the stripped down shows (my personal favorite being the 2010 Columbus OH show; GA admission and we were right in front of JP).  Each type of show has it's draws for me.  If I was forced to choose one over the other, I'd honestly choose the stripped down, spit flying, sweat-in-the-eyes show every time.  Making eye contact with JP for the majority of the show (and my wife catching a pick that he basically handed to her) will always stick with me.  I felt like the show was just for us.

Of the polished shows I've seen (at least one or two every tour since TOT), my favorite was likely the DC 2014 show for the Along for the Ride tour.  That show and setlist was just incredible for me!

[Cool Chris]

Possibly super controversial... I generally do not care for some of James' vocals on that 1993 bootleg CD. Maybe he felt like pushing it up to 110% for the live shows at the time, but as I said elsewhere, he delivered an A+ performance for I&W, if he just hit 90% of that live, it would have been magnificent. But in going for that extra 10%, he does his performance and his skills a disservice.

[TAC]

Possibly super controversial... I generally do not care for some of James' vocals on that 1993 bootleg CD. Maybe he felt like pushing it up to 110% for the live shows at the time, but as I said elsewhere, he delivered an A+ performance for I&W, if he just hit 90% of that live, it would have been magnificent. But in going for that extra 10%, he does his performance and his skills a disservice.

Even in the I&W and Awake days, James wasn't perfect at every show. I did a big bootleg listening binge a couple of months ago from those tours. Some shows, James was on and some he wasn't.
I can say that they played a ton of shows during this time and there had to be wear and tear. I don't think their accomodations/travel were the greatest in those day. I know when a saw them a few nights later, it was snowing in Boston.

[SeRoX]

James LaBrie will retire after Parasomnia tour. Not an opinion but a guess. Why?

I'm writing this as a huge fanboy of James. He is my fav. member and fav. vocalist of all time.

A View world tour and Dreamsonic were disaster to say the least. I can't blame on James for this because we all know how demanding DT songs vocally and how busy DT's tour schedule. It is simple that James can't keep up anymore due to his age and his voice condition.

40th anniversary tour began quite good and James sounded decent and even amazing in some nights or on some songs. It's obvious that he can't catch the busy schedule and can't maintain his voice well. After he got flu it's even got worse. AGAIN I DON'T BLAME HIM FOR THIS. He is professional singer and knows what to do. But it's about human nature and his limitations. Some can sing effortlessy at his age some can't even sing a single word. For better or worse James got this point nicely and gracefully but I don't think he can keep it up anymore.

This man was a monster back then, no denying that. His prime was Godly. His studio works are still amazing. But he abused his voice in 90's in live setting and there was a shrimp disaster too. It pays off so bad with this age. He sounds so tired and weak and it seems he can't control his breath too. So sad to witness my fav. vocalist like this.

Honestly?

Do I want him to retire? Hell, NO! Do I see a solution about can be fixed or perfected? Again, No! Because he already has a new vocal coach. He already altered many vocal melodies for his current range. But I don't think it's about altering something and having vocal coach. It's simply about his age and his stamnia.

I just think he may feel under pressure and exhausted at this point and he will retire on his own will.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Unless someone can physically no longer continue I don't see anyone calling it quits anytime soon.

[WilliamMunny]

I will say, SeRoX, as a fellow JLB fanboy (prefer his solo work to every other side-project from the band), I'm beginning to fall in line with your post.

No one's asking my opinion, and I'm all for the band doing what they see fit, but after not being able to attend the Cleveland show, I dove into some clips on YouTube this morning and, um, yeah...not even close to what I feel is passable (at least, for this fan).

[voncorn]

James' final show with DT will be the final DT show. He is the voice of DT. Period.

[Kocak]

Unless someone can physically no longer continue I don't see anyone calling it quits anytime soon.

I agree with this, but he smokes a fair bit. (Cigars) So the day might be sooner than later. He probably (and hopefully) doesn't smoke while on tour, but the damage would have been done.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi-ZDGhnHRX/

[SeRoX]

Unless someone can physically no longer continue I don't see anyone calling it quits anytime soon.

That's the case for James. He is physically not able to perform day after day 3 hours. His voice, his throat, his lungs are his physical parts and they seem broken.

