|
• DreamTheater.net • DT on MySpace.com • Petrucci/G3 Article • Dream Theater Deadhead • Roadrunner Records • Into Eternity • Redemption • MusicPlayers.com • PiercingMetal.com
|
New York's Prog Rockers Bring Their Heralded Musical Chaos to New Jersey! A Kweevak.com Rock Report by Rich and Laura Lynch
For over two decades, Dream Theater has been crafting musical odysseys. Their long compositions are complex and their musicianship is first class. Dream Theater has traveled many stylistic terrains and have taken progressive melodic metal to the mountaintop. Dream Theater's early influences include Rush, Iron Maiden and Metallica and they in turn are now inspiring new bands to carrying on the legacy of progressive metal.
 James LaBrie was a commanding presence in New Jersey! Dream Theater shows no signs of slowing down with the release of Systematic Chaos (2007) and a major world tour. Systematic Chaos is the band's ninth full length release and has already charted on Billboard. The album "features heavy riffs, soaring melodies, intricate arrangements and even a few hook-laden tracks". It is a 78-minute journey that showcases the band's intensity and proficiency. We were excited Friday night as this was our first Dream Theater concert. We observed that DT attracts a broad range of people. The fan base at the PNC Arts Center, in Holmdel, New Jersey on August 24, 2007 was diverse, with some musicians themselves, who appreciate and aspire to the lofty level of Dream Theater. Looking more closely at each member of the band proves this point. Jordan Rudess (keyboards) plays from a broad bright pallet. Jordan is accomplished in styles ranging from acoustic piano, classical, melody, organ, rock and strings. Rudess' advance layering adds to the entire orchestral concepts of Dream Theater's music. Mike Portnoy has been voted best progressive drummer for twelve years straight in Modern Drummer's Readers polls. Hearing and watching Portnoy play you soon see why. His kits are two full sets with stacked cymbals and have colorful names such as the "Purple Monster". Mike's immense sound with double bass, massive measures and tricky timings is pulsing and powerful. John Petrucci is a proficient guitarist, widely regarded and has been on the G3 bill six times. Petrucci is an animated, accurate player - a master of complex chord changes and chromatic keys. John is also an incredibly fast fret man yet his melodies are touching.
 Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci are two of DT's musical titans! John Myung the mysterious bass player is magical. Myung is well respected and has played with various other musicians. John's bass lines range from beautiful to bold and he is key in propelling DT's epic songs. Lastly, James LaBrie who has been the lead voice in Dream Theater since 1991, has also worked with many other artists. LaBrie's style ranges from aggressive to intimate and he adds much drama and fire to DT's complex compositions. A climactic, classic musical interlude indicated that in moments Dream Theater would be taking the stage as their logo appeared on the stage screen leading into a montage of band clips and album art work. The set started off fast and furious with 'Constant Motion'. Portnoy was conducting and spinning his drum sticks while pounding out a multi-dimensional rhythm propelled by Myung's daring bass lines. LaBrie dramatically clutching the pole of his mike stand sang with energy and emotion; then Jordan's coursing keys floated to the top of the mix before John's sizzling leads took center stage. In the backdrop, there were ants crawling on a traffic light. Ants are a prominent theme of the new record and the current DT website, perhaps a nod to how industrious the band is. They are true professionals who brought passion and precision (despite a few dropped drum sticks) to each part and piece of music that they played during their impressive two hour set, performing tracks from records dating back to Images and Words (1992) through the current album. Some of their songs have spiritual overtones dealing with the ongoing battle of good verse evil. Proverbs 6:6 states "go to the ant.. consider its ways and be wise." Any ambitious musician present would be wise to consider the ways of Dream Theater. 'Panic Attack' was fast, featuring dazzling drum timings. The Johns went into high gear, dueling center stage before Petrucci started trading leads with Jordan's spinning keyboard. Petrucci who is using F-1 guitars for the tour was fantastic blending a wide range of techniques in tantalizing breakneck leads, yet his many melodic moments were also just as memorable. 'Blind Faith' started off with haunting tones as Myung's mystical bass lines interceded to create a mid-tempo groove leading into a Pink Floyd refrain. James has an impressive vocal range and his style can go from breathless to angst all in the course of an epic DT song. LaBrie worked the whole stage engaging the audience. The piano solos were majestic and then the rest of the band brought 'Blind Faith' back into over drive. Jordan's parts morphed into an effervescent phase in contrast to the more classical parts that he played moments ago. The rhythm section blazed over more sizzling Petrucci leads, another tempo change brought and closed the song down with softer beats, guitars, and vocals. Wow!
