Dream Theater

There is nothing like a dream theater concert, watched them in Dallas and Austin.

The band - as always - was absolutely phenomenal. The venue only added to the magic. Comfortable, intimate, but still big enough for a good crowd and the energy that provides. Concessions were spot-on too.

This was the 22nd Dream Theater concert I have attended since 1993, in 6 States and 2 counties. They get better every time I see them. James missed a couple times on vocals but nothing big the average ear would pick up on. Jordan and Mike both killed the solo JM s bass solo could have been better and JP didn t have one during I&W . 3 hours of DT Rejuvenates my soul. Keep coming to NC!! Thank you gentlemen, see you 2019.

I'm glad I didnt spend $70 just to see the headliner play for only 80 minutes. A very short set with eight songs. Thank goodness I only spent $35 on the stand room only ticket. The band performed great though.

Place--- Hard Rock Cafe, Orlando: [4stars] I like HRC over House of Blues. The size was perfect and the concession stands/areas are conveniently located throughout. The balcony seating guards do however pester you for tickets constantly. The sound for the vocals throughout all the bands needed some fixing it seemed, it was difficult hearing vocals. Bands--- Scale the Summit: [4.2Stars] These guys were awesome. Instrumental progressive rock. they are a perfect opening band for this tour. Bigelf: [3.5Stars] These guys were ok. Their style of music was a little dark & psychedelic for my taste, but they put on a decent show for what they were. Zappa plays Zappa: [4.7Stars] This group was awesome. All of the musicians in this band were highly skilled and experienced with their instruments. Dream Theater: [5Stars] What's there to say about DT that hasn't already been said. They played an Epic Show and brought the house down.

I was certainly disappointed when I learned ZPZ would only play 75 minutes and not be the headliner. We arrived at the Hard Rock in time to hear Scale the Summit, a nice trio of young musicians playing songs with different titles, but musically indistinguishable from one song to the next, all in all, not bad and worth the listen. Next DarkElf took the stage and, a bit too much with the makeup and crappy equipment, musical talent questionable, it is definitely all about the singer/keyboard player. Not my cup of tea, but tolerable to listen to waiting for my band of choice, ZPZ. Finally ZPZ took the stage and did not disappoint, the band was tight and the set list was made up of memorably named songs I assume designed to help new fans remember what they heard so they might buy a record and get into Frank's music. There were plenty of Zappa fans in attendance, but many more Dream Theater fans waiting to hear the loud angry music they play. Scheila was great, the new singer Ben was full of energy and charisma. I was watching a few people in front of me while ZPZ played and they were definitely impressed and you could see them truly being turned on to the great Zappa music and ZPZ talent. Dweezil was on the mark as was Joe, Billy and Pete, not sure if Jamie was having an off night, there were a few awkward moments, but it could have been the sound system too. All the good that ZPZ did to reach a new audience would soon fade away as Dream Theater finally took the stage, suddenly there was no more sitting down to enjoy the show, everyone was on their feet listening to the loud (over 130dB) angry music, if this is "Prock" I want no part of it. The same people I saw so impressed with fine talent of ZPZ were quickly consumed with the main event and ZPZ would fade as a nice memory, if it was remembered at all. ZPZ has no place on the same bill with these bands, I don't know who was helping whom on the whole ticket sale thing, seems to me last time I saw ZPZ at this same venue there were no empty seats, there were plenty after the first few numbers from Dream Theater. Now that we have officially labeled water boarding as torture and banned the use, it could be easily and more effectively be replaced by listening to Dream Theater, it was indeed torture and a little disturbing IMO. I now know when to leave the show in Clearwater tonight. No time for autographs from ZPZ, although Scale the Summit managed to make time for a meet and greet after their performance. Had ZPZ announced the 75 minute set info and the fact they were doing a few ZPZ only shows across the country I would have spent my money and vacation days accordingly. The shirts were terribly over priced for the poor quality, the "We Don't Mess Around" shirt was another version of the original, missing the Zappa logo on the sleeve. The 120 mile drive to the venue was not a great trade off for the experience, but getting a jump start by leaving two songs into the angry Nightmare set did help a bit. This will be the last time we spend money on a multi band experience with ZPZ. I hope this is the last year of the experiment to reach new generations. In the prior years I have always witnessed generations of people represented at ZPZ shows, and we go to no less than 5 shows a year. ZPZ does not belong to the so called Progressive Rock genre, particularly if the bands tonight represent what "Prock" is today. The music of Zappa is in a class all its own, it is the music by which all other music is measured.

Amazing show start to finish. Bigelf was not my favorite, but Scale the Summit did great. ZplaysZ was absolutely phenominal, amazing sound. Dream Theater definitely stole the show, and played a killer set list, which included lots of my favorites. Awesome night.

The best show on the planet. Dream theater always deliver in their performances they are to me the most talented band alive now. They play flawlessly and always improvise on their shows and add new stuff to their songs.

This is exactly why Dream Theater has been my favorite band for the past 15 years. Amazing musicians, amazing show!! Having seen them the night before in Miami, Mike Portnoy knows that fans go to multiple shows, and he's the one who does the setlists every night. So he mixes it up so you aren't hearing the same songs night after night. Plus Hard Rock Live is a great venue, there's is a bad seat in the place, although I was 5th row on the floor anyway.

Definitely recommended!!! The only bad thing was sometimes bad instruments volume. Couldn't hear Jordan Rudess keyboards well. But it was surely worth it!

Zappa plays Zappa was very good and extremelly entertaining. Scale the Summit was amazing but 25 minutes of playing is just not enough. Bringing Bigelf was probably the biggest flop-what is Mike Portnoy thinking!?! Bigelf just didn't belong in prog. There are a whole other American Prog bands that would love this opportunity. As far as Dream Theater, who could ever question their talent but playing only 90 minutes in your headline show blows and song selection stank.

