This year is Dream Theater's 30th Anniversary - Would you like them to do?

[The Letter M]

It's not 2015

now*
 

RIP Robin. Good meme use, though.

-Marc.

[chaossystem]

Anyway, what I would like to see them do is play ONE big show-preferably here in the U.S., such as Madison Square Garden-where they would play one song from each album (preferably in chronological order), including "A Change of Seasons," and release it in ALL available formats, including vinyl, Cd, DVD, Blue-Ray, maybe even cassette.

Why not 8-track and VHS aswell?

I did say all AVAILABLE formats...

...but I was MOSTLY thinking about making it available for people who do most of their "record"-shopping at record stores.

As such I would want it to be available on CD and DVD, as well as Blue-Ray, MP3, etc.

[Zook]

Ideally, here's what I'd like to see played.

Set 1 -
"The Killing Hand" (with an epic intro video)
"Take The Time" (or UAGM if JLB's vocals cannot hit it)
"Erotomania/Voices"
"Take Away My Pain" (The '96 Version)
"Home"

Set 2 -
"The Glass Prison"
"This Dying Soul"
"Panic Attack"
"Prophets Of War"
"Wither"
"Bridges In The Sky"
"The Bigger Picture"

Encore -
"A Change Of Seasons"

I wouldn't mind something like this, but minus Prophets of War. Keep that song far, far away. Replace it with In The Presence of Enemies Part 1.

[bosk1]

Ideally, here's what I'd like to see played.

Set 1 -
"The Killing Hand" (with an epic intro video)
"Take The Time" (or UAGM if JLB's vocals cannot hit it)
"Erotomania/Voices"
"Take Away My Pain" (The '96 Version)
"Home"

Set 2 -
"The Glass Prison"
"This Dying Soul"
"Panic Attack"
"Prophets Of War"
"Wither"
"Bridges In The Sky"
"The Bigger Picture"

Encore -
"A Change Of Seasons"

Overall, it'd be about a 2.5 hour show with an intermission.

-Marc.

Wow, that is a MONSTER set list.  Very little I would change.  The ones I highlighted, I would swap for:
-SOC or INTOG
-I dunno.  ITPOE pt. 1?  Anything is better than POW.  But that one or CM would be my choices (I would say Forsaken, but they have done it recently)
-A Nightmare To Remember!

I might also choose a shorter song for the ADTOE song, but that entire album is gold, so I don't care.

The major problem with that set is that they will likely be touring for a new album, and that set (1) assumes an "evening with" format again, which I am not sure they will do, and (2) even assuming they do, that leaves no time for new songs.  I would love it, but I just can't see it.  But I have to say, for everything through Six Degrees (including your encore choice of ACOS), you picked the EXACT songs I would have chosen (I don't really care to hear anything from Awake this time around, but going with the theme of covering every album, the song choice(s) you picked makes the most sense).

[chaossystem]

Well,
since everybody is doing "30th anniversary SetLists"-
Here's my 2 cents' worth:

Assuming there's a new album>

Set One:
1) New Song
2) The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun
3) Metropolis
4) 6:00
5) 2nd New Song
6) New Millennium
7) Fatal Tragedy
8) About to Crash
9) Longest Song from New Album

Set Two:
1) As I Am
2) The Root of All Evil
3) Forsaken
4) A Rite of Passage
5) On the Backs of Angels
6) Behind the Veil
7) One More New Song
8) A Change of Seaasons


Encore: Pull Me Under

edit: I made some changes to reflect something closer to MY idea of a "best-of" show.

[TheCountOfNYC]

They don't need anyone else contributing anything to keys, or to songwriting at all. I find that idea ridiculous and offensive given the talent of the band.

If JR is ever out of his element, they should perhaps reconsider their musical approach, because JR was completely in his element when they were writing their best material on SFAM and SDOIT, and he contributed hugely to the greatness of those albums. JR is arguably the biggest musical asset they have, but I think he's under-utilized.

I think the band have created a box for themselves in what they think they should bring to the table DT, which is why I think the last few albums have worn off quickly for me. I'd like them to take the approach of forgetting they're writing a DT album, and just go off the leash. There seems to be a widening divide between the musicians as they are in DT, and the musicians they are outside of DT. Every time I hear something from a side project or clinic or live jam or whatever, I too often think "I wish they'd do that in DT."

What I'd love to hear from the next album is for every member to bring a wider range of their own influences and styles and come up with something fresh, rather than trying to meet in the middle and coming up with something too familiar.

As usual, BlobVanDam is 100% correct.

[erwinrafael]

If they would do a 30th anniversary concert, I am sold with the idea of one song from every album + 4 songs from the new album.   

Opener from DT13 (ala The Enemy Inside)
Beyond This Life
Take The Time
Wither
DT13 song (ala Behind the Veil)
Ytse Jam
Voices
Surrender to Reason

BREAK

The Glass Prison
This Dying Soul
DT 13 ballad (ala Anna Lee)
Constant Motion
Peruvian Skies
Far From Heaven
DT13 epic (along the lines of BAI or LtL)
Octavarium

Encore:
A Change of Seasons

[RaiseTheKnife]

I'm not sure "dislike" may be the most accurate word.  But what we do know is that Portnoy mentioned that when they put Another Won in the set on the Octavarium tour, he said he had to really push for it because JP and JM did not really think the Majesty-era material was all that great.  And I seem to recall similar comments once or twice in other contexts as well.  And despite Mike's tendency to overstate things from time to time, it seemed to ring pretty true. 