James' final show with DT will be the final DT show. He is the voice of DT. Period.

Well, yes. At least for me. DT is LaBrie for me. If LaBrie leaves I don't see myself interested in DT anymore. My senario about him quiting is my worst nightmare but I can't see any silver lining either.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I haven't kept up with the uploads on YouTube but weren't we all saying he's turned the ship around a month ago?

[SeRoX]

I haven't kept up with the uploads on YouTube but weren't we all saying he's turned the ship around a month ago?

After London show he just magically sounded better and in key. I actually wow'd by some his performances. American leg started quite well too but after he got flu the other shows were getting worse vocally. I can't even watch Canada's shows.

His body can't take it anymore, can't heal faster. His stamnia is gone.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

After London show he just magically sounded better and in key. I actually wow'd by some his performances. American leg started quite well too but after he got flu the other shows were getting worse vocally. I can't even watch Canada's shows.

His body can't take it anymore, can't heal faster. His stamnia is gone.

Maybe he just needs an easier schedule or he's still recovering. I can't imagine he was great at the beginning of the tour and magically now is shot for life.

[Skeever]

After London show he just magically sounded better and in key. I actually wow'd by some his performances. American leg started quite well too but after he got flu the other shows were getting worse vocally. I can't even watch Canada's shows.

His body can't take it anymore, can't heal faster. His stamnia is gone.

I don't think this is accurate. He had a pretty bad run after the flu, but he's been pretty good most nights recently. Not sure about Canada but I heard pretty good things about LA and Denver.

[Adami]

Maybe he just needs an easier schedule or he's still recovering. I can't imagine he was great at the beginning of the tour and magically now is shot for life.

He definitely needs an easier schedule. They tour like they're in their 30s. They need to do like 2-3 shows a week.

[Plasmastrike]

After London show he just magically sounded better and in key. I actually wow'd by some his performances. American leg started quite well too but after he got flu the other shows were getting worse vocally. I can't even watch Canada's shows.

His body can't take it anymore, can't heal faster. His stamnia is gone.

Indeed. It's very, very unfortunate.. especially since the other guys are playing so well and it's such a special time for the band. If you guys want to watch a good performance, check out Madrid videos from 2024. JLB sounded great there

[WilliamMunny]

I agree with this, but he smokes a fair bit. (Cigars) So the day might be sooner than later. He probably (and hopefully) doesn't smoke while on tour, but the damage would have been done.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi-ZDGhnHRX/

That picture just blows my mind...like, I will NEVER understand singers who don't get this.

[dualpalmpilots]

I dunno, he had some rough patches in Dallas, but Pull Me Under was still somehow one of his best songs of hte night, and the videos prove it. James isn't retiring until Dream Theater retires.

[Skeever]

He definitely needs an easier schedule. They tour like they're in their 30s. They need to do like 2-3 shows a week.

I actually did a double take when I realized how much they still tour. They only took a month break after the European tour and they are already talking about festival tours and a second leg in the fall. I think there's no denying that they work extremely hard to keep up what they have going.

[Kocak]

He definitely needs an easier schedule. They tour like they're in their 30s. They need to do like 2-3 shows a week.

This is correct but it would be a very bad financial decision to do two or three shows per week.

That picture just blows my mind...like, I will NEVER understand singers who don't get this.

Indeed. It's shocking.

[nobloodyname]

I haven't kept up with the uploads on YouTube but weren't we all saying he's turned the ship around a month ago?

Apart from Metropolis, he was pretty good in London, better than I'd heard him for years. And he was actually better in Paris a month later. Shame things appear to have gone south since. It'll be interesting for me to see how New York compares.

[nobloodyname]

This is correct but it would be a very bad financial decision to do two or three shows per week.

Yup, I imagine they simply couldn't afford to do that.

Regarding the cigars, that's genuinely the first time I've seen anything about it. How do we know it's not one cigar every now and then?

[Kocak]

Yup, I imagine they simply couldn't afford to do that.

Regarding the cigars, that's genuinely the first time I've seen anything about it. How do we know it's not one cigar every now and then?

Touring is an expensive endeavour. If they could, artists would be performing every night, believe me.