Epic entertainment from the best band in the world! Having spent the last 30 plus years seeing every rock/metal band that played around Detroit (1970-1976) and Florida (1976- present) and can honestly say that out of several hundred concerts and thousands of small venue and up and coming bar-bands (many of which went on to stadium-filling-fame) Dream Theater remain the most soul-jarring musicians anyone could hope to experience. Each member is the epitomy of what every musician aspires to... being the very best in their genre... and the songs are each one a masterpiece of beauty, power and excellence. Jonh Petrucci is a God. Clapton wishes he could play like that.

I was mostly there for Zappa plays Zappa, and Dream Theater, so I am really only going to focus on those two... Zappa plays Zappa was quite interesting. They really didn't play any of the more notable material (I really wanted to hear the muffin man) but they weren't headlining, so that is to be expected. The songs they did play were VERY well done. Every single person in that band is an excellent musician, and it showed in their performance. I thought Zappa plays Zappa was the highlight of the night. I have seen Dream Theater live once before, and it was quite an amazing show. This performance however, was not so good. There was mostly an older crowd, and I think they were trying to cater to their audience by playing more mellow songs instead of the songs they are known for. (Heavier songs, with complex structure)

What a freakin concert. Starting with the opening acts. Scale the summit is a very talented group, and they put on an amazing show. BigElf was very entertaining as well and really have a unique sound. Zappa plays Zappa was pretty good. But Dream Theater is the bomb. They have an amazing sound live. And just brought the house down. I will always be a Dream Theater fan and they are now in my top 5 of concerts I have ever seen.

Keeping it short and simple: the music was great; tickets were not. Of the two bands my friend and I saw (we showed up about an hour and a half after doors opened), both were very appropriate for the Progressive Nation Tour, bearing in mind that Dream Theater runs the show. Zappa Plays Zappa was fantastic. After having attended last year's Progressive Nation Tour, I was expecting a series of heavy acts, but they weren't heavy. They were out there, and it was awesome. Never really listened to much Zappa before, but after a show like that, I feel that I should be. Dweezil is an incredible guitarist, and the rest of the band are excellent at what they do as well. Dream Theater blew me away again. I don't think there was a single moment I couldn't feel the rhythm of the song, even when Mike left the set so John could show off, haha. The video screen was a godsend, as my horribly overpriced perimeter tickets and 5'10" stature left me staring at a wall of headbanging heads, occasionally getting glimpses of the band members through windows of the crowd. Lighting was fantastic, and it was loud as anything, as it should be. My only complaint would be that for $50, I feel like I should have been a part of the audience. Instead, I was stranded next to a bunch of drunk dudes at the bar, who TALKED through several solos. Unbelievable. I don't understand why Hard Rock opted to put seating on the main floor; last year's standing room ground floor was ideal. Oh, that's right. Money. They wanted money. And then they wonder why people prefer concerts at smaller, more personal venues. But, in the end, the music made the price tag worth it.

This is one of the most amazing shows I ever seen DT perform. Great set list and opening bands. No words to describe how great it sounded and the seats we got were just perfect!

Of course dream theater was fantastic. John myung on bass was out of control. Visually the stage setup was very good. The song choices were a good mix of old and new. The only drawback was that the sound level was so high that the house speakers couldn't handle the vocals which were distorted. ZPZ was incredible. You could see that the entire band truly enjoyed being on stage and playing such classics. Big Elf also was very good. I'm not familiar with their music but still they were a great band live. Missed scale the summit.

This is only the second time I've seen them live, but I've been a fan since 2008. These guys are truly masters! It's one thing to have a good band, but each member is a master of his instrument! And of course they put on a mind blowing show! The Astonishing is truly a masterpiece. I would recommend listening to the Album and understanding the story prior to the live show, simply because we all know LaBrie lets loose in his live performances and it can be tough to follow lyrics. Everyone in the crowd was having a blast! BEST BAND EVER!

The best band in the world, put on the best concert I'ver ever seen. And trust me. Been going to concerts since 78. I've seen MANY. This show was beyond my expectations, and going in, I knew it would be amazing. First time seeing them. Their shows have eluded me for over 20 years. NOT THIS TIME!

My friend and I's tickets we're 2nd level, off to the side. Speaker set up hide Jordan Rudess the entire show, so we weren't happy about that. Otherwise we went to a bar beforehand, and passed Jordan on the streets!!! Once we got to the bar, DT USA was there with a trivia contest, 1st and 2nd place winners got back stage passes for after the show. My friend and I answered well enough to get 2nd. Show was spectacular with James Labrie doing character vocals as well as the singing and John Petrucci had some solo's that were just awesome! After the show back stage was a 45 minute meet & greet with Dream Theater, all but Mike Mangini. I got photos with everyone, and a fully autographed program! For a Ticket price of $63.50 for me, I would say I had some wonderful luck to pass Rudess on the street, and to know enough about the band to win backstage passes! Best luck was to pass Rudess on the street, but, we didn't have backstage passes, my friend and I won them; so I don't want anyone to think that we bought tickets and backstage passes for that price.....

