This show was initially billed as having only Dream Theater in the bill, booked for a theater, sitting down and numbered chairs. It was advertised that Scenes From a Memory would be played in its entirety, along with a regular set.
To my surprise, on the week of the show itself, two opening acts "popped up" out of nowhere, leaving DT with a reduced stage time from 9:30PM to 11PM instead of the planned 6:30PM start time. Needless to say you can only fit 10 DT songs in a 1h30m show.
I bought my tickets specifically BECAUSE they would be playing SFAM in its entirety. Their latest record Distance Over Time might be the best of the last 6 records, but rather than that meaning it's a good record, it just shows how horrible the other 5 are.
After checking setlists in other places, I came to the conclusion they would be playing the exact same set here - heavy on the new material, some deep cuts that they felt like playing and NO fan pleasers. Yes, I mean a DT show without Pull Me Under or any other iconic DT song, unless you consider Peruvian Skies iconic.
Band came on stage 5 minutes late, opening with the new album's opening track. James' vocals were getting cut off - bad wireless mic? Acoustics at the Capitol Gent were great, but it was also hard to hear Mangini, especially the kick and cymbals - I guess setting the cymbals at a 2.2m height makes you lose all the power when hitting them, and having to stretch takes away all the force in the feet for the kick.
Mangini was as bad as always, no groove at all in heavier tunes like Lie and As I Am. He can play the new material competently, but so could a drum machine.
JP, JR and JM were all at the top of their games, and James tried a few interactions with the public. This being a sit down gig, the public's reaction was always very lukewarm, and the PA was so quiet my singing along was disturbing to the people around me.
All in all the whole endeavor felt very unsatisfying, and felt like watching a live recording of the new material without any interaction with the audience.
I have started a petition to claim refunds for the tickets, seeing as it was advertised they would play SFAM in its entirety, which you can sign here: http://chng.it/NVkYfqTXFm
Weezer
Log in to your account