 Myung and Rudess help make the Dream come alive! Photo courtesy of Ken Pierce/PiercingMetal.com A Dream Theater concert is not just a sonic sensation but also a visual one. There were displays on the stage screen all night, along with screens on the side of the stage, which showed many close ups of each player. Fans could observe all the amazing techniques that each musician brings to his art. DT's sound is crisp and clear, each instrument can be heard and even when one is soloing the other parts are subtle yet substantial. A heavy Petrucci lead signaled the start of 'Surrounded' as fans were compelled to move as Mike's poly-rhythmic drumming powered the song along with his deep, threatening vocals. In the back drop, was a DT cartoon with a scary wolf and one-eyed monster overseeing the band jamming. People had their fists in the air, singing along, increasing the whole energy of the musical expedition. 'Endless Sacrifice' was another highlight of the set list and it was executed with all the passion and poignancy it deserves. Dream Theater's arrangements are ambitious taking their listeners on journeys through many moods, tempos and textures as did Friday's concert. These types of amazing arrangements were the norm for this night of career spanning music. The second half of the set (including a potent 'In The Presence of Enemies') was dynamic exploring diverse terrain in metal and orchestral melody with intense, intriguing instrumentation punctuated by LaBrie's varied vocalizations. The encore started with Mike's children helping with percussion before he gave them a kiss and sent them to join Petrucci's kids who were also sitting stage side all night. They closed the set with a medley of elaborate excursions into 'Trail of Tears, 'Finally Free', 'Learning To Live', 'In The Name of God' and melding into 'Octavarium'. Thus, ending the concert on a high note that was also heartwarming as all the present bandmember's children took a final bow with them before the appreciative and adoring crowd. Into Eternity and Redemption were the openers. Even though both band's names create an intriguing, spiritual combination of concepts the groups were chosen to open for Dream Theater during their 2007 US tour for their progressive metal prowess. Into Eternity was formed in 1997 and has been described as progressive death metal. Redemption from Los Angeles, California melds metal with melody. Redemption draws from a broad range of influences including Kansas, Savatage, Iron Maiden, Fates Warning, Dream Theater, Rush, Megadeth and classical music. Into Eternity played a hard driving set and Redemption was energetic and tight with lots of potential.
 Portnoy points to the ant!
Related Projects and DT News: A few weeks ago we found the first of the two Liquid Tension Experiment (1998) CDs in a local Borders. Mike Portnoy tells the tale of how the Experiment came or almost did not come together. The thirteen track CD (or is it nine) was recorded in one short week of creative output. Its foundations are rock solid yet elements of jazz, new age and even world cement this intricate instrumental record. The songs are spontaneous yet stellar and span a broad range of speeds and styles. The CD starts with 'Paradigm Shift', which explodes at full throttle with Levin's amazing bass lines snaking their way through frenzied guitar leads. Midway through the epic, the tempo slows down to mid speed for some funky instrumentals before circling back to a fast furious close. 'Osmosis' - with its lighter drums and sound effects - reminded me of a rain forest. The song is atmospheric with heavy bass lines shaping this colorful instrumental. 'Kindred Sprits' returns to more heavy rhythms but it has its melodic moments and all four musicians stand out on this musical journey. Levin leads the way on 'The Stretch' with a beguiling bass grove punctuated by Portnoy and accented by John and Jordan. A short two minute foray but snappy and snazzy. 'Freedom of Speech' runs the gamut with its serious piano opening, to soaring guitar leads, dramatic rhythms and a hard rock foray before circling back to the solemn piano part. 'Chris and Kevin's Excellent Adventure' is wild and whimsical featuring some vocal effects. 'State of Grace' is majestic. 'Universal Mind' is heavy and hard hitting with sizzling solos and a capricious close. 'Three Minute Warning' is listed as tracks 9-13 and clocks in at over 28 minutes. Mike aptly describes it as "completely improvised insanity".
 Jordan Rudess played some innovative keyboards! Photo courtesy of Scott Kahn/MusicPlayers.com The name of the band in many ways summarizes the music. The songs flow, there was tension in the making of the record due to the time constraints and it was an experiment to bring people who had not played together into a "super" group. Yes, John and Mike were in Dream Theater together but Jordan was not in the band at that time. Tony Levin was and is the ultimate professional and quickly melded with the Experiment, thus the chemistry and content gelled!
Liquid Tension Experiment Players:
Side Note:
PNC Arts Center Setlist:
 Dream Theater released Systematic Chaos in 2007! Originally Published: 08/27/2007 on Kweevak.com |
• BLOGS: Kweevak | Soundpress
• 10/09/08 - Concert Industry News: Reunions & Comebacks!
• 10/07/08 - Arnel Pineda: From YouTube to the Big Screen!
• 10/07/08 - The Grateful Dead Take a Trip in Egypt!
• 10/06/08 - Book Review: Brand, Buzz & Success
• 09/22/08 - Squeeze Takes Hold of New York City
• 09/15/08 - Music Builds on a Solid Foundation of Rock
• 09/04/08 - Woodstock Lives on at Bethel Woods Arts Center
• 09/03/08 - Journey, Heart & Cheap Trick Trio Triumphs
• 09/02/08 - Nils Lofgren Talks to Kweevak Radio
• 09/01/08 - Concert Review: Journey Still in Progress
• 08/20/08 - King Crimson Celebrates 40 Years in New York
• 08/20/08 - A Brand New Age for Blackmore's Night
• 08/18/08 - Bob Weir Is Still Counting On the Heads
• 08/17/08 - A Storm of RatDog and the Allman Brothers Band
• 08/09/08 - Shaken Alice Cooper Remains Unfazed
• 08/08/08 - Even More Les Paul and Geoff Achison
• 08/06/08 - Hootie & the Blowfish Supply the Goods
• 08/02/08: Bob Dylan - Down the Tracks DVD
• 08/01/08: Night Ranger Blasts a Hole In The Sun
• 07/28/08 - Smokin' Bottle Rockets Fly in Ringwood
• 07/24/08 - Frank Marino's Solid Mahogany Rush
|