Any DT fan knows they can expect to be blown away by the virtuosity of each DT musician and the Astonishing tour is no different. But in many ways the Astonishing tour is very different. The production quality to coordinate a musical light and video show is always top notch at a DT show. In attempt to tell a complete contiguous Astonishing story, the production was obviously kicked up to a different level. Without investing some prep time to listen to lyrics or read the (fully thought out and written) back story -which btw is craftily laid out and tied into Spotify on the DT website, the viewer is left witnessing a killer show. Those DT enthusiast that know the lyrics and backstory are treated to a more complete dystopian steam-punk prog rock musical tragedy love story experience. I use the word "viewer" earlier because the Astonishing experience was more like watching an excellent production stage show than a rock concert.. JP sang backing vocals on several pieces. It was a little odd to hear JL singing to his own recorded back up vocal tracks but it sounded good. There were several recorded string sections that would have been more interesting to hear JR pull off on keyboard. Other recorded sounds were supposed to be from the Nomacs so I guess it was appropriate. So, "different" is my overall take. Progressive means pushing limits and trying new things and DT pulled off a complex multi-sensory experience with Astonishing results.

They have changed the way I listen to music and made me appreciate it all the more. Their music is inspiring. The live show was unforgettable and completely amazing! It was an experience and I hope to get to see them again.

Dream Theater was always a music and show generator. The Astonishing was a very deep and cursive concept. Performance was incredible, the visuals were really fun and cool but I think you appreciate it more when you see it a second time :). No metter what THANK YOU, DREAM THEATER! progressive \\m/ for ever!

The live show of The Astonishing had the best production of a Dream Theater show I have ever seen. As always, DT sounded great live, and Labrie's vocals were on point. Good show, not the best DT show I've seen however.

Musically was incredible, and Labrie was great, vocally. Hadn't had time to research the storyline or listen to the entire album/CD, but still kept my attention quite easily. They had segmented video screens behind the band that showed images from the story, but did not really tell the story well at all. So, I still don't REALLY know the storyline, but it was incredibly entertaining nonetheless. A crazy twist here at the Albany show had scores of people leaving at the intermission, mistakenly assuming it was the end of the show! The second half started 20 minutes later, as they rocked on for about another hour or so. How people thought the band had finished a 2-1/2 hour show in less than an hour and a half is beyond me, and a big loss to them.

From the first song to the last Dream Theater were at thier best. Didn't miss a single note all night for the entire 3 hours they played. I was lucky enough to purchase the Platinum meet and greet pass. I tell you if you're on the fence about that jump over and buy the tickets. Worth every penny and more. I fell in love all over again and was inspired by Petrucci to keep playing guitar myself.

I really really enjoyed this show about 10 times what I thought originally. Have listened to the album 3 times, love it but was really impressed with the overall production including the backdrop movie art,,the animation and the lights were simply the best ever,,,I think the Astonishing excels live over the recorded work.. after the concert I went home to see their itinerary to see if I can make it to another one...there's so much music in this concert...it has to be seen again!

The most humbLe musicians that shouLd be recognized at the very TOP!!! They pLay their instruments eyes cLosed with so much feeLing!!! VocaLs were as smooth as siLk...They had the whoLe pLace on their feet the whoLe concert...unbeLievabLe...beautifuL music...period...one heLL of a concert...one heLL of a group of "reaL" musicians! thank you... 8-)

3 days later, still tripping! The musicianship is incredible.

My GF bought me the tixs as a surprise, and boy was it a surprise! We booked a 2 night stay at the MIssion Inn, just down the street. And went to the Concert the evening of the 18th. Best concert by far, I have ever been too. We sat a few rows from the stage, on the left side of the center. Had a view of the entire act. It was just awesome. Dream Theater is an awesome band! I have been following them since Images and words back in the late 80's, and have been a fan since. And now have made my GF a fan too. She enjoyed the show, the lights, the video footage in conjuction with the music....Just Awesome! We will definetely catch more shows, when the come thru California. Dream Theater Rocks!!!!

A "Dream" come true. Center stage seat, and three rows from James Labrie's exceptional vocals and or John Petrucci's mezmorizing shredding of his fret board. This was my 4th Dream Theater show and undoubtedly the best of all. All shows have been fantastic, but with the seats I had this time and the overall experience, this one tops every one of the 25+ concerts I've been to overall. Don't miss this tour no matter the venue or seat. 3 hours of talent and ear candy! Keep an eye on their website for additional tour dates in the U.S., as they are known to come back around again. Top notch entertainment! Thank you Dream Theater!

As Dream Theater fan of 20 years, this was one of the best concerts I have attended. The venue was outstanding and the set list was impeccable! Would recommend the show to anyone!

An awesome concert with Dream Theater as always! My 5th time seeing them, and they play tight as ever. My only complaint was that the sound in McCaw Hall wasnt' really suited for them. It was either mixed too loud, or sound was echoing / reverbing through the hall too much and you couldn't hear all the details in the sound mix. But other than that - FANTASTIC!

I was at the Seattle show on 4/14/14, I last saw DT during the Chaos in Motion tour, so it had been a while. The first set was mostly newer material followed by a really cool intermission. The second set was mostly the 20 year anniversary of Awake, which is a great album, but the crowd didn't seem too into it (almost like a good majority weren't familiar with that album). The encore was mostly Metropolis Pt. 2, which is one of the best DT albums, period, and a really good finish to the night. Still, I wish I would have heard maybe one more song from ADTOE and something from Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence and/or Train of Thought. McCaw Hall was a fantastic site with good sound, although it was really loud and I struggled to hear James Labrie at times. A really short drum solo during Enigma Machine, but Mike Mangini made it fun. It was nice to see enough attention paid to John Myung, who never gets enough credit for how great of a bass player he is. Still, a nearly 3 hour venue with some great songs was well worth it.

WELL VERSED PRACTICIANS OF THEIR CRAFT INDEED..................LOVED THEIR SENSE OF HUMOR............................ALL THE BAND MEMBERS SEEMED TO REALLY ENJOY PERFORMING, WHICH CERTAINLY COULD BE HEARD IN THEIR MUSIC. I HOPE THEY KEEP COMING BACK TO SEATTLE, CAUSE I COULD, NO DOUBT, SENSE THE BAND HAD A GRASS-ROOT CONNECTION WITH THE AUDIENCE............. "HAIL DREAM THEATER" !!!!!

