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Monday, 04 February 2008 |
 Photo: Aaron Sammut
It must be said that there is quite the buzz in the air tonight at the Riverstage among the more than respectably sized assembled throng – and, indeed, given that after more than 15 years since the breakthrough of their classic album, Images and Words (which achieved success and an MTV hit despite the hostile environment of the grunge era) and after years of petitions, pleadings, morose whinings and groveling emails from fans, premier progressive metallers Dream Theater have finally made it to Australia, such bliss is entirely understandable.
With a three hour set bisected by a brief interlude and comprised of tunes spanning most of their storied career, the guys do not disappoint. Opening the first set with a note perfect rendition of heavy, mechanistic new album opener Constant Motion, the band rattles out an instrumentally stunning and energetic series of tunes, primarily from the more recent albums but with a fine rendition of uplifting Images and Words-era classic Surrounded providing the clear set highlight, especially for older fans. Two songs from recent stinker Octavarium, while well performed, make one realise how damn good the new album’s material is in comparison.
The second set is the real sausage meat in this prog metal sandwich, however, opening with a tremendously well received excerpt from the band’s sprawling concept album, Metropolis Part II, and putting up such treats for fans as the first two parts of their A Mind Beside Itself Trilogy (with the soaring, epic Voices providing another highlight) and a medley of Images and Words classics Pull Me Under and Metropolis Part I, before the crowd is treated to a medley of most of the group’s album closer tracks in the encore. With the exception of the very occasional (and very forgivable, given that he’s not the young buck he used to be) missed note from singer James and a slight technical malfunction at the start of Pull Me Under, the evening’s performance is flawless, and it is an honour to be present.
SHAUN NANCARROW
1. Written by Ben, on 07-02-2008 17:49 , IP: 202.144.161.90
It was without doubt the best live performance I will ever see (shat on daft punk, the previous yard stick), the best sound I've heard @ riverstage(again, apart from some minor glitches, all over daft Punk) all culminating in the greatest musical experience i could hope to be privy to. To all who were there I'm glad you got to see them and for those who weren't, you owe it to yourselves to not miss their next tour if you're even only slightly musically inclinded. Forget the 'i don't get the music' or it's too 'nerdy', to see musicians master their instruments and play so tight is something you just have to treat yourself to.
EPIC.... just epic. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 12 February 2008 )
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