That's another good positive about the current DVD compared to Score. In BTFW, he seemed to be pepped up a good amount, and did a fine job of trying to engage with the crowd. I don't think he would have said something like "Who dances to the Mirror?" in Score.
I just think the difference maker of the two is mainly the beard.
Before, it always seemed like he was being held back. His banter would occasionally give us some especially special gems, but if you check out clips from old shows, he only ever spoke to the audience in specific spots almost every night. For instance, after the second song he would usually say, "Hello (name of city) how are we doing tonight? We've got a great show for you blah blah blah..." Edit: Just to clarify, it seemed to me like he was being told "You can only speak in between these songs..."
Now he cuts loose, he engages the audience more, even if it is for the most part just more "Boston let me hear you!!!" We still get some great stuff like his rant in Chicago about people putting their cell phones away and just enjoying the show, cracking jokes with JP (like when JP walked over to him mid sentence and James froze with a scared look on his face and said, "Am I about to be pummeled?" )
I've said it before and I'll say it again, (it seems like the same people on this board are just a broken record of their same old opinion), I don't see how Mike Portnoy was considered this amazing performer. Sure he was fun to watch but so is Mike Mangini. The only difference was Portnoy was constantly standing up, pointing at the crowd and raising his hands to prompt the audience. Nothing wrong with that sometimes unless it becomes a distraction (which it did sometimes)
Labrie's got that Tokyo 93 swagger back.
DT's got their swag back
This makes me hungry for cotton candy