The band played with beautiful finesse and rage-filled power. Labrie was in top form. The band really seemed to enjoy themselves, and it showed in their passionate performance. I've been to dozens of shows (and DT two other times) and this far surpassed all others. The audience was silently transfixed and frozen in awe. The stage show completed the musical performance wonderfully.

Dream Theater can put on an amazing show. Their sound and light show is superb and goes very well with the visuals that they project on screen. It's like being taken for a ride!

What an awesome performance by Dream Theater. I've seen them 5 times and this was the best show by far. I am glad that it was filmed for an upcoming DVD. Mike Mangini did not disappoint. Two thumbs way up!

This was the perfect metal concert. The venue was great and the production was over the top. Dream Theatre was at the top of their game and they gave us three hours of metal goodness. We were definitely blown away. We recommended them to friends of ours who went to see them a few days later and they were amazed themselves. It truly was the best metal concert ever!

Great seats and great performance by the band. Couldn't have asked anything more for the price.

Despite them starting before all we're let in due to the long line, and delay in ticket scans, DT sounded fantastic. James LaBrie's singing was immense! They finally toured without an opening act/band... And had a 15 min intermission. The lighting effect went hand-n-hand with their music sound.

Show was fantastic and the inclusion of the Berklee World Strings and the Berklee Concert Choir for the second half of the set was really enjoyable. A terrific show, powerful, positive songs performed by extremely talented musicians who love what they do and share with their fans. I highly recommend seeing them for an experience you'll never forget.

Awesome show. A few drunk bros in the balcony kinda ruined the more chill moments of the show, though.

I have seen them about 15 times in the last 3 years. Their sets change for every show (except for when they opened for Iron maiden). My disbelief is how easy it is go get Dream Theater Tickets. They play in small venues, and do not sell out....Are you kidding me.....In Europe, and South America, they play to crowds of seventy thousand plus.....I guess we dont have good taste in music in the States anymore......

Great show- price,band ,sound ,lighting,and venue excellent with good food friend and drink.What more could you want

Another amazing performance by an amazing band that just seems to keep getting better and better 25+ yrs into their career. New drummer Mike Mangini was great, but appears stiff at times. Mike Portnoy was indeed missed and this was the only downside for me personally, though Mike Mangini is a good replacement. But its just not quite the same. Petrucci shredded to perfection, as did Jordan and John Myung. LaBrie's voice still strong and displaying his full range at an age where his peers show signs of aging in this area, especially when in the upper register - LaBrie's voice still soars.

If I were to compare Dream Theater to any other band that delivers a musical performance that's identical to what they record I would compare them to RUSH...Consider this very high praise since both bands write & record exceptionally technical compositions that you wonder how they could possibly perform them live because of their length & complexity. Dream Theater's performance was stellar!! Note for note identical to the recordings with the addition of great stage presence to draw the audience into the performance. James LaBrie's little mishap at the beginning of the show just goes to show that we're all human & strange things do happen when you least expect them. It was amusing when he told the crowd he neither used alcohol or drugs but still fell down two nights in a row so maybe he should have a drink to numb the pain ahead of time. As always, James LaBrie, John Petrucci, John Myung, Jordan Rudess, along with their new drummer Mike Mangini showed the virtuosity of their instrumental & vocal talents. LaBrie, in spite of his fall at the front of the stage in the beginning of the show, mesmerized the audience with his stellar voice and stage presence working the entire stage so that everyone in the audience felt as though he was singing just to them. Several times he spoke to the audience between songs which made it that much more of an intimate setting and at the end of the show he said, "We'll come back as many times as you'll have us", to which the crowd responded with a roar of approval. Petrucci wears his love of playing through his whole body but definitely shows on his face as he attacks the guitar parts and gives everyone that has ever had the desire to pick up a guitar a clinic on how to do it with technical grace, feeling and superior musicianship. Myung, while not the physical showman that Petrucci, LaBrie & Rudess are, let's his superior bass playing speak for itself matching Petrucci note for note on many of the songs and on others shows his elequent precission to carry the intricate counterparts of Dream Theater's complex compositions. Rudess is the master of the keyboards and it's no wonder that Petrucci has been quoted "I wish I could play guitar as fast as Jordan plays keyboard", because Rudess played some passages that were so lightning fast that I thought at first it was Petrucci's guitar part until I noticed Petrucci was playing cords. Rudess playing was sheer genuis and it was a real treat when he played something "New" that he had just written in the dressing room just before they came on stage. Mike Mangini was an excellent replacement for Mike Portnoy. First you can see that Mangini is thrilled to be part of the band, loves playing their music and plays it with great passion. His technical skills are exceptional but the thing I noticed most was the emotion & passion in his playing along with his interaction with his band mates. When I first saw the size of his drum kit I wondered if it was for show, but throughout the concert he used every piece of it. Overall this was a five star show that I would highly recommend to anyone as a "Must See" concert.

If you go see dream theater then you already know what you re in for... best musicians on the planet. Always amazing to see how easy John Pettruci makes the impossible look!

This was my first concert, and boy, will I never forget it. It was fantastic, and the seats were great no matter where you sat. I totally recommend this venue and the band too, of course.

To sum it up, Fox Theater was fantastic. It had a very clean and classy feel to it with no bad seat in the house. I was at the Front Balcony and had a fantastic view. The inside of the theater was very pretty and majestic feeling. A great start to Majesty, aka Dream Theater. The band itself was spot on. No bad notes, no bad songs and a great setlist, of about 3 hours in length. I would highly recommend this venue and band.

