2014-01-15 - Coliseu do Porto - Porto, POR

[Shadow2222]

Well, here's another "Space-Dye Vest" video from last night's performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj1PtXospXI

Ah this is actually the same fellow who had his video taken down! He says he got hit with a copyright claim for Illumination Theory.

[aprilethereal]

I hope they'll keep the setlist pretty much the same until I see them in two weeks

[haceeb]

Well, here's another "Space-Dye Vest" video from last night's performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj1PtXospXI

OHH MY GAWWWD

[FrostbiteZ]

Who was it? Frostbitez, by any chance?

Nope still no my way home
But I got SDV

[SeRoX]

I'm not worrying about James' voice. It's almost the same thing. At begining of the tour he seems to struggle a bit then he slays.

[wasteland]

Who was it? Frostbitez, by any chance?

Nope still no my way home
But I got SDV

What's your tour schedule this time? Multiple shows again?

I'm not worrying about James' voice. It's almost the same thing. At begining of the tour he seems to struggle a bit then he slays.

Absolutely. I just hope he will pull through the tight schedule and long setlist.

[Thomas Pasieka]

Hey there everybody! It was great seeing the reactions to the video (symphonic section) of Illumination Theory as this was of my doing. Great to see that people loved it! Makes me a very happy guy! Great kick off to a great tour! Looking forward to more!

[genome]

Hey there everybody! It was great seeing the reactions to the video (symphonic section) of Illumination Theory as this was of my doing. Great to see that people loved it! Makes me a very happy guy! Great kick off to a great tour! Looking forward to more!

Well done, you and Blob have done a great job.

[wasteland]

Wow, happy to have you here! Welcome aboard if you are going to stay, and welcome all the same if you are just flying by!

You did a fucking great job! How did you get the idea of the orbs of light, if you don't mind sharing it?

[Shadow2222]

Hey there everybody! It was great seeing the reactions to the video (symphonic section) of Illumination Theory as this was of my doing. Great to see that people loved it! Makes me a very happy guy! Great kick off to a great tour! Looking forward to more!

I loved it, and I've only seen the YouTube videos! I can't wait to see it for myself on April 2!!!

[wasteland]

By the way, I'm very excited to see how the SDV solo evolves and expands through the legs of the tour! The same has happened to Hollow Years in 2004, the extended solo went from being just a minute long in the first show to what was captured at Budokan. I hope something similar happens this time too! 

[Podaar]

Hey there everybody! It was great seeing the reactions to the video (symphonic section) of Illumination Theory as this was of my doing. Great to see that people loved it! Makes me a very happy guy! Great kick off to a great tour! Looking forward to more!

May I ask, what other visuals did you do? Enigma machine?

[SjundeInseglet]

And here are a couple of photos from last night's gig (and a half-assed-- to put it mildly-- "review" in Portuguese):

https://www.mysound-mag.com/2014/01/dream-theater-coliseu-do-porto.html

[Thomas Pasieka]

Thank you very much guys genome and wasteland! Really appreciate the warm welcome! Well the idea of the "Light Orb" was just there in my head from the beginning. I won't say what the light orbs represent as this is up to each and every viewer. In any case, I wrote a script and created a storyboard (big thanks to my wife too for inspiration!) to present to the DT guys. After a bit of back and forth and discussing "styles" I got busy creating the actual animation.

It was a pleasure working with Jordan and John P. and all the others involved. Illumination Theory took a bit of an effort but it was well worth it. So happy to see it on the big screen. It's just very emotional in combination with the music! Glad you guys enjoy it!

[Thomas Pasieka]

May I ask, what other visuals did you do? Enigma machine?

I was responsible for Illumination Theory, The Shattered Fortress and Lifting Shadows Of A Dream

[Mladen]

I think the thing with James going an octave higher in the second half of the songs works really well, he sounds vulnerable and emotional.

[Perpetual Change]

Well, here's another "Space-Dye Vest" video from last night's performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj1PtXospXI

Ah this is actually the same fellow who had his video taken down! He says he got hit with a copyright claim for Illumination Theory.

Sheesh. They don't have a copyright claim. However, that's how Youtube works. If a label even *says* they have a claim to something, they'll remove the content regardless. Most artists don't agressively pursue this, from what I can tell, but some do.

I hope this is a RR thing and not a DT thing, though. If it is DT, I don't know what to think. I can't imagine a band like DT stomping down on bootleg live performances people record on their own devices. MP practically authorized bootleg culture, just requesting that fans not share *certain* material that was going to be released officially. I'd hate to think the band have turned away from that.

[RoeDent]

Do you guys realise the magnitude of DT history that happened last night? This controversial song that polarises opinion getting its first live full-band performance, when there was a time that it categorically would never be performed. For starters, it proves the beef was just between Portnoy and Moore, and as Portnoy had pretty much complete control over what the band played, the others couldn't have a say.

[haceeb]

Do you guys realise the magnitude of DT history that happened last night? This controversial song that polarises opinion getting its first live full-band performance, when there was a time that it categorically would never be performed. For starters, it proves the beef was just between Portnoy and Moore, and as Portnoy had pretty much complete control over what the band played, the others couldn't have a say.

