I don’t think there are any points that I will make about my love for Dream Theater, one of the most successful progressive rock and metal bands ever since their début in 1989, so I’m going to sweep aside my love for them (hopefully) and look at this at a casual glance. With their newly-released self-titled album back in September I made a quick passing note about the release of their upcoming live recording (available in many formats) which would be released. As well Black Sabbath’s live release as well, the only two I can think of, there are not many bands that are releasing live releases.
On the back of their A Dramatic Tour of Events (a play on words of their 2011 outing A Dramatic Turn of Events) and whilst this may have been one of the last shows the tour but from the clips I’ve seen of the previews the show looks great. Please note that I not comment on camera work or visual look of the performance, but will be only be commenting on the audio quality.
In their lengthy career there are certain songs that are impulse choices on Dream Theater’s set list, and there is some room to throw the odd and surprising song in there, and really it must be a headache as fans do want to hear certain songs every night. When you’re always going to a concert, or “gig” as some call it, then there are certain tunes you want to hear: favourites, album classics, even the tune which no one really likes. Everyone has their own favourites, that’s a given, and Dream Theater’s out-and-out best song is “Pull Me Under” - their most commercially successful single ever released – from their 1992 magnum opus Images and Words. 
With a roar from the crowd the opening of “Bridges in the Sky” (from A Dramatic Turn of Events) sounds as the band make their way on stage as the crowd erupt with noise as each member gets into their place, and finally the song gets under the way. With a final resurgence of noise from the crowd vocalist James finally stands in place (visualizing the stage in my head) and belts out his unique vocals that have carried Dream Theater since Images and Words. The sound, as far a I can tell, sounds absolutely fine. With most live recordings you’re going to get whatever the sound technicians set up on the PA (short for public address) board and what the band have set up during sound check. Some live recordings are official and done properly, however some like Metallica’s Australian live recordings, are entirely bootleg.
I’m mulling over the point so that it’s clear and everyone gets the point. I know some people have complained rigorously about their latest’s album sound but there’s nothing wrong with, and there’s nothing wrong with this live recording either. Getting back to it, “Bridges in the Sky” is a lengthy song serving as their opener for the set. Next up is “6:00″ (from Awake) as Mangini brilliantly replicates Portnoy’s drumming on this song – the fantastic double snare off-beat during the opening section. I say ‘replicate’ because I think that’s what Mangini hopes to do, not trying to replace Portnoy, but instead just replicate what he done.
I’m not going to go through a detailed explanation of every song; for a live recording, it is entirely pointless – they are live renditions of the album cuts. Throughout the set, there are spotlights given to Rudess, Petrucci and Mangini each with their own solo, and the set features most of the songs from their then latest album A Dramatic of Turn Events. The concert spans over three discs, and there is a diverse choice of songs from of Dream Theater’s albums. In the middle of the concert – between the Piano and Guitar solo (the latter an example of real talent) – there are two tracks from the Six of Degrees of Inner Turbulence album (one of my less favourable Dream Theater albums) I actually like these two tracks performed here in particular: “War Inside my Head“ and “The Test That Stumped Them All.”
Just like their new self-titled album I think this is another amazing release from Dream Theater. They always put a special live performance, and James definitely sounds absolutely amazing. Some have argued whether he should be replaced over the years since Portnoy’s departure (two birds with one stone) but seeing as James replaced the original vocalist and then went on to release Images and Words…yeah I think I’ll stop right there.
Overall, this is a brilliant performance by Dream Theater. Again: I cannot comment on camera angles, lighting effects – just anything to do with the visual side of things, but I’ve put it on my Christmas list and will perhaps do a DVD review sometime in the new year. This a simply a ‘must buy’ for any Dream Theater fan or any fan of progressive metal who hasn’t yet checked out Dream Theater.
PERFORMANCE: 4 /10
BEST PERFORMER: James LaBrie
RATING: 5 / 5
