Assessment & Pictures by Ritchie Birnie for MPM
On the penultimate date of the UK tour Dream Theater convey not solely a musical masterpiece however a luxurious visible show that left us all in full awe.
It has been six lengthy years for the reason that band have graced Scotland’s second metropolis and with the final present being the twenty fifth anniversary of Photos and Phrases you’ll have thought it was going to be a tricky present to beat however tonight moved previous that present with ease.
The scene was set even earlier than the present began with atmospheric music and an animated backdrop of the most recent album “A View From the Prime of the World”. This was spectacular from the off however when you’ll be able to open your set with a Grammy successful music in “The Alien” you’re in for a deal with. The truth that a music written in 17 8 received and the truth that that is the bands thirty eighth 12 months in existence to obtain this now’s testomony to the standard of music put out by this group.
We then go a good distance again for observe two in “6.00” and Mike Mangini and John Petrucci kick issues off in metronomic precision earlier than James LaBrie growls at us all. I’ve to say I usually hate being seated at a gig however that is the way in which to soak up a DT present as you get to take a seat again and marvel on the brilliance earlier than you and take within the ever altering visuals on the large projector curtains. I’m in complete bliss.
It’s again to a different new music now with “Sleeping Large” and the way good it’s to listen to these new tracks being performed for the primary time. That is traditional Theater and exhibits they haven’t diminished or receded musically through the years. John Rudess and his ever spinning and rising keyboard is on the forefront.
The gradual construct of “Bridges within the Sky” comes at us subsequent with that flatulent hippo screaming at us all and the DT geeks go loopy. The Armadillio sound is all the time good however when the choir piece begins that is elegant and the voices bounce all throughout the serrated room earlier than John is available in and rips our fucking heads off.
On the following observe “Caught in a Internet” I’m positive an enormous quantity of girls(and few males) had their eyes closed for the entire outing as the huge screens had extremely life like and extremely giant spiders coming at you. I’ve to confess to this music being one among my favourites so myself and a variety of followers right here have been screaming together with James.
One other beginner in “Answering the Name” and the futuristic quantity went down a storm earlier than one other fan favorite in “Solitary Shell” makes its Jethro Tull journey to our ears. It is a lovely music and the enlightening story that unfolded on the screens behind the band wrapped all the pieces collectively for this music.
That is adopted up from one other music from “Six Levels of turbulence” in “About to Crash” and though a really totally different observe additionally it is beloved amongst us and in every single place I look individuals are freaking out of their seats.
An enormous cheer goes up as yet one more music from the identical album opens up with “Shedding Time/Grand Finale”. One other slower however superbly atmospheric quantity that performs out to very accepting followers.
The closing construct up is beginning and the place higher to begin that than “Photos and Phrases” and “Pull me Underneath”. This was the album I found this band so it’s going to all the time have an enormous place in my coronary heart and it will get higher each time I hear it. Each notice is tied all the way down to perfection, for me it is a flawless album and people riffs simply suck me in(below?).
It’s the title observe of newest album subsequent and as soon as once more pure perfection and because the band go away the stage we catch a breath and absorb what we’ve seen tonight however we all know this isn’t the top(As James informed us the story of the band he went to see who didn’t do an encore) and to be truthful not many bands can throw a close to 20 minute music as an encore and never many bands have the expertise to want that they had written by no means thoughts truly play “”The Rely of Tuscany”.
This Prog masterpiece is one hell of a method to finish a present.
There is just one Dream Theater, there’ll solely ever be one Dream Theater and that’s the reason they need to be on everybody’s bucket listing no matter chosen style of alternative. Prog followers love them, metallic followers love them. Musicians love them and all due to the brilliance wrapped up in every music and the utter sublimity of a stay efficiency.
Dream Theater by no means allow you to down and every member are masters of their craft.