The "A View from the Top of the World tour is awesome!" thread (spoilers)

[gmillerdrake]

The 'tour' thread is locked so just wanted to drop a couple comments about the show last night.

First off, JLB sounded really friggin' good. I think he and the band are doing a great job at working around his 58  year old vocal chords when it comes to songs that it's just physically impossible for him to hit the notes any longer....like "6:00", sounded great.

Second, JP was entirely too loud. He drowned out the other three guys in many sections last night where while you could 'hear' them....the utter volume of his guitar was dare I say distracting at times. He needed to be bumped down a bit IMO.

MM is a beast on drums. Plain and simple....dude just gets after it and it's fun to watch. JMX is just steady eddie and fires away at that bass....his fingers are always going 100mph. In some of the sections where he was highlighted he really shined.

My boys had a blast and I went ahead and sprung for merch.....bought them each a concert shirt so they were happy about that as well. All in all, the concert was great and I was happy we didn't have to road trip to see them, but my small nit pick is JP overpowered the entire band in multiple spots last night. But that didn't detract from the fact we got to see DT again.

Highlights for me were:
  - Awaken the Master   - Incredible Live
  - AVFTTOTW was awesome Live
  -  JLB sounded great

Who knows how many more opportunities we will have for that? I looked up their ages as my wife was asking me and JR is 65, JLB and MM are 58, JP is 54 and JMX is 55. JR is the one that 'scares' me as 65 is no joke as far as touring and what not. JLB mentioned they're going to tour for the next year and half....puts them a solid 2.5-3 years out from a new album.....JR may be 68 before they tour again! Crazy!

[TAC]

That's awesome Gary!!! Can't wait for next week here.

[bosk1]

Awesome, Gary!  I fully agree that Awaken and View were incredible live.  (see my review in the Oakland thread)  Interesting mix issue.  I thought the mix on the instrumentalists was just about perfect in Oakland, and JP's guitar tone was incredible on most songs.  My issue with the mix at that show was just that the vocals were too low and the vocal backing track was too high.

[gmillerdrake]

Awesome, Gary!  I fully agree that Awaken and View were incredible live.  (see my review in the Oakland thread)  Interesting mix issue.  I thought the mix on the instrumentalists was just about perfect in Oakland, and JP's guitar tone was incredible on most songs.  My issue with the mix at that show was just that the vocals were too low and the vocal backing track was too high.

It was weird because it was only in moments.....not the whole time. I don't know if it was the venue acoustics or where we sat (first row balcony) but there were just times where JP's guitar drowned everyone. OR, I just can't hear because I'm old 

[bosk1]

Not sure why some are bothered by "spoilers" in the other thread, but since some complained, this is now its own thing.  (and there is obviously other tour discussion in the concerts/setlists subforum)

[UndercoverMyung]

Amazing show. 2nd time seeing DT. Hope to see them again within a few years.

[hunnus2000]

Didn't someone post here that JP said they would add more shows after the European leg (or whenever that is)??

And any word on them videoing this tour?

[UndercoverMyung]

Didn't someone post here that JP said they would add more shows after the European leg (or whenever that is)??

And any word on them videoing this tour?

Last night in Cincinnati, James said they plan to tour for the next year and a half and said they would be "coming back here".

[geeeemo]

Didn't someone post here that JP said they would add more shows after the European leg (or whenever that is)??

And any word on them videoing this tour?

Last night in Cincinnati, James said they plan to tour for the next year and a half and said they would be "coming back here".

I heard 2 year tour in Oakland, then 1 1/2 years in Denver.

And ya! this tour is awesome!! I can't imagine there would ever be a bad DT tour.

[tofee35]

I don't know if this is the right place for this question because there are a few tour threads but...historically has weather cancelled shows? I ask because it will be snowing 5-8" in Boston on Friday just in time for the show. That's really not that much snow, but I thought I'd inquire here anyway. Anybody else going to the Boston show?

-Tof

[TAC]

I don't know if this is the right place for this question because there are a few tour threads but...historically has weather cancelled shows? I ask because it will be snowing 5-8" in Boston on Friday just in time for the show. That's really not that much snow, but I thought I'd inquire here anyway. Anybody else going to the Boston show?

-Tof

We were talking about it here..

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=57218.35

Not sure what forecast to believe. 5" over the course of Thursday night to Friday evening should be fine.

