[QUOTE=Lord Abortion]Speaking of Rush, perhaps they could do 2112 or test for echo well...[/QUOTE]
They did 2112 last year in Paris... Only the song though.

I know a few Rush fans that would swear on Geddy's life that Test for echo is the best thing they ever did.

Eddie-the-trooper/Heavy Bass Dude for one...

[QUOTE=Lord Abortion]I know a few Rush fans that would swear on Geddy's life that Test for echo is the best thing they ever did.[/QUOTE]

That's bulls[size=2]h[/size]it, Test for Echo sucks.

[QUOTE=Cain]That's bulls[size=2]h[/size]it, Test for Echo sucks.[/QUOTE]
I dunno, I have just heard Exit...stage left.

I'm just going off a certain young Norwegian's reccommendation.:p

[QUOTE=Lord Abortion]I dunno, I have just heard Exit...stage left.

I'm just going off a certain young Norwegian's reccommendation.:p[/QUOTE]

I mean, a few songs on it are ok, but in general, the lyrics are bad and the vocal melodies are worse, and it's falsely marketed as a return to Rush's hard-rocking days complete with better solos, but that's not really true: "Counterparts" did those things much better. The lyrics still stunk and the vocal melodies were still iffy, but the band played like crazy. Lifeson even shredded, something he almost never did.

Sorry about the big post, hopefully some of you can be bothered to read it.

OK then. Monday night was the best gig I had ever been to. Tuesday was even better.

The apollo was almost full, I hear the shows were sold out both nights.
When the house lights went the place was electric. The opening drums from The Root Of All Evil were played, with flashes of huge 3D octavarium balls. Then the song kicked in and we were rolling, a great opener. They then followed with Panic Attack, John Myung starting it off with the bass intro, that guy is so unbelieveably cool.

The screen then showed ToT tour intro video (its a bonus feature on the Budokan DVD), but it was in reverse and went back through all the years, to 1985 and the Majesty days. They then played a song from that period, and a song from each album in chronological order up until the intermission. Highlights included Peruvian Skies which contained instrumental sections from Floyd's WYWH, and Metallica's Wherever I May Roam.

After the intermission they came back with 2 songs from ToT, which went down excellently (tatically replacing the chorus "Take me as I am" with "Eat my *** and balls.)

They then finished the 2nd set with the final 3 songs from 8VM, concluding with the title track itself, which was breathtaking. The intro to this was JR soloing on what looked like a red pad which he ran his fingers across kind of like a keyboard but with no keys (sorry for the crap explanation of it, some one probably knows what it is.)

They then left the stage to a huge ovation, just to return for the encore of Pull Me Under and Metropolis (they started metropolis from the instrumental section and played it right through).

Incredible.

At the end MP spoke on the mic and said "We'll be back tomorrow with a completely different set", so I knew we were in for a treat.

On the 2nd night they opened with TROA once again, but other than that the set was completly different. They followed TROA with The Mirror and Lie. The first set also included the unreleased "Raise The Knife" which went down very well considering most people had probably never heard it. The first set finished with In The Name Of God, on of my personal favourite DT songs, superb.

Then it came, the moment we had been waiting for, DT covering DSOTM in full. Musical ecstasy. They played the whole album superbly, JP's playing really captured the mood of the songs like few other guitarists could do. Theresa Thompson (from LSFNY) came on to do Great Gig In The Sky. Her voice is just stunning, her performance couldn't have been better.
During Money we got a guest sax-player for the solo who is apparenlty is in Roger Water's band. The whole performance was flawless.

With the whole crowd reeeling from what they just witnessed it would seem impossible for them to come back with anything to match it. They managed however when the encore started with Theresa back out for the Spirit Carries On. The place was absolutely electric, the performance was superb, Labrie and Theresa both delivering stunning vocal perfoamances.

I could have gone home then and been happy to say I had seen the greatest night of music in my life. But then we hear the keyboard intro of Learning To Live. IMO this is possibly DT's greatest song, and this performance was definitely my highlight of the shows. The whole band were on top form, absolutely flawless.

People seem to criticise DT shows for two reasons generally 1- James' voice, and 2- they are too static on stage.

Well at these shows there were no signs of either of those points.
James' voice was absolutely incredible. Admitedly on some live albums his voice has been a bit sketchy, but in London it was just flawless. He also acted as a great fontman, getting the crowd involved and entertained (although he was off stage for the long instrumental sections.)

As for the band being static, while they obviously don't run around like Maiden they are moving around and seem to be genuinlly enjoying what they are doing. JM and JP would wander over to each other to jam during certain songs, and they would take the centre stage for solos etc, (notably JM walking right to the front of the stage ready for the Metropolis bass solo :cool: .)

Sorry if I sound like a huge fanboy who worships the band, but.... well I guess I am :D

[QUOTE=nowitzki]Sorry about the big post, hopefully some of you can be bothered to read it.

OK then. Monday night was the best gig I had ever been to. Tuesday was even better.