It's always a pleasure to see Dream Theater live. To hear these guys play live whatever they lay down on an album is just a sheer joy. 'Images and Words' was my intro to DT and holds a special place in my heart. Coming from a keyboard background, I knew every lick, every sound that Kevin Moore played. Jordan Rudess did NOT disappoint. So many times the keyboard sounds morph over the years, losing some of the subtle feeling that the original recordings have. There was no such loss here. Jordan could've been playing the same setup that Kevin recorded with from my perspective. That really doesn't surprise me considering Jordan's tech & programming background. OK - enough gushing about Jordan. The rest of the band were phenomenal. Do I miss Mike Portnoy? Yes. But Mike Mangini slots in perfectly. He is impressive to hear. John Myung blew me away with a solo piece paying tribute to Jaco. You can lose the subtleties of his playing in the mix on an album if you're not paying attention. Boy - there was no mistaking what can do! John Petrucci was amazing as always. Such a lyrical player even when shredding. I was stoked to hear some themes from Liquid Tension Experiment ;). I really enjoy James LaBrie as a front man. He absolutely kills on the albums and is a great focus during the shows. Unfortunately, the 2 years or so of solid touring with first 'The Astonishing' and then 'Images and Words' are starting to tell - he did have to change up some tunes because of his voice. But that certainly didn't take away from the magic of the night. If you like DT and/or progressive metal, you owe it to yourself to see these guys live. BTW - the Rochester Auditorium Theater was a great venue. I'd see other shows there in a heartbeat.

Great show would definitely recommend going to see them

Our (me and my son) first DT concert was last year's "The Astonishing" tour which we thoroughly enjoyed so when we found out they were doing a 25th anniversary "Images, Words & Beyond" tour I scrambled to find the best venue. Luckily we are in New England and NYC & Boston are "local" so I had to make a tough decision... An extra 1 hour of driving or an extra $200 for the tickets and $50 more for parking. Being a frugal New Englander I chose the extra hour. So I paid $161 for awesome center (aisle) balcony seats (and parking) and the view couldn't have been better! It was actually better than orchestra because we got do look (slightly) down on the stage and could see Mangini's drum kit perfectly. The Show itself was spectacular. And while the sound was a bit "undermixed" leaning towards the treble end it still sounded awesome. A special bonus: James was in great form and hit (almost) all of his notes! Throughout the show James shared little anecdotes and chatted with all the members of the band (except John M.) and pointed out that it was John Petrucci's sons birthday who was there at the show with them.. Great solos from John, John, MIke & Jordan. I'm not a big concert goer but I've been to a few concerts since the 70s and I don't remember ever seeing and hearing a band as talented as DT. No gimmicks are needed because all you want to do is listen to their "classics" and watch the amazing skills of all the members (especially Mangini). One nice thing is that they let us take photos (No DSLR's though) and at one point James said "I don't care if you take a short video man but for fuck sake I'm right in front of you in 3D HD and you paid good money so don't be holding that up the whole show. Just enjoy it!" Everyone laughed and cheered. I have video too but alas it's not edited yet so enjoy the pics. Who is this show for? Everyone who appreciates music (not just prog rock)! Our crowd had age ranges from about 12-60+ male and female. If you have the chance to see "Images, Words & Beyond" DO IT!

The masters of Modern Prog Rock give Boston another amazing performance!

I can t say enough good things about this show. I am a long time fan and getting to hear them play their album images and words in its entirety was a real treat! They were on their game and their sound and lighting engineers were spot on with their mixes. A+++

I have been a fan since the very early 90s I was a long haired metal head back then and over the years I have grown to appreciate this band more than any other. This is the best band in the world and I will always remember this night in Albany as the finest live performance I have ever heard from them. Long live Dream Theater!

Dream Theater delivered an explosive performance...perfect from start to finish! John Petrucci demonstrates once again that he s 2nd to none, and James LaBrie hit every note and then some! There were humorous moments shared between band members and audience alike, and James captivated the audience even further with stories of their journey through the years...including performing for 5 people in Louisiana!

I truly believe this band has some of the most talented musicians in the world.

I would challenge anyone to point to a music group that is collectively more advanced in their musicianship. Their collaboration is second to none and they play their hearts out. So amazing!

I have been a DT fan for years, but I hadn't seen the them live until their Images and Words 25th anniversary. They are as good live as they are in the studio, which is rare nowadays. The Peoria Civic Center was a great venue, my wife and I had an awesome experience with everything.

I have been to many Dream Theater concerts and have always been blown away by the performance. Absolutely incredible. The only criticism I have about this recent performance was that the sound was not balanced like it usually is.... too much bottom.... But aside from this, incredible performance as usual.

J was a casual fam of DT but there performance tonight show cased their musical range; a good introduction to new fans and an excellent show for die hard fams.

This was our first time seeing them and hopefully it wont be the last. They were spot on!!

Although I'm not a huge fan of the new Album, they still are amazing live. Petrucci was on fire. James Labrie's tumble on stage was an interesting moment, but the band never missed a beat

Like a 2-1/2 hour five-ring circus. Incredible abilities on their instruments. And how does LaBrie sing like that night after night. True to the album it was quite magnificent. Unfortunately the sound in the shard Rock is sub par.

Exemplary musicianship as always - this is my 4th time seeing them, and they never fail to amaze.

Enjoyed the show a lot, but had to take off a star for a couple of things (wish I could do a half a star really). I'm not the biggest fan of this album, but it's grown on me some. Seeing it live helped. I was disappointed that there wasn't an orchestra touring with them (thought that was why they were playing the show in just theaters), especially for the price of the ticket. Canned orchestra, choir and background singers. Even some canned James LaBrie vocals when he was singing two characters next to each other. Petrucci could have sung the one part instead of using a recording. The recorded music sounded good though and the production was flawless. Everything synced perfectly between recording and live, so props for that. Light show was fantastic for a smallish theater. They could have reduced the volume about 25% and still been plenty loud. Do we really need to have to so loud that we cringe in pain at the high notes?