Roe is right

[bosk1]

For starters, it proves the beef was just between Portnoy and Moore

Not really.  It may also simply prove that things change over time.  Let's assume John felt the same way that we know Mike did about the song, but that he gave in because, in restrospect, it didn't make sense to keep holding it out if the fans want it, or maybe James and Jordan pushed for it because it got a great response when they did it at Jordan's show, or maybe he just feels less strongly about not playing it now.  I mean, there are tons of variables and possibilities we just don't know.  We DO know that Mike didn't want to play it, but that's about all we know.

Portnoy had pretty much complete control over what the band played, the others couldn't have a say.

Yeah, that's just completely false.  There are things Mike wanted to play where others put their foot down and said no.  And there are things Mike didn't really want to play that they played because others wanted to.  Mike may have had the strongest opinions, and as the primary person who put the set lists together, he may have had more say by default, but I can assure you that if ANY of the other members had strong feelings about a song, their wishes were followed.

[Madman Shepherd]

False Awakening Suite (intro tape)
1. The Enemy Inside
2. The Shattered Fortress
3. On the Backs of Angels
4. The Looking Glass
5. Trial of Tears
6. Enigma Machine (w/ drum solo)
7. Along for the Ride
8. Breaking All Illusions
====================
9. The Mirror
10. Lie
11. Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
12. Scarred
13. Space-Dye Vest
14. Illumination Theory
----------------------------------------
15. Overture 1928
16. Strange Deja-Vu
17. The Dance of Eternity
18. Finally Free

totally forgot their first show was last night so I thankfully got to miss all the fretting and got to dive right into what was going to make this setlist especially special.  Damn, they delivered.

So I'm not crazy about several of their choices but they do make sense. 

Dance of Eternity is my least favorite instrumental by far but I guess it'll be cool to actually watch them do it, especially since it was an audition song. 

Bummed On The Backs of Angels is being played again but it makes sense. 

Really bummed The Bigger Picture isn't in the set.  Maybe setlist B??!?!?!

Enigma Machine is underrated and will give James a good breather. 

Space Dye Vest...nuff said.

But....Shattered Fortress?!  I'm gonna give it another try but man, the several times I tried before I was overcome with laughable lyrics, forced callbacks, and melodies done half as cool as before. 

Beggars can't be choosers though and I will just say that this experience will be AWESOME!  Great setlist overall.  Bold to not do I&W.

[Madman Shepherd]

For starters, it proves the beef was just between Portnoy and Moore

Not really.  It may also simply prove that things change over time.  Let's assume John felt the same way that we know Mike did about the song, but that he gave in because, in restrospect, it didn't make sense to keep holding it out if the fans want it, or maybe James and Jordan pushed for it because it got a great response when they did it at Jordan's show, or maybe he just feels less strongly about not playing it now.  I mean, there are tons of variables and possibilities we just don't know.  We DO know that Mike didn't want to play it, but that's about all we know.

Portnoy had pretty much complete control over what the band played, the others couldn't have a say.

Yeah, that's just completely false.  There are things Mike wanted to play where others put their foot down and said no.  And there are things Mike didn't really want to play that they played because others wanted to.  Mike may have had the strongest opinions, and as the primary person who put the set lists together, he may have had more say by default, but I can assure you that if ANY of the other members had strong feelings about a song, their wishes were followed.

Mike was often making absolute statements and going back on them.  I remember him saying after the Scenes tour they would never do the album in its entirety again which they did.  He also said Disappear would only be played once total but I believe they played it a second time.  I think he also said that 6DOIT would never be played again unless it was in its entirety. 

So maybe he was outvoted or maybe he changed his mind.  But he admitted the person that is willing to hold out the longest usually wins and that is almost always him so I seriously doubt any of the others had a problem with SDV.  They never said anything against it but Mike was the adamant one about never playing it.  Sure the beef may have been with others but I have a feeling that never playing SDV was 100% MP. 

[Madman Shepherd]

Sorry for the 3rd response in a row but did anybody else notice that JP actually has an amp facing him.  During the end of the Mirror you can see him trying to get feedback from it.  He has always had those metal things to put his feet on with pedals in between but now it is an amp surrounded by that...metal...stuff. 

[cookienut]

I'm gobsmacked they played SDV and the let the song build quite amazingly to the end. Wow, just wow.

[FrostbiteZ]

Who was it? Frostbitez, by any chance?

Nope still no my way home
But I got SDV

What's your tour schedule this time? Multiple shows again?

Yes Can't get enough of those guys

I'm attending
O2 Apollo, Manchester
Wembley Arena, London
Wolverhampton Civic hall
Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam
Falconer salen, Copenhagen

I'm finally home and will begin uploading

[BlobVanDam]

For starters, it proves the beef was just between Portnoy and Moore

Not really.  It may also simply prove that things change over time.  Let's assume John felt the same way that we know Mike did about the song, but that he gave in because, in restrospect, it didn't make sense to keep holding it out if the fans want it, or maybe James and Jordan pushed for it because it got a great response when they did it at Jordan's show, or maybe he just feels less strongly about not playing it now.  I mean, there are tons of variables and possibilities we just don't know.  We DO know that Mike didn't want to play it, but that's about all we know.