The apollo was almost full, I hear the shows were sold out both nights.
When the house lights went the place was electric. The opening drums from The Root Of All Evil were played, with flashes of huge 3D octavarium balls. Then the song kicked in and we were rolling, a great opener. They then followed with Panic Attack, John Myung starting it off with the bass intro, that guy is so unbelieveably cool.

The screen then showed ToT tour intro video (its a bonus feature on the Budokan DVD), but it was in reverse and went back through all the years, to 1985 and the Majesty days. They then played a song from that period, and a song from each album in chronological order up until the intermission. Highlights included Peruvian Skies which contained instrumental sections from Floyd's WYWH, and Metallica's Wherever I May Roam.

After the intermission they came back with 2 songs from ToT, which went down excellently (tatically replacing the chorus "Take me as I am" with "Eat my *** and balls.)

They then finished the 2nd set with the final 3 songs from 8VM, concluding with the title track itself, which was breathtaking. The intro to this was JR soloing on what looked like a red pad which he ran his fingers across kind of like a keyboard but with no keys (sorry for the crap explanation of it, some one probably knows what it is.)

They then left the stage to a huge ovation, just to return for the encore of Pull Me Under and Metropolis (they started metropolis from the instrumental section and played it right through).

Incredible.

At the end MP spoke on the mic and said "We'll be back tomorrow with a completely different set", so I knew we were in for a treat.

On the 2nd night they opened with TROA once again, but other than that the set was completly different. They followed TROA with The Mirror and Lie. The first set also included the unreleased "Raise The Knife" which went down very well considering most people had probably never heard it. The first set finished with In The Name Of God, on of my personal favourite DT songs, superb.

Then it came, the moment we had been waiting for, DT covering DSOTM in full. Musical ecstasy. They played the whole album superbly, JP's playing really captured the mood of the songs like few other guitarists could do. Theresa Thompson (from LSFNY) came on to do Great Gig In The Sky. Her voice is just stunning, her performance couldn't have been better.
During Money we got a guest sax-player for the solo who is apparenlty is in Roger Water's band. The whole performance was flawless.

With the whole crowd reeeling from what they just witnessed it would seem impossible for them to come back with anything to match it. They managed however when the encore started with Theresa back out for the Spirit Carries On. The place was absolutely electric, the performance was superb, Labrie and Theresa both delivering stunning vocal perfoamances.

I could have gone home then and been happy to say I had seen the greatest night of music in my life. But then we hear the keyboard intro of Learning To Live. IMO this is possibly DT's greatest song, and this performance was definitely my highlight of the shows. The whole band were on top form, absolutely flawless.

People seem to criticise DT shows for two reasons generally 1- James' voice, and 2- they are too static on stage.

Well at these shows there were no signs of either of those points.
James' voice was absolutely incredible. Admitedly on some live albums his voice has been a bit sketchy, but in London it was just flawless. He also acted as a great fontman, getting the crowd involved and entertained (although he was off stage for the long instrumental sections.)

As for the band being static, while they obviously don't run around like Maiden they are moving around and seem to be genuinlly enjoying what they are doing. JM and JP would wander over to each other to jam during certain songs, and they would take the centre stage for solos etc, (notably JM walking right to the front of the stage ready for the Metropolis bass solo :cool: .)

Sorry if I sound like a huge fanboy who worships the band, but.... well I guess I am :D[/QUOTE]



I wish I could have seen them. Especially two nights in a row.

[quote=nowitzki]People seem to criticise DT shows for two reasons generally 1- James' voice, and 2- they are too static on stage.

Well at these shows there were no signs of either of those points.
James' voice was absolutely incredible. Admitedly on some live albums his voice has been a bit sketchy, but in London it was just flawless. He also acted as a great fontman, getting the crowd involved and entertained (although he was off stage for the long instrumental sections.)[/quote]
I totally agree an Jame's voice. He was incredible when I saw him (only the first night unfortunately, couldn't afford two nights away), notably in 'Under A Glass Moon'. He also pulled off the screams in 'Octavarium' pretty d[i]a[/i]mn well as I thought this could be tricky for him live (and that part was a huge musical orgasm for me :D)

I loved the way JM bowed after the Metropolis bass solo. My girlfriend told me off for singing too loudly for the whole thing. Her words being "Why can't you just listen." I was shocked. If I wanted to just listen, I'd have stayed at home, or outisde with my iPod.

Fu[COLOR="Black"]c[/COLOR]king amazing band. My favourite ever, have been for the last 4 years. They played Another Won, then A Fortune in Lies. The instrument JR was playing was a continuum.
Not the best time I've seen them play, but still incredible.

[quote=shamed-angel]I loved the way JM bowed after the Metropolis bass solo. My girlfriend told me off for singing too loudly for the whole thing. Her words being "Why can't you just listen." I was shocked. If I wanted to just listen, I'd have stayed at home, or outisde with my iPod.

Fu[COLOR=Black]c[/COLOR]king amazing band. My favourite ever, have been for the last 4 years. They played Another Won, then A Fortune in Lies. The instrument JR was playing was a continuum.
Not the best time I've seen them play, but still incredible.[/quote] I couldn't believe that JR managed to play the continuum with his right hand and accompany himself on keys with his left (without looking, it was during 'Never Enough' if I remember right). I caught his eye just after it and he gave me the biggest grin whilst I picked my jaw up from the floor.

