In 1985, I was lost somewhere in the wastelands of western Oklahoma doing the whole transition from pop to hair metal. While it was also the year Dream Theater was born, it wouldn’t be til somewhere in the mid 90s I began to listen to them. However, it took me 40 years to finally go see them live.
Out in support of their latest release, Parasomnia, Dream Theater, on their 40-year anniversary tour, recently played in Grand Prairie, Texas Trust CU Theater. Now the songs I do know from Dream Theater are of course the major hits such as Pull Me Under (final song of the night and it was a HOLY SHIT WOW experience!) and more, but I was more amazed at how much I didn’t know about the band.
Given that, it wasn’t long before each song was a new experience for me, and it literally took everything I had to take it all in. The attention to detail in every way stood out in every facet of the production. 3-piece screens that carried the visual not only to the floor, but the side screen and even the screen that went around the keyboard.
THE KEYBOARD!
The intensity of the lighting carried through with the color coordination that matched the visuals you were seeing on the screen.
Again, attention to detail. Details in the screen and stage visuals. Custom cartoons of the band chasing what can only be a form of evil only Dream Theater can (and did) conquer! In detail!
All this and you begin to realize you’re also seeing Mike Portnoy make his first live North American appearance with the band since 2010. His energy was infectious throughout the entire night as he played like he hadn’t missed a beat since 2010.
From Portnoys Instragram:
“Exactly one year ago (to the day!), Feb 7th 2024, the five of us stood in the same room together for the first time in well over a decade…we then spent the majority of the year creating our first album together in 15 years. Today, we can finally share it with all of you…
We could not be prouder or more excited about what we created. We were so inspired being together again and feel we really rose to the occasion to create something special.
‘Parasomnia’ represents everything that is classic Dream Theater…mixing tastes of the past with visions of the future…
We hope you enjoy this sonic experience. It is best enjoyed in your optimum listening environment..(preferably from start to finish like watching a film). But however you take it in, we hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we did making it.”
Back to the show – at this point, and this is VERY early in the show, I am on sensory overload, and it JUST KEEPS COMING. All you can do is let yourself get lost in the total experience of Dream Theater.
Since there is no opener for the band this tour, the show is broken into 2 parts with a 15-minute intermission tossed in there somewhere. And believe me, you’re going to need it!
Setlist –
Act I
01 – “Metropolis Pt 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper”
02 – “Act 1: Scene Two: 1. Overture 1928”
03 – “Act 1: Scene Two: II. Strange Deja Vu”
04 – “The Mirror”
05 – “Panic Attack”
06 – “Barstool Warrior”
07 – “Hollow Years”
08 – “Under a Glass Moon”
09 – “The Dark Eternal Night
Act II
10 – “Night Terror”
11 – “Midnight Messiah”
12 – “This is the Life”
13 – “Vacant”
14 – “Stream of Consciousness”
15 – “Octavarium”
Encore
16 – “Act II: Scene Six: Home”
17 – “Act II: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On”
18 – “Pull Me Under”
By this time, I’m just numb in the most of amazing of ways from the overall experience. After regaining my musical senses, I went back to listen to their latest release, Parasomnia, with a much greater appreciation for the band’s music and the total show they put on in the music and on tour.
Night Terror and Midnight Messiah were the live ones from the new release. While both of those are gaining a lot of attention on Spotify, I gotta admit I appreciate the breather in Bend the Clock. You see, I can be a sucker for the slow songs, especially when done this well. Of course, before the song is over, the intensity will return and that is as it should be.
This is Dream Theater, and they are definitely a band that needs to “experienced”. Catch the rest of the tour dates here and get your tickets quick! This will be a 40-year anniversary celebration you won’t forget!
Then go get your own copy of Parasomnia and listen on all major streaming services.
The Band:
John Myung
John Petrucci
Mike Portnoy
James LaBrie
Jordan Rudess
