I will echo the sentiments that it was the best DT show ever. I spent the last month running through their discography, including watching LALP, Score, L@B... and this was the best they've ever been - including SC and BCSL from the studio. When I told RJ that it was the best since Score, that was on the basis that 1 week before RCMH, they did Toronto and James was a beast. They did LtL as their encore, and he nailed - NAILED - that F#.
He was better on Thursday. I only recall a couple of moments where he dialed it back a little. Otherwise, he was full on. I wasn't much of a fan of IT before the show, but now I'm convinced. It was amazing, and I learned to appreciate the little interlude in the middle.
Mangini was another standout. I didn't catch the fuckups others are referencing. I did notice him emphatically shout "FUCK" to himself after one of the fills during the IT instrumental breakdown. Otherwise, he's just so much fun to watch. He makes the strangest movements and faces. And I tell you, I would've though it impossible for one human being with four limbs to be able to make the sounds and move the way he does. It's mind blowing. MP is an amazing drummer, but MM is just technically a beast. It's amazing how he stays true to the sound and feel that MP created, while putting his own stamp on the songs at the same time.
Loved the setlist. My only beef is On The Backs of Angels. Wish they'd swap that for one of the new tracks. I'm a huge fan of Breaking All Illusions, so I don't mind seeing that a second tour in a row. I've just had enough of OTBOA. Throw in TBP or BTV. Also, the opening of The Shattered Fortress seemed to be a bit of a hot mess - sound wise. I'm not sure if they had to shake 2.5 weeks of rust off, but the musical intro was a bit of a sonic blur.
Production wise, it was great. Blob's videos (especially the intro with The False Awakening Suite) were dynamite. Although, I was half expecting him to have put some content into Scarred. Boy, that would've been funny.
Intermission vid was hilarious, with (again) Blob's action figuur vids getting the best response. I was hoping to see
Under a Glass Lutjanus, but I'm guessing the audio wasn't solid enough.
They started right at 8pm sharp, and finished right at 11pm sharp. Unbelievably, a couple kids just to my right left at the end of IT, even though (during the Awake set) James had specifically stated that that they were doing some SFAM songs later.
Looking forward to seeing them again in San Fran, and I don't mind at all that'll be the same set - they (and the set) were that good.