If YOU were writing the set list for the next DT tour...

[RaiseTheKnife]

You Not Me, never. But I could still see him bringing back You *or* Me. IIRC, even in the FII demos liner notes, he hinted at the idea. Granted, that was before the split, but I can still see that being something he might resurrect, especially for an anniversary tour.

Yes, its mentioned in the liner notes.  I brought this up to MP at a meet n greet in 2009.  Would love to see the demo (and far superior) version make its debut.

[Setlist Scotty]

Yes, its mentioned in the liner notes.  I brought this up to MP at a meet n greet in 2009.  Would love to see the demo (and far superior) version make its debut.

What did he say?

[pg1067]

Yes, its mentioned in the liner notes.  I brought this up to MP at a meet n greet in 2009.  Would love to see the demo (and far superior) version make its debut.

Well...if you want the demo, you're not getting the superior version.

[Setlist Scotty]

Well...if you want the demo, you're not getting the superior version.

That's up for debate. 

[romdrums]

I think an especially bold move by MP and DT would be doing nothing but the most difficult drum performances from the Mangini era and calling it the "Challenge Accepted!" tour. Barring that, I hope they troll us a bit. Like, if they're going to do Mangini era tunes, have it be things like Beneath The Surface and Far From Heaven, where they are MM era tunes but don't have any drums on them. I would love that!

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I think an especially bold move by MP and DT would be doing nothing but the most difficult drum performances from the Mangini era and calling it the "Challenge Accepted!" tour. Barring that, I hope they troll us a bit. Like, if they're going to do Mangini era tunes, have it be things like Beneath The Surface and Far From Heaven, where they are MM era tunes but don't have any drums on them. I would love that!

If you're not going to actually cover those drum performances I don't see the point in doing this and viewing it as a bold or challenging move.

[Trav86]

If you're not going to actually cover those drum performances I don't see the point in doing this and viewing it as a bold or challenging move.

He said two different things. Do the most challenging songs OR the ones with no drums to be funny.

[TAC]

Except I wouldn't think was funny if that's how they handled the MM Era exclusively. They won't do that though.

But in an Evening With format, Beneath The Surface or Far From Heaven would certainly be a good way to pace James.

[KevShmev]

Well...if you want the demo, you're not getting the superior version.

Eh, that's like asking if you'd rather get kicked in the beans (You Not Me) or directly in the frank (You or Me). Both options suck swamp water.

(edited to make it a little cleaner)

[romdrums]

He said two different things. Do the most challenging songs OR the ones with no drums to be funny.

This. As a fan since 1992, I just want to see the band mess with the fans' expectations a little bit. I don't want them to open with PMU or Met I, but if they do, put The Alien or Answering The Call second, or something like that. As a drummer, I want to see MP step up and play some of Mangini's more challenging parts. The Alien would be a great example of that, as would Pale Blue Dot or Moment of Betrayal. I think that would be MP showing MM a huge sign of respect, while also letting the fans know he's been doing his homework!

On the flip side, I think it would be humorous to troll the fans that are clamoring for them to honor the MM years by using things like the NOMACS tracks as the only MM-era tunes they include in the set. Would they go that far? Highly unlikely. But, I would find that funny!

Ultimately, I want to be surprised by what they choose, and I want some elements of danger in their setlists. Work out a cool MM-era medley, or a new arrangement or two of some old songs, something that makes it fresh.

[Chino]

I'd honestly lose all respect if they trolled in such a fashion. MM took so much shit early on, and from a lot of people, for the entirety of his tenure with DT. That wasn't an easy gig, and he handled with as much grace and professionalism as somebody could. It would be a monumentally dickish thing for them to do. 

[romdrums]

I'd honestly lose all respect if they trolled in such a fashion. MM took so much shit early on, and from a lot of people, for the entirety of his tenure with DT. That wasn't an easy gig, and he handled with as much grace and professionalism as somebody could. It would be a monumentally dickish thing for them to do. 

That's why my first option would be the better option.

[The Paddies]

If they really want or need to 'troll' perhaps it's nicer to have one of the Nomac-tracks being played from tape and then suddenly start The Alien afterwards. That would be quite a surprise.

But rather than some 'trolling' I'd just like to have a great setlist with one or two 'hidden gems' and/or maybe a little bit of a jam in a song. Let the fun be in the playing together again. And indeed, Mangini deserves all the respect.

[RaiseTheKnife]

What did he say?

Nothing.  He gave a silent thousand yard stare that showed me how burnt out he was at that point.  In fact, I may have caused MP to originally quite Dream Theater.  Okay, that was in 2009, well before his departure, so of course I jest.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

This. As a fan since 1992, I just want to see the band mess with the fans' expectations a little bit. I don't want them to open with PMU or Met I, but if they do, put The Alien or Answering The Call second, or something like that. As a drummer, I want to see MP step up and play some of Mangini's more challenging parts. The Alien would be a great example of that, as would Pale Blue Dot or Moment of Betrayal. I think that would be MP showing MM a huge sign of respect, while also letting the fans know he's been doing his homework!

On the flip side, I think it would be humorous to troll the fans that are clamoring for them to honor the MM years by using things like the NOMACS tracks as the only MM-era tunes they include in the set. Would they go that far? Highly unlikely. But, I would find that funny!

Ultimately, I want to be surprised by what they choose, and I want some elements of danger in their setlists. Work out a cool MM-era medley, or a new arrangement or two of some old songs, something that makes it fresh.

A lot of fans can't even process that a click track was used or that *god forbid* the guys are just getting older and aren't moving on stage like they used to but you want the band to just mess with them 

[romdrums]

A lot of fans can't even process that a click track was used or that *god forbid* the guys are just getting older and aren't moving on stage like they used to but you want the band to just mess with them 

Exactly!