Portnoy had pretty much complete control over what the band played, the others couldn't have a say.

Yeah, that's just completely false.  There are things Mike wanted to play where others put their foot down and said no.  And there are things Mike didn't really want to play that they played because others wanted to.  Mike may have had the strongest opinions, and as the primary person who put the set lists together, he may have had more say by default, but I can assure you that if ANY of the other members had strong feelings about a song, their wishes were followed.

Also, it's a special case of it being the 20th anniversary of the album, and obviously they chose to celebrate it by including a large chunk of the setlist, and to make the anniversary especially special, decided it was the time for the first performance of the song.
For all we know, the band would have decided to do that even with Portnoy in the band, and had they not been putting together a special anniversary tribute, may have very well continued to leave it alone. It's not like they pulled it out as soon as MP left, it only came up with the anniversary setlist. I agree with you bosky.

Just also have to echo a lot of the praise for that intro. video.  Blob, the transitions you came up with and a lot of the little plays on the artwork that you did are so cleverly done.  Bravo!   

And whether it's true or not, I choose to believe that the transition from Black Clouds to ADTOE through the doorway was a nod to my DTF forum splash page art concept from the last version of the forum. 

Thanks bosky, and everyone!
And yes, that transition most definitely was inspired by the old forum theme. Chances are I would have come to the same conclusion anyway, but when it came time for that transition, that instantly sprung to mind.

[wasteland]

Next time you need to come to Italy! I do want to meet up some time!

Did you manage to tape the whole show, by the way?

[jakepriest]

Scarred, The Shattered Fortress, Trial of Tears? Heck I'll manage to get through The Boring Glass for these three.  Can't wait to see them in Prague.

[FrostbiteZ]

Next time you need to come to Italy! I do want to meet up some time!

Did you manage to tape the whole show, by the way?

Got all except On the Backs of Angels. Was unsure if I had enough battery or memory so I chose to skip that one
Maybe Italy next time

[wasteland]

Next time you need to come to Italy! I do want to meet up some time!

Did you manage to tape the whole show, by the way?

Got all except On the Backs of Angels. Was unsure if I had enough battery or memory so I chose to skip that one
Maybe Italy next time

Good call, we know that one very well already

[haceeb]

[Mindflux]

Hey there everybody! It was great seeing the reactions to the video (symphonic section) of Illumination Theory as this was of my doing. Great to see that people loved it! Makes me a very happy guy! Great kick off to a great tour! Looking forward to more!

Well done, you and Blob have done a great job.

What did blob do?

[IdoSC]

I'm extremely excited about this set. Like, it is literally one of the best DT sets I've ever seen. But it's all theoretical. The videos are rather disappointing...I should probably wait for Scarred, The Shattered Fortress and some of the DT12 songs to surface, but the songs that are up are disappointing, for the most part.

The biggest issue is James, and I'm sorry to say this, but he was terrible. I'm usually amazed by his performances and can't tell he's 50 by any measure. But this show...SDV's higher octave section (it *could* work, if he wasn't so shaky), The Enemy Inside sounding so effortless in the negative sense, the way he sounds like he's struggling on Finally Free, a bunch of other songs.

The worst of all, to be honest, was Illumination Theory. I LOVE this song, I can't thank James enough for this awesome studio performance, and the song in and of itself is one of their finest. But honestly, in this song, it simply looks like he gave up. Like he said "screw that, I can't sing tonight, I'll just do some yelling and get it over with". He had this burned out look in his eyes, maybe some regret about recording it that way in the first place, dunno. But even then, just sing it improvise it a bit and sing a few notes lower and on key - don't lose your timing completely!

I'm sorry if my post is not so humble and polite, and I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm exaggerating or something. It's just that I adore this band and extremely passionate about them, and to me, this wonderful guy is the heart and soul of DT. And honestly watching and listening to some of these videos simply frustrated me and bummed me out. Maybe it's just a 1st show thing, maybe these songs are too taxing when put together, but honestly maybe doing a 3-hour set is not the best idea when you're 50. I'd rather have him with a great, functional voice for 5-10 more years and 1:30-2 hour sets.

[GasparXR]

Full video of The Shattered Fortress: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCZHHXvTNGU

[Daso]

Hey there everybody! It was great seeing the reactions to the video (symphonic section) of Illumination Theory as this was of my doing. Great to see that people loved it! Makes me a very happy guy! Great kick off to a great tour! Looking forward to more!

Welcome to the forum and thank you for the amazing job on that video. I really want to see the ones for LSOAD and TSF. The video reminded me a lot of Storm Corrosion - Drag Ropes. Beautifully done, seriously.

Blob, the intro video gave me chills all the way through. I couldn't help but smiling when I was watching it. My favorite transitions where the ones from ToT to DT12, but all of them where great. Excellent work, man.


I loved how they played Space-Dye Vest. Jordan held back a lot and it came out great on his side. JLB did even better than I thought he would (and that's saying a lot), and I loved how he went a whole octave up on the last verses. Also, JP's solo was out of this world. I really hope he extends it as the tour progresses.