Edit - Just got my pictures on my computer now :)

[QUOTE=Ad Absurdum]I couldn't believe that JR managed to play the continuum with his right hand and accompany himself on keys with his left (without looking, it was during 'Never Enough' if I remember right). I caught his eye just after it and he gave me the biggest grin whilst I picked my jaw up from the floor.

Edit - Just got my pictures on my computer now :)[/QUOTE]

Feel free to share :thumb:

I have a few, but my girlfriend is in canada, and they're on her camera. I went up on my own, saw the show with her, stayed the night at a hotel, and then saw her off at about 8 in the morning. I then travelled around London and [B]I CROSSED ABBEY ROAD![/B]It was a great experience.

[QUOTE=shamed-angel]I have a few, but my girlfriend is in canada, and they're on her camera. I went up on my own, saw the show with her, stayed the night at a hotel, and then saw her off at about 8 in the morning. I then travelled around London and [B]I CROSSED ABBEY ROAD![/B]It was a great experience.[/QUOTE]

Me and my mate were thinking of doing that while in London, but weren't sure where abouts Abbey Road was :( . However we still managed to check out a lot of sights and also many pubs :chug:

[url]http://photobucket.com/albums/a299/beneaththefoldsofflesh/London%202005/?sc=1[/url]
(anyone who gets the Insision reference is cool)

There's a few pics from the gig. I'm the spotty kid in the No Fear hat, the rest are my drunken friends. The pics of the band kinda suck because a) had to be fly taking the photos and b) I suck at taking photos anyway.

Is Mike seriously wearing an England shirt with the majesty symbol on it?!

That is beyond cool...

[QUOTE=Ad Absurdum][url]http://photobucket.com/albums/a299/beneaththefoldsofflesh/London%202005/?sc=1[/url]
(anyone who gets the Insision reference is cool)

There's a few pics from the gig. I'm the spotty kid in the No Fear hat, the rest are my drunken friends. The pics of the band kinda suck because a) had to be fly taking the photos and b) I suck at taking photos anyway.[/QUOTE]
That was you? dude, I'm the guy that kept coming and going to the place diagonally infront of you. With the Images and Words Tshirt and long hair. The one with the Czechoslovakian Guy.

[QUOTE=Lord Abortion]Is Mike seriously wearing an England shirt with the majesty symbol on it?!

That is beyond cool...[/QUOTE]

I think it's just a normal England shirt, that majesty symbol is on one of the durms. It was really cool seeing him wearing that.

Here's a great selection of photos from both Monday and Tuesday:
[URL="http://www.woodee.co.uk/cgi-bin/dt_gallery/emAlbum.cgi?cmd=show_sub&path=Gigs&tn=1"]http://www.woodee.co.uk/cgi-bin/dt_gallery/emAlbum.cgi?cmd=show_sub&path=Gigs&tn=1[/URL]

[quote=Lord Abortion]Is Mike seriously wearing an England shirt with the majesty symbol on it?!

That is beyond cool...[/quote] Unfortunately he was :upset:
Edit - Just an England shirt sorry, my eyesight sucks.

[quote=shamed-angel]That was you? dude, I'm the guy that kept coming and going to the place diagonally infront of you. With the Images and Words Tshirt. The one with the Czechoslovakian Guy.[/quote] Hmm... you had long hair, your friend had short hair?

Yeh, my I&W Tshirt had a black heart on the back. I was diagonally to your left.

Ah, I see, it's the fact that the drum looked the same colour as the shirt and camoflauged him.

[quote=shamed-angel]Yeh, my I&W Tshirt had a black heart on the back. I was diagonally to your left.[/quote]
Awesome :chug:

How are you? Did you enjoy? I had my camera confiscated as I went in, so I had to use my girlfriends. Sucks. I played air drums alot apparently :upset:

By The Way:- That wasn't actually my seat, we just went to go to the front and they said we couldn't just stand there, so we got into the nearest available seats.

[QUOTE=Ad Absurdum][url]http://photobucket.com/albums/a299/beneaththefoldsofflesh/London%202005/?sc=1[/url]
(anyone who gets the Insision reference is cool)

There's a few pics from the gig. I'm the spotty kid in the No Fear hat, the rest are my drunken friends. The pics of the band kinda suck because a) had to be fly taking the photos and b) I suck at taking photos anyway.[/QUOTE]

What row were you in, cause I think I can see the back of my head in a few pics.

A few questions:
a) What songs do Petrucci/Portnoy sing on? and
b) Who does the vocal trade off with James at about 8:00 into The Glass Prison?

a)Petrucci sings backing on Fatal Tragedy, Change of Seasons, Strange Deja Vu, quite a few songs reallyif you hear melodic backing voocals, like "Oohs" or "Aahs", then that's JP and MP.
b)That's Mike! The instrumental section after that is the only DT song I know with "Hey!"s in it. Did anyone else notice it? Apparently it's just James exhaling, but it sounded really cool, so they sampled it for that section.

So.. Why doesn't Mike sing for Dream Theater?

He does. He