Raw Dog???

[DTiwbwMP]

Let's see what happens. My vote is HELL YEAH! I want to see EVERY DT song played live at least once. Oh and, I actually like the song. It's not a classic, but it certainly isn't as bad as some folks make it out to be. If a royal dud like SDV can be played, RD most certainly can be played!

[TAC]

Raw Dog is awesome, and I have no idea what you have against Strange Deja Vu.

[durga2112]

Let's see what happens. My vote is HELL YEAH! I want to see EVERY DT song played live at least once. Oh and, I actually like the song. It's not a classic, but it certainly isn't as bad as some folks make it out to be. If a royal dud like SDV can be played, RD most certainly can be played!

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

If a royal dud like SDV can be played, RD most certainly can be played!

Opinions are opinions and that's fine, but yours is weird.

[Lonk]

I voted yes, but maybe not all 7 minutes of it. Shrink it down to 4 minutes 

[hefdaddy42]

Not "no" but "hell no"

[ZirconBlue]

Sure.  Especially if they can restore the sound samples that were originally supposed to be included.  

[Stadler]

If they deliver it with the energy and conviction that they delivered everything else on the 40th anniversary tour, then sure, why not?   

[TAC]

If they deliver it with the energy and conviction that they delivered everything else on the 40th anniversary tour, then sure, why not?   

This. I never thought all that much of Stream Of Consciousness, but it BLEW ME AWAY how awesome it was live.

[emtee]

Not "no" but "hell no"

This.

[JiM-Xtreme]

Sure.  Especially if they can restore the sound samples that were originally supposed to be included. 

Even more so if they can perfectly recreate that awkwardly abrupt ending.

[emtee]

If they deliver it with the energy and conviction that they delivered everything else on the 40th anniversary tour, then sure, why not?   

My recollection of this song, which may be inaccurate, is that it was kind of put together quickly for a video game. And, it was around the time that MP became vocal about JLB in a negative way. I don't know the facts but I felt like they maybe didn't include JLB and went for an instrumental. So my association with the song has negativity associated with it. I also just never connected with it. Again, I may be way off but this is what I seem to remember.

[TAC]

My recollection of this song, which may be inaccurate, is that it was kind of put together quickly for a video game. And, it was around the time that MP became vocal about JLB in a negative way. I don't know the facts but I felt like they maybe didn't include JLB and went for an instrumental. So my association with the song has negativity associated with it. I also just never connected with it. Again, I may be way off but this is what I seem to remember.

I thought the fact that it was for a video game determined that it would be an instrumental so it could be played in the background of the game.

[emtee]

I thought the fact that it was for a video game determined that it would be an instrumental so it could be played in the background of the game.

Very possible! Never considered that.

Were all the songs instrumentals on that video game?

[Stadler]

There are seven tracks on the EP (six and a bonus download) and the Dream Theater song is the only instrumental.

Having said that, in my opinion, the DT song has the best vocals on the EP.

I have no firm way of knowing, and I doubt anyone is going to say otherwise now, but I don't think there's anything to be read into there not being vocals on that song. It was done very quickly, in my understanding, and we all know that their process is to write the music and the lyrics/vocals are the last thing to go on.

[Lonk]

Very possible! Never considered that.

Were all the songs instrumentals on that video game?

I don't think it made it to the game, though it made it to the EP. And no, not all songs were instrumental.

For those interested, the entire EP was God of War - Blood and Metal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb5egDsej3k&list=PLt5tGqoiHlsd2aTiG49Ysj4Om25m7pwnp

[Metro]

It was included in the soundtrack for the game along with songs from a bunch of other Roadrunner artists. It was never actually played in the game at any point.

[The Letter M]

My only reasoning that they'd pull out "Raw Dog" would be to give James more vocal rest between songs. I noticed there were a lot of instrumental breaks and jams and longer songs played on this past tour to give James some rest, so if they tossed in an instrumental they've never played before into the set list regularly, it would give James some time to rest up, which can only be a good thing.

-Marc.

[gzarruk]

I say do it! Same with the MM songs they never played live.

[ganpondorodf]

It was included in the soundtrack for the game along with songs from a bunch of other Roadrunner artists. It was never actually played in the game at any point.

This. It was a 'songs inspired by the game' (but not really) thing included with a collector's edition or something. Opeth just said fuck you and wrote a weird forest song whereas all the other bands wrote metal things. Oddly enough the Opeth one feels quite spiritually akin to the much later God of War soft reboot series. Funny how that worked out.

