Going to see Dream Theater in 2008 was mind blowing. It made me realize that i had just wasted 15 years of my life listen to Bullshit music until i found myself in Heavy Metal.
AT the end of 2008 i brought their debut LP at Egg Record in Newtown. On that same day i drove past a bunch of Kylie Minogue Fan and i yelled out: "LISTEN TO DREAM THEATER" as i showed them all my prized possession
I had the opportunity to meet Dream Theater and get my photo taken.
It has taken 5 years for Dream Theater to come back to Australia. I was thinking of going to see them in Singapore In April 2012, but i was already going there in July 2012 so there was no point to go over for that gig.
So much as change in Dream Theater in the last 5 years. 9 month after that gig Mike Portnoy quit the band. It was a relief that he gave up on Dream Theater because he was too much of a control freak and John Myung didn't get to write a song untill 2011. Some 12 years after his last songwriting credit.
Mike Mangini is the perfect guy to fill in the shoes of Mike Portnoy. Not only that, but Mangini has a better drum kit that Portnoy
I brought my brother a ticket to this gig for $140 for a Gold GA standing. I brought a Silver GA ticket for $109. The last band i paid more than $100 to see was Dream Theater. Worst of all they were selling gold tickets for $70 on the days. Thats bullshit!
The doors opened at 7pm so i got my wristband to go inside. They gave me the same colored wrist band as my brother. So I got let into the Gold General admission and i only paid $109.
There was no opening act but there was a giant cloth over the stage that was showing the whole solar system and the map of the world. 30 minutes later and Intro video was projected on to the screen. It featured an animated version of Dream Theater Albums. Starting in 1989 with "When Dream and Day Unite" and ending with the most recently self titled album while the False awakening suite blairing over the PA
"The Shatter Fortress" is a song made famous by Mike Portnoy AA suite and i found it lame that Dream Theater would be playing any part of Mikes AA Suite because as i wrote in my early blog this year that Mike would hate to see Dream Theater play his AA Suite.
The only Mike Portnoy songs i like are "A Change of Season", "Honor Thy Father" and "The Root of All Evil"
Since Dream Theater didn't tour here in their 2011-12 cycle it was worth it to hear the Grammy nominated "On The Back of Angels' I don't really listen to that album at all but its a great song
"The Looking Glass' is a song that i feel like it was made to break thru into the billboard hot 100 or the hot rock tracks on the US charts. Because Dream Theater only charting song was "Pull Me Under" that was top 10 on the US mainstream rock tracks.
the song sound too much like Rush but after all Dream Theater is another band that has been influenced by Rush itself.
James went off stage for "Enimga Machine" to start working. A hardline instrumentaly that features the drum tallents of Mike Mangini with the amazing Cartoon of D. T VS D.T
When i first checked the setlist of the gig in Istanbul i realise they were playing the same set over and over and its kinda lame when you go on tour and you only play songs off 4 albums.
Throughout the gig there was animation of a car driving around town with the number plates DT1985 a reference to band bands year of creation in 1985. "Along for the Ride" was on next off the recent album. All the shirt printed this tour where all about "Along for the Ride" . Its a pretty magical song.
"Breaking all Illusions": I don''t understand why after 3 years i still have yet to buy a copy of this album like i did for every Dream Theater Album (except for Six Degrees). The elements are iin it thanks to Mangini amazing drumming and the fanatics of Jordan Rudess
An interval happened as the band took a 15 minute break. I wanted to take a piss, but the lines to the bathroom were so damn long. In the intermission a video of Dream Theater fan video was made. It even paid homage to the: James, Jordan and John Petrucci actions figures
But in reality Mike Portnoy wrote that song to deal with his issue of Alcaholism.I mean if he wrote that song that about his substance abuse then why didn't he seek help after the Awake tour? But this song pretty much the fetus of the Alcoholic Anonymous suite that would feature in 5 albums from "Six Degrees to Black Clouds" But it just makes me think the band is still mourning the departure of M.P "GET OVER IT AND START PLAYING SONGS THAT ARE RELATED TO MIKE PORTNOY ALCOHOL ADDICTIONS!"
It then cuts into "Lie" it always has to be that way when your playing songs off Awake.
"Lifting Shadows off a Dream" John Myung is an awesome song writer and standing in front of him to see him play a 6 string bass is pretty amazing. John Myung inspired me to buy a bass but i have had to sell it to move overseas,
"Scarred" was played as i took a bathroom break.
It was awe inspiring to hear "Space dyed vest" its took them 18 years to play that song live and it was wonderful to hear it. The sound affect you hear come from a documentary "The trouble with Ryan" about a child with abusing parents.
Kevin Moore did an amazing job writing that song, but its a shame he never got to play it live as he refuses anything to do with his past band.
It was pretty good to hear "Illumination Theory" live. it goes for 22 minutes but its either they could play: Octavarium or "A Change or Season" live. Because it goes over 20 minutes. I would like to hear "A Change of Season" live someday but maybe next year as its the Ep's 20th Birthday
To celebrate the 15th birthday of "Metropolis part II" they played "1928 overtune" live for the 2nd time in Australia as well as: Strange Deja Vu, "The Dance of Eternity"
The last song was "Finally Free" I remember listening to this song after i walked out of that shithole dish-washing job at Tequilas on Main after 22 months in that hellhole. That song always makes you realize that your Finally Free from Bullshit and that is what i thought about Dream Theater set list
It was bullshit because it didn't feature any songs off the first 2 record or Octavarium. Maybe Next year Dream Theater will go back on the road to celebrate 30 years as a band and they might play just one song off every damn album.
I was kinda glad i did see Dream Theater for a 3rd time. It was amazing to see the talents of Mike Mangini live. But at least the band is ageing gracefully especially when 3/5 band members have grown beards to look all so evil.
I don't know when ill get to see Dream Theater live, or will i ever pay more than $100 to see a band live. In 2008 i paid over $100 to see: Bon Jovi, Dream Theater, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest and Def Leppard.
But now that i am leaving Australia for an indefinite amount of time, i realize that if i stay in Europe, its just going to get cheaper to see bands. So why should i pay $60 to see Anvil next weekend in Sydney where i could see them for less than 40 Euro somewhere in Europe. Hell ticket prices would be so cheaper in a country like Romania
I didn't meet a woman of my dream at that gig, nor did any cougar hit on me. So if you ask me you will never pick up any women at any metal. Cause they are all married or taken. So just go to some bar and talk to women and you will meet better looking chicks
Also another issue in life there are so many people out there that call themselves fans of Dream Theater but they are not true Metalhead. its either you like Heavy Metal including Prog metal bands or you don't like Metal at all, because you can't call yourself a Metalhead just for liking Dream Theater
At least there were no "sad Pandas" tonight