I love the album so I was extremely excited to see the show. I was not disappointed! What an amazing performance by some incredible musicians. I wish they had two shows or played at another venue closer. I would have definitely have gone! If you get the opportunity to see these guys, GO!! Pechanga Showroom was an excellent place to see these guys! I'm still on my Dream Theater "High"!!!

great show. awesome musicians. a must see for all dream theater fans and all music lovers

This was my first time ever seeing Dream Theater and I've been a fan since Scenes From a Memory. Incredible, technical, musical talent! Jordan Rudess, John, Petrucci, John Myung, Mike Mangini... OUTSTANDING!! The video that went along with the music was very cool, though I would have liked to "SEE" a bit more of how the story was going. I did understand each tune was more or less related to each character which really helped to understand "who" was the song was about. I really hope this show gets a DVD/Blu-Ray!

It's a live concert of their new concept album, Astonishing. If you don't know the story, you may get bored of ballad songs. You can't understand what the singer is trying to tell you. It's a beautiful story featuring several different characters but the band has only one singer (great voice!) who sings all the songs of different characters including young, old, male, female which will confuse you. Look Wikipedia or youtub, get some idea before going to the show. I wish they make the story on rock musical at the Broadway with, NY someday. lighting was fantastic. Great performance! Astonishing!

I have seen magnum opus presentations like the original Lamb Lies down on Broadway by Genesis, Tales from Topographic Oceans by Yes, Tommy by The Who, Operation Mind crime by Queensryche and The Astonishing is right up there with these. Truly Brilliant, imaginative and if you appreciate the music and have a very creative mind, you will appreciate and build your own story telling along with John and Jordan's piece of wonderful music. Stellar composing and the stage production is outstanding, worth the ticket price. By far THE best show I have seen by Dream Theater (since Systematic Chaos and Scenes from a Memory), highly recommended but only for the dedicated fans who will listen and not start shouting for old classics, kind of saying "Prog" educated. Hopefully they will do a Fall Tour and include Texas, Louisiana and Florida next time, don't miss the opportunity to see this gem!

Sound was immense and loud just like the other 18 DT shows I've been to. Honestly, I liked the new album "The Astonishing" but it wasnt a particular favourite if mine. However, there is something about hearing it live, seeing the visuals, the production, that brings the story to life. I do have a deeper appreciation for the new album and it did take going to the concert to enjoy. It fully. The album was played in exact chronological order so see track listings to get an idea of what they played live. There were no songs from the back catalogue played but JP did make it clear that when fans go to this performance, they will only hear this album in its entirety. I recommend ear plugs to save your hearing. The mix is quite clear but ear plugs did filter out some of the harsh mids and actually EQ it a bit better imo.

A+ As a long-time fan of DT I was a little apprehensive of the band performing a new 2-CD set in it's entirety without any back-catalogue songs to support the set. How wrong I was. With the advances made in LED lighting and audio-visual techniques, DT hired vendors to bring "The Astonishing" to life while they performed their flawless musicianship. The stage-craft was perfection. Long-time fans that think they can just 'simply listen to the new double CD' and not attend this show will kick themselves in years to come. Anyone that attends will officially have bragging rights to one of the most jaw-dropping, riveting performances ever! My mouth was agape the entire show.

Excellent show at a wonderful venue. Bathrooms a bit crowded, no paper towels at intermission. Friendly bar staff and ushers.

the crowd was horrible. next show set up cots instead of seats. I don't get it at all. best band in the world and you would have thought the audience was forced to be there. I proudly stood and jammed and sang along the whole show. all the others must have thought I was crazy. what happened to us?

Great show, technically sound. Would have been an unbelievable experience with a small string, horn and bagpipe section instead of recorded music. I cannot imagine a bad show from these guys. Hopefully a tour of catalog music next year!!!!!!!

Nothing needs to be said about Dream Theater's performance, they're always amazing live. Maybe I do wish they played more songs, but honestly, at their age, I'm just happy they're still performing, and performing well. I had never heard of Bigelf before the show, but they're now one of my new favorite bands, and I will be buying their CD shortly. Zappa plays Zappa was a cool experience, but they're nothing I'd pay to see again, unless they play with DT again. Their performance was enjoyable, but got a little tiring. Scale the Summit was a cool experience, as they are very good instrumentalists, and I'll think about getting a CD of theirs if I have cash to spare, after I buy Bigelf's.

I was blown away as usual by one of the most exciting bands in progressive music today. The Zappa plays Zappa band was an incredible opener, and although I was never a hugh Zappa fan, seeing Dwezels (spl) Zappa head up this line-up of great musicians was fun and entertaining. The smile never left Dwezels face the entire show and it was nice to see a band put together that I am sure his father would have been proud of! Dream Theater came out and just hit the ground running and never slowed down. They are the master of dynamics and of their instruments. They played a lot of their new cd and it sounded as good live as it does on the recording.

They performed with Integrity Note for Note .. MESA-BOOGIE IS true Spirit IN-Technology Vocals Clear.... KEY's Excelent..... Bass-N-Drum FLAWLESS.... Mike -- playing to the Crowd -- With Great- HUMOR... In the Camera EYE.. The Wizard HAT perfect -TOUCH Had seen them 5yr's ago Concord .Ca, 10 yr's ago SAN Fran Ca, ..... Movin' -and Improvin' ..... ConstantMotion ..... wkjr ....