But yes, Raw Dog is crap

[The Letter M]

This. It was a 'songs inspired by the game' (but not really) thing included with a collector's edition or something. Opeth just said fuck you and wrote a weird forest song whereas all the other bands wrote metal things. Oddly enough the Opeth one feels quite spiritually akin to the much later God of War soft reboot series. Funny how that worked out.

But yes, Raw Dog is crap

And there was even a seventh track by The Turtlenecks, "Even Gods Cry", which was on the God Of War Trilogy Soundtrack version of Blood & Metal, making the EP just under 37 minutes long, practically an album at that point. For those interested, or that don't know, here's the full track list:
1    Killswitch Engage – My Obsession - 3:45
2    Trivium – Shattering The Skies Above - 4:45
3    Dream Theater –    Raw Dog -    7:34
4    Taking Dawn – This Is Madness - 4:19
5    Opeth – Throat Of Winter - 5:48
6    Mutiny Within – The End - 3:19
7    The Turtlenecks – Even Gods Cry - 7:33

-Marc.

[pg1067]

Isn't it also the case that JM didn't play on Raw Dog?

[TAC]

Isn't it also the case that JM didn't play on Raw Dog?

He didn't? I don't remember that.

[Peter Mc]

More like naw dog!  My recollection of that track was a sludgy, tuneless dirge. 

And now you've made me listen to it again.  It's just as bad as I remembered!  Thanks for that.

[DTiwbwMP]

Raw Dog is awesome, and I have no idea what you have against Strange Deja Vu.

I see what you did there

[TAC]

I see what you did there

That's Bosk humor right there.

[devieira73]

MP is a completist and now Raw Dog is the only DT MP era song officially released (not just demo) that was never played live by DT. So I guess we'll get at least just one live performance of it sometime (and I'm totally rooting for it being included in some regular future setlist). BTW maybe Space Dye-Vest also will be played in the future a bit for the same reason. And The Shattered Fortress is a given, of course (both not played by DT with MP).

[Metro]

MP is a completist and now Raw Dog is the only DT MP era song officially released (not just demo) that was never played live by DT. So I guess we'll get at least just one live performance of it sometime (and I'm totally rooting for it being included in some regular future setlist). BTW maybe Space Dye-Vest also will be played in the future a bit for the same reason. And The Shattered Fortress is a given, of course (both not played by DT with MP).

Well, MP-era DT now includes Parasomnia, and only two of those songs have been played live so far

[The Letter M]

Well, MP-era DT now includes Parasomnia, and only two of those songs have been played live so far

True, but they've already announced months ahead of time that they WILL be playing the whole album in the fall, so, they'll be crossing off the other six soon enough!

-Marc.

[Peter Mc]

MP is a completist and now Raw Dog is the only DT MP era song officially released (not just demo) that was never played live by DT. So I guess we'll get at least just one live performance of it sometime (and I'm totally rooting for it being included in some regular future setlist). BTW maybe Space Dye-Vest also will be played in the future a bit for the same reason. And The Shattered Fortress is a given, of course (both not played by DT with MP).

Space-Dye Vest has been played live by DT during Mangini's tenure.  I seem to remember Mike Portnoy saying that he had no interest in ever playing it but I may be mistaken.

[Mr.Mister]

If I remember correctly, DT wanted to use sound samples from the game but the game's studio declined. Was this real or am I imagining it?

As for the song, keep in mind they wrote it in hours with leftover riffs from BC&SL so it's hard to judge it for me. I think it could be a good easter egg if they play some passages in the middle break of an instrumental or something but seeing it or not live does the same for me.

[Schurftkut]

Jordan would need to bring his Harpeji for that song only, doesn't seem likely

[JiM-Xtreme]

If I remember correctly, DT wanted to use sound samples from the game but the game's studio declined. Was this real or am I imagining it?

I remember reading that too - they were meant to be played during the outro (hence why there are no other leads/solos at that point). Strange that this wasn't allowed considering it was specifically made to promote the game.

[CraftyCaleb2483]

a royal dud like SDV

Just wanted to point out that you hit the nail on the head with that opinion

[MirrorMask]

If Dream Theater should ever go the Ghost route to forbid smartphones at their concerts, and should they play Raw Dog, that should be the song where they actually allow people to take out smartphones off their pouches. Not to take photos or videos, but to chill out checking their phones and do something more interesting while DT play their most random and superfluous instrumental.