[Setlist Scotty]

I don't know if this is the right place for this question because there are a few tour threads but...historically has weather cancelled shows? I ask because it will be snowing 5-8" in Boston on Friday just in time for the show. That's really not that much snow, but I thought I'd inquire here anyway. Anybody else going to the Boston show?

There's been a few times that it has happened. Off the top of my head, there were 3 shows in March(?) 1993 that they canceled because of a super bad storm in the NE. And in 2006 they were supposed to play Salt Lake City but because of the weather - specifically the mountainous roads they needed to take to get there from the previous gig - they had to cancel. Otherwise, I can't think of any other occasions where they canceled due to the weather.

[Lax]

IDK if it's related to weather but I had a cancelled gig in france 2004 because their gear wasn't arriving from eastern europe

[Stadler]

So I was a "wait and see" guy as far as the tour goes when the album came out.  I liked, not loved, the album and while it's grown on me a bit, it's not in the upper tier of DT records.   I had taken a wait-and-see approach to the tour, and honestly was leaning against going.

Fate has it, I decided to listen to the epics in order to make my ranking, and about that same time, I found out I'm able to go Saturday to the show in Wallingford.  On top of seeing a bunch of friends again, I've been playing the setlist on my iPod, and frankly, I'm getting pretty stoked.   I'm actually really excited to see this show. 

This isn't a dig, and I'm not looking to start something, but I'm hoping that James delivers.  So many of the songs in the set are, for me, favorites because of James.  Fingers crossed....

[TAC]

Bill, he was pretty good in Boston. He seems to have really settled in. That first week of the tour was atrocious for him. I actually thought the whole band was off a bit.

AVFTTOTW is amazing live. JP's Moore-esque solos in the middle, and holy shit does that outro bring it home.

[Kram]

Bill, he was pretty good in Boston. He seems to have really settled in. That first week of the tour was atrocious for him. I actually thought the whole band was off a bit.

AVFTTOTW is amazing live. JP's Moore-esque solos in the middle, and holy shit does that outro bring it home.

100% agree!  I'm sure you'll love the show Stadler..

[cramx3]

This isn't a dig, and I'm not looking to start something, but I'm hoping that James delivers.  So many of the songs in the set are, for me, favorites because of James.  Fingers crossed....

I have faith he will.  From my experience, he always does, but it's not until I go back to the video where you notice some of his struggles.  In person, I almost never notice these so it has never taken away from the actual live experience.

[Buddyhunter1]

Honestly the worst thing about James these past few tours has been his stage banter. (thankfully that only happens a couple times per show)

[evilasiojr]

https://youtu.be/ehsnpiCLVNY

Just watched this video from the Boston show. The outro section/riff on A View from this performance was amazing to watch on YT, I can only imagine in person! It's clearly one of those passages that improve 100% live, even more with MM's energetic playing. Wasn't a huge fan of this part on the record, but live it sounds truly badass 

[TAC]

https://youtu.be/ehsnpiCLVNY

Just watched this video from the Boston show. The outro section/riff on A View from this performance was amazing to watch on YT, I can only imagine in person! It's clearly one of those passages that improve 100% live, even more with MM's energetic playing. Wasn't a huge fan of this part on the record, but live it sounds truly badass 

That outro may have been THE signature moment of the show for me. It was incredibly powerful. When it ended, I turned to my son and said "That was incredible", and he replied "Yeah", which is a very affirmative answer for him as he is not into DT.

[bosk1]

That first week of the tour was atrocious for him.

Can't speak to any other shows, because I wasn't there, but he was pretty great at Oakland.

[DreamerTV]

I don't know if this is the right place for this question because there are a few tour threads but...historically has weather cancelled shows? I ask because it will be snowing 5-8" in Boston on Friday just in time for the show. That's really not that much snow, but I thought I'd inquire here anyway. Anybody else going to the Boston show?

There's been a few times that it has happened. Off the top of my head, there were 3 shows in March(?) 1993 that they canceled because of a super bad storm in the NE. And in 2006 they were supposed to play Salt Lake City but because of the weather - specifically the mountainous roads they needed to take to get there from the previous gig - they had to cancel. Otherwise, I can't think of any other occasions where they canceled due to the weather.

Lignano, Italy, in 2017, 1 minute before the show was supposed to start because of the rain - and the stage being very poorly coverd.
Clearly i was there with first row ticket in front of JP and an after show pass (won through the astonishing app) that never happened.