Maybe there was some initial hesitation in the idea of resurrecting Majesty songs for the 20th anniversary.  At the SF '06 show, JP was a bit embarrassed to talk about Another Won, but I think after they played it for a while with their modern live rig and digested it further, he later remarked (in Rich's book or the Score doc) that the song still had all the facets and sound of a DT composition.

My point is: When I think of the original demos it's hard to UNHEAR the terrible production, but a quality recording with the new lineup would produce surprisingly listenable results. Not that I expect this, given the band's focus on forging ahead.

For me, a few live performances of unreleased songs would be great for a 30th anniversary.

[?]

I posted this anniversary setlist in another thread (no new songs):

I came up with this setlist for a hypothetical 30th anniversary tour and DVD/Bluray - I think it's a good mix of "hits", fan-favorites and a few rare treats:

False Awakening Suite
1. The Enemy Inside
2. Panic Attack
3. Don't Look Past Me
4. In the Presence of Enemies Pt. 1
5. Another Hand/The Killing Hand
6. Wither
7. Take the Time
8. Home
9. The Bigger Picture
*intermission*
10. The Glass Prison
11. On the Backs of Angels
12. Voices
13. Hollow Years
14. Stream of Consciousness
15. Learning to Live
encore:
16. A Change of Seasons

I included OTBOA and TEI due to the Grammy nominations, but for the most part I tried to avoid songs that have appeared on recent live releases.

[RaiseTheKnife]

I posted this anniversary setlist in another thread (no new songs):

I came up with this setlist for a hypothetical 30th anniversary tour and DVD/Bluray - I think it's a good mix of "hits", fan-favorites and a few rare treats:

False Awakening Suite
1. The Enemy Inside
2. Panic Attack
3. Don't Look Past Me
4. In the Presence of Enemies Pt. 1
5. Another Hand/The Killing Hand
6. Wither
7. Take the Time
8. Home
9. The Bigger Picture
*intermission*
10. The Glass Prison
11. On the Backs of Angels
12. Voices
13. Hollow Years
14. Stream of Consciousness
15. Learning to Live
encore:
16. A Change of Seasons

I included OTBOA and TEI due to the Grammy nominations, but for the most part I tried to avoid songs that have appeared on recent live releases.

I'd love to go to this show!

[RoeDent]

Now that we know what DT are doing this year, all new voters can just vote for the second option and be correct.

[Mindflux]

Take a break, reconvene and write some material that is more reminiscent of their older stuff and not ADTOE and DT12?

[rumborak]

Write an acoustic song. Disregarding Vacant, DT has not had an acoustic song in 15 years.

[Flacracker]

Have their tour stop in Florida.

[erwinrafael]

Write an acoustic song. Disregarding Vacant, DT has not had an acoustic song in 15 years.

Isn't Far From Heaven acoustic?

[rumborak]

Oh, good point. Never mind then

Wouldn't hurt either way though to have another one, maybe one with acoustic guitar.

[?]

Write an acoustic song. Disregarding Vacant, DT has not had an acoustic song in 15 years.

Isn't Far From Heaven acoustic?

Yup, and so is Beneath the Surface.

[hefdaddy42]

Oh, good point. Never mind then

Wouldn't hurt either way though to have another one, maybe one with acoustic guitar.

Yeah, like Beneath The Surface.

[McKealty]

Other: Bring MP back.

[hefdaddy42]

Other: Bring MP back.

Not likely.

[gmillerdrake]

With the next album that'll be (13) Albums. I'd like to see them rent out a venue for 13 consecutive Saturday nights and then perform and record a live set of each Album each Saturday.... starting with WDATU and ending with their fall release......then offer that up in a cool Blue Ray package.

[rumborak]

Can you imagine the effort involved in that?!

[gmillerdrake]

Can you imagine the effort involved in that?!

Well it's my answer to the question      That would be awesome IMO but you're right....I don't know if it's physically or mentally possible for those guys to pull that off. That is a lot of notes to recall and play.....but I did give them a week between shows to rehearse 

I don't think recording would be an issue once they finally set the equipment up. Post production would probably take a year though given the track record.

[hefdaddy42]

TBH, I bet the logistics of organizing and planning such an event would be more difficult than the band having to learn a new album each week.

[gmillerdrake]

TBH, I bet the logistics of organizing and planning such an event would be more difficult than the band having to learn a new album each week.

Really? If it's one location? Once you have it set up it should be good to go. Unless they were required to 'tear down' after each show.

[rumborak]

I was more thinking of the cognitive load. Getting an album's worth under your fingers within a week is insane, if you want to do a good job. I think what you would get is a lot of flubs, or overdubs.

[Anguyen92]

TBH, I bet the logistics of organizing and planning such an event would be more difficult than the band having to learn a new album each week.

Really? If it's one location? Once you have it set up it should be good to go. Unless they were required to 'tear down' after each show.

As much as I really would love this kind of concept to work, I think the venue would have to force them to remove their equipment stuff after each show to make room for any other events that is happening throughout that week.

Logistics-wise, it's hard to manage this kind of thing, because one thing, the venue needs to have 13 Saturdays freed up which is impossible honestly.  Also, depending on what venue, they got to fill the venue up during those 13 Saturdays.  I don't think, even as dedicated DT fans are, that it can happen at a constant rate to justify the price that it costs to do this kind of endeavor.

[RaiseTheKnife]

I'd travel far for an album covering residency (or tour) -- but this goes wildly against the "well-oiled machine" objective.