I would not recommend the venue (it stunk..literally and there was no air conditioning!) BUT I have seen Dream Theater many times and they were really on last night...the set list rocked and LaBrie sounded awesome as well as his other incredible band mates. Funny thing to note here....The show opened with a total Spinal Tap moment. There was a nylon curtain in front of DT's set and the music started and everyone was on their feet and you could see the silhouettes of the band and the anticipation of the curtain coming down was mounting. But when they pulled on the end to make it fall, only half of it came down! The person in charge kept pulling and pulling and almost took down a rack of lights before it finally fell free. It was hilarious. Good natured as always, Mike and John were laughing about it. I don't know if the other band members were even aware what had happened as they had already started the song but it was very funny. Zappa plays Zappa were also absolutely mind blowing...what a respectful and awesome tribute to his father's legacy.

That was probably the best concert I've ever been too. Dream Theater was amazing and never stopped impressing me. Worth all of the money.

We saw four bands including Scale the Summit, Big Elf, Zappa Plays Zappa and Dream Theater. ZPZ had the best sound mix and liveliest performance of the night, and Dream Theater was precise and fast, although the lousy mix resulted in washed-out guitar solos etc. Scale the Summit were motivated young guys with a lot of talent, but Big Elf could have stayed home. Not a very impressive performance from Big Elf!

first off, let me say that i was really suprised on how good zappa was !!! i didnt think it would honestly be that good but there were a lott of really technical songs he played and very clean and not sloppy at all so hats off to them !! they were kind of like a mini dream theater ! NOW, DO I EVEN NEED TO GO INTO HOW DREAM THEATER WAS ?? THEY WERE ABSOLUTLEY AMAZING LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN SINCE THE IMAGES AND WORDS TOUR WAY BACK IN THE DAY !! I HAVE SEEN THEM ON EVERY TOUR SO FAR AND THEY HAVE NEVER ONCE PLAYED A BAD SHOW NOT EVEN ONCE ! THEY ARE SIMPLY FLAWLESS AND BLOW ME AWAY EVERY TIME I SEE THEM PLAY ! MIKE, JOHN, JORDAN, JAMES , AND JOHN, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING TO CHICAGO YEAR AFTER YEAR !! AS LONG AS YOU KEEP RETURNING HERE WE WILL ALWAYS BE COMING BACK TO SEE YOU GUYS !!!! CYA NEXT YEAR !!! :)))))))))))))

I went to the show expecting one of the most amazing shows of my life and that is what I got. 3 great bands opened for Dream Theater and then it got insane. Flying solos, killer drum fills, amazing keys, and Myung and LaBrie finishing it all off, killer sound, amazing lighting, beautiful stage....Would go to EVERY show if I could.

Four very talented bands! For me to have Dweezil Zappa and Dream theater on the same bill was a real treat. I expected a lot from them and they didn't disappoint! Anytime I get a chance to hear Frank Zappa's music live and play it as well as Dweezil can and did, his father would be proud. Dweezil and his band seem to be having funand enjoying playing for us in Chicago last night. I have only missed Dream Theater once since they have been touring to Chicago. I must say they seem to be getting better every time they tour. I really enjoyed the set they played, the stage set up, and how they ended the show with Count of Tuscany. The biggest thing for me is they seem to love what they do and they do it without the egos that I have see in other bands. Thay might never get the recognition they deserve? To me they have always shown( like last night)they are five of the most talented musician ever to be on a stage!

For the best musical instruments played today, you MUST see these bands. I have been to many concerts, and many different types of music.... But never been as blown away by the music itself, until now. I have listened to them before, but live makes you see, feel and respect the music in a whole different light. Dream Theater is a must for ANY music lover!

Dream Theater always puts on a fantastic show. The guys were playing their A-game last night. The set was pretty great and their visual presentation has gotten better and better over the years. If any fan hasn't yet seen Dream Theater live (is anyone who hasn't seen them really a fan?), DO NOT miss the opportunity, you will not be disappointed. Zappa Plays Zappa was impressive too. It was the first time I've seen them live, and I'll be going the next time they're in town. I have mixed feelings about the ProgNation deal. On one hand, I wish DT would just headline and do a longer set. On the other hand, I appreciate experiencing other groups who I otherwise wouldn't check out. Maybe we'll get "an evening with DT" someday. Thanks for a great show guys! See you next time.

I drove in from Connecticut and so I missed the opening acts, but arrived in time for the Zappa Plays Zappa set. As always, Dweezil and the band didn't disappoint with an absolutely incredible set filled with Frank's music highlighted by 1st rate musicianship and improvisations. Dream Theater took to the stage and exploded with energy. The band is also famous for their stellar musicianship and long songs. They were on their game and being their hometown, they were definitely feeling the energy. Great show, would recommend it to any fan of progressive music or Frank Zappa.

Mike Portnoy and DreamTheater are always very careful who they play with... Scale the Summit performance was flawless, lots of interesting polyrhythms and nothing to envy to any band with lyrics. The sound had a lot more to say by itself. Big Elf, always professional blessed everyone with their mixed sound : Black Sabbath meets Tim Burton and that 60's vibe we all miss. Portnoy intervention was a surprise but the mood increased and the chemistry was inevitable I, luckily had a Meet & Greet Package which happened shortly after this Just have to say DT are gentleman and try to make the experience worth it Back to stage to see Dweezil and his band Something out of this planet! At first I had to shake my head and realize this wasn't the band I came to see when I knew their performance was gonna end soon All the Zappa songs were impeccable and We all have fun to remember such glorious times Portnoy sneaked on this one too... and he decided to sing along then play drums for a bit We all were inspired by the little Mike Portnoy story he shared before his performance Finally, Dream Theater gets to stage. The place suddenly is packed and everyone is excited. I'm gonna make it quick and not explain every song but just to say It was a very nice mix of good both new and old songs Classics such as Dance of the Eternity, Metropolis and the new one A Rite of Passage was part of the setlist Every one of them had their solo time except Portnoy which now is more interested on the band rather than personal virtuosity When everyone thought it was gonna end there they came back and Dweezil joined them for a very nice solo competition between him and John Petrucci Then, Jordan Ruddess picked his extravagant portable keyboard and joined too It was a night to remember, no pun intended The bands, the people, everyone had a great time except the little "bouncer" girl on the front left She hated Jordan Ruddess for the loud pitches I'm sorry for her I can't imagine working as a bouncer on a Jonas Brothers concert It's the best comparison I can think of Thank you all