[Architeuthis]

That first week of the tour was atrocious for him.

Can't speak to any other shows, because I wasn't there, but he was pretty great at Oakland.

Yep, he was great in Seattle too!    💯💥

[Stadler]

Honestly the worst thing about James these past few tours has been his stage banter. (thankfully that only happens a couple times per show)

Is he still using that "rock and roll voice" to do the stage talk?  You know what I mean...

[Stadler]

This isn't a dig, and I'm not looking to start something, but I'm hoping that James delivers.  So many of the songs in the set are, for me, favorites because of James.  Fingers crossed....

I have faith he will.  From my experience, he always does, but it's not until I go back to the video where you notice some of his struggles.  In person, I almost never notice these so it has never taken away from the actual live experience.

And that's how it is with me, too.  My bar isn't THAT high; I don't mind some struggles.  It's when it gets so bad that it's noticeable even WITH the energy of the live experience.   I'm talking to you, Vince Neil.      

[TAC]

That first week of the tour was atrocious for him.

Can't speak to any other shows, because I wasn't there, but he was pretty great at Oakland.

Well, I haven't watched any footage from Oakland, but the footage from Mesa and LA is not flattering. My main point was that I feel like he's gotten stronger as the tour has gone on. The clips in Chicago, Detroit, and Boston are all pretty good, and much better than the first few shows. And that's to be expected.

[evilasiojr]

https://youtu.be/ehsnpiCLVNY

Just watched this video from the Boston show. The outro section/riff on A View from this performance was amazing to watch on YT, I can only imagine in person! It's clearly one of those passages that improve 100% live, even more with MM's energetic playing. Wasn't a huge fan of this part on the record, but live it sounds truly badass 

That outro may have been THE signature moment of the show for me. It was incredibly powerful. When it ended, I turned to my son and said "That was incredible", and he replied "Yeah", which is a very affirmative answer for him as he is not into DT.

That must have been so cool 

[Kram]

https://youtu.be/ehsnpiCLVNY

Just watched this video from the Boston show. The outro section/riff on A View from this performance was amazing to watch on YT, I can only imagine in person! It's clearly one of those passages that improve 100% live, even more with MM's energetic playing. Wasn't a huge fan of this part on the record, but live it sounds truly badass 

That outro may have been THE signature moment of the show for me. It was incredibly powerful. When it ended, I turned to my son and said "That was incredible", and he replied "Yeah", which is a very affirmative answer for him as he is not into DT.

That must have been so cool 

I just watched that video and I can confirm James sounds WAY better here, then he did at the San Diego show (2nd show of the tour).  That's great news!  And yes, the outro to A View is bad ass!  I've been saying for awhile that I consider A View a top 10-15 all time DT song.  And as time is passing by, I feel that opinion is only getting stronger.

[Architeuthis]

Gosh I hope they release a dvd from this tour.  I really like their last dvd, but I like the overall presentation from this tour even better.  Everything from the stage production, lighting and setlist. This tour also features some of JP's best guitar playing ever imo, and JLB is in great form too.  This would make for a beautiful dvd/bluray production. 

     

[crystalstars17]

I've been saying for awhile that I consider A View a top 10-15 all time DT song.  And as time is passing by, I feel that opinion is only getting stronger.

💯

[bosk1]

I don't think it would get close to that high for me.  But that's just a commentary on how strong the DT catalog is, and not at all an indictment of AVFTTOTW.  It really is a great song.

[TheCountOfNYC]

Tonight's show in NYC was great. The entire band was on point, including James. There was even a special guest in the crowd tonight: Mike Portnoy.

[Nel_Annette]

A show-goer on Twitter mentioned that James gave Mike a shoutout and Mike saluted back.

[The Letter M]

Tonight's show in NYC was great. The entire band was on point, including James. There was even a special guest in the crowd tonight: Mike Portnoy.

Has it been stated if Mike has ever seen DT since he left the band, or is this the first DT concert he's attended since 2010?

A show-goer on Twitter mentioned that James gave Mike a shoutout and Mike saluted back.

I just saw that - https://twitter.com/brianjheaton/status/1499951160555233281?t=OjJLxUxZpP5SNTEzTGQd7w&s=19

Mike himself retweeted it, which is how I saw it on my Twitter feed.

-Marc.

[TAC]

When Samsara talks, people listen.