Regarding the cigars, we have no way of knowing. Though 0 cigars would be ideal for someone in JLB's situation.

[ReaperKK]

That's the case for James. He is physically not able to perform day after day 3 hours. His voice, his throat, his lungs are his physical parts and they seem broken.

I simply don't agree. Is he a young singer in his 20's? No, he is past his prime as almost every singer would be at his age. I saw DT in Raleigh this year, it was just shy of my tenth DT show, and this was one his best performances. He killed it and did a fantastic job.

James is inconsistent but he has always been inconsistent, I have dozens of bootlegs from the 90s onward, I've seen them a decent amount too, and James has some great shows, some bad shows, and some ok shows. I simply don't see him quitting before the band.

[TAC]

I saw DT in Raleigh this year, it was just shy of my tenth DT show, and this was one his best performances. He killed it and did a fantastic job.

Yeah, he's had some really good shows on this leg.

James is inconsistent but he has always been inconsistent, I have dozens of bootlegs from the 90s onward, I've seen them a decent amount too, and James has some great shows, some bad shows, and some ok shows. I simply don't see him quitting before the band.

I agree.

[KevShmev]

He definitely needs an easier schedule. They tour like they're in their 30s. They need to do like 2-3 shows a week.

Agreed.  Not sure there is an easy way to say it, but it feels like he has been put in a position to fail.  I get that they wanted to go out with Portnoy back and everything, but with James' struggles in recent years, doing a tour this long and going back to super long shows was a recipe for disaster as far as his vocals go. 

[Jamesman42]

Of course this thread is 222 pages long.

[Herrick]

After London show he just magically sounded better and in key. I actually wow'd by some his performances. American leg started quite well too but after he got flu the other shows were getting worse vocally. I can't even watch Canada's shows.

His body can't take it anymore, can't heal faster. His stamnia is gone.

How long ago did he have the flu? I'm seeing them next Saturday.

[nobloodyname]

How long ago did he have the flu? I'm seeing them next Saturday.

You, me and everyone else

[SeRoX]

How long ago did he have the flu? I'm seeing them next Saturday.

About two or three weeks ago, I guess.

[durga2112]

I believe this should be a controversial opinion here: they should play "Pull Me Under" at every concert. I was actually very disappointed that they didn't play it at my first show a few years ago (I just assumed that every band plays their biggest hit at every show - I guess that's a bias I've obtained from mostly seeing classic rock concerts  ), so when they played it in Toronto this past week I made sure to sing the entire song at the top of my lungs.

Seen them play it too many times? Feel free to leave early (if it's the last song of the night) or use the time to take a piss/grab a beer/check out the merch table. There's probably at least one fan attending their first Dream Theater concert, and they shouldn't be denied the chance to hear their one big hit.

[DTA]

I believe this should be a controversial opinion here: they should play "Pull Me Under" at every concert. I was actually very disappointed that they didn't play it at my first show a few years ago (I just assumed that every band plays their biggest hit at every show - I guess that's a bias I've obtained from mostly seeing classic rock concerts  ), so when they played it in Toronto this past week I made sure to sing the entire song at the top of my lungs.

Seen them play it too many times? Feel free to leave early (if it's the last song of the night) or use the time to take a piss/grab a beer/check out the merch table. There's probably at least one fan attending their first Dream Theater concert, and they shouldn't be denied the chance to hear their one big hit.

That's what always made DT so awesome though. They don't have to play any song. You know if you don't see PMU on one tour, it's likely to come around on the next one or the one after that. I wish more bands would adopt the mindset of mixing up their popular songs from tour to tour so the rest of the set can be other regular album tracks rotated around.

[gzarruk]

That's what always made DT so awesome though. They don't have to play any song. You know if you don't see PMU on one tour, it's likely to come around on the next one or the one after that. I wish more bands would adopt the mindset of mixing up their popular songs from tour to tour so the rest of the set can be other regular album tracks rotated around.

This!

[Jamesman42]

A few of mine:

SFAM is mid.
On The Backs of Angels is the best song on ADTOE (and the best song of the MM period). 
The Shattered Fortress is the 2nd best song of the 12-step suite.