I have seen Zappa Plays Zappa 5 times now. I noticed a few changes in the line up with the band. The new singer was really good. He was having fun with the vocals it seemed. The band was tight as ever. Dweezil has grown as a band leader each and every time I see them. I cannot wait for him to start making his own music again and hope this time he has spent touring this show will influence his own writing.. The opening act was batter than average but I could not catch thier name. The second act, Big Elf, had an interesting sound as well but the singers voice was distorted to the point where I could not understand a word he was saying. Vocals matter to me. They did hav e a snazzy keyboard player though. Which brings us to Dream Theater. I had never heard of them before, and I listen to a lot of music. I feel like a dope this morning. I thought they were great! They were also the loudest show I have ever seen. In my mythology the loudest show I have been to prior to this was Foghat with Blue Oyster Cult in like 1980 or 1979. The blinding white lights they had facing the audience assaulted my retinas. The assault on my ears though was a much more pleasant experience. They can punish my ears any time.

Ive know this band for a long time. Local guys of long island and always give there best. great at what they do and great guys as well. They have heart in what they do and it shows on both sides of the spectrom.

Petrucci, Portnoy and the boys never disappoint and bringing home to Long Island was unbelievable.

This show was awesome! Not only did the people in seats get a great show but because of the relatively small sized venue the GA got just as good of a show! It was one of the best concerts I've seen in a long time.

Approximately 6.5 hour concert....4 great lead-up bands then Dream Theater....awesome music!! Heard music for the first time by Scale the Summit and Bigelf bands.

Dream Theater is always great. The music is expectedly amazing due to the incredible talent of each band member. James Labrie is one of the only singers out there that can sing perfectly and sound just as good if not better than he does in studio for the entire concert without his voice cracking or anything. Mike Portnoy is the most talented technical drummer alive, and you can always expect great things from him, as well as Myung, Petrucci, and Rudess. They all are amazing, within the top ranks of musicians, if you love just amazingly talented, flawless, jaw-droppingly good musical skill, Dream Theater is the one band that never disappoints. Despite how incredibly complex and skilled their music is, it's still highly approachable and anyfan of metal or hard rock or progressive rock can immediately appreciate and love their music. The only complaint about the band is they didn't do much to get the audience going. The members all stayed in their own corner of the stage and stared at their instruments for almost the entire show. Labrie tried to psych up the crowd, but during every part of every song that he wasn't singing in, he went backstage. The drummer of all people was the most enthusiastic member and tried to excite the audience the most. But other than that small let down, the concert was amazing.

Music was great, opening bands were decent as well. Played a couple songs off the new album, and around 8 off the others. Was really well balanced. I wish I hadn't spent the money for the meet and greet VIP. It was basically 50 people who were herded past the band twice, once for a picture, once to have them sign something. No real opportunity to converse with them, not what I was expecting for $300. The show itself was awesome. Would see that again in a heartbeat.

From start to finish, PN09 was awesome! I had never heard of Bigelf or Scale the Summit. Now I'm a new fan! I grew up listening to Frank Zappa and to hear his music again was fantastic. Dweezel looks just like his father, sounds just like his father. I was amazed! Queensryche was wonderful, but due to the M&G with DT, I missed half of their set. The first half was great! And Dream Theater!!! Wow :) Meeting these guys was a dream come true for me. I am going to try to see every PN tour I can! Missed the first one, but; God wiling, I won't miss another one! The music was as great live as on CD or DVD. Better even! When you can actually feel the music, it makes it that much better!

Although this was my 5th Dream Theater concert, they keep blowing me away! I flew all the way from Austin, TX, because on this night there was also Queensryche. I really liked the opening band, Scale the Summit, 4 young musicians with a lot of talent. Bigelf was a great surprise to me. Queensryche...well one of my two favorite bands... They did a great concert, focusing on Rage For Order, American Soldier and Empire. The new kid, Parker, really can rock, and Geoff even played Sax on "Dead Man's Words". Jason Ames is a great guy for the band. Nice voice and very talented multi-instrumentist. I did not see Zappa..was busy with other stuff (Meet and Greet) Then Dream Theater came...They were simply amazing. Great performance by all the musicians, of course, but my favorite is always Petrucci!!! That guy plays maybe 1 trillion notes per night, and he does not miss any one of them!!! Fantastic solos on Solitary Shell by both Petrucci and Ruddes, and during the climatic instrumental part of Count of Tuscany, Petrucci showed a variety of techniques that drops anyone's jaw! It was worth all the trip!!!

To say "master class" or "Man was I taken to school" or just plain old "AWESOME!" are all understatements. I have been to myriad concerts and none have moved me in the way that this one did. Queensryche one of my all-time favorite bands is sounding better than ever, Zappa Plays Zappa starts from the oh-this-should-be-neat to the oh-my-god-I-can't-even-believe-this-is-happening-on-earth, and Dream Theater show leaves you feeling as if you have touched God and you just have to have more, more, more! Do not. I repeat, do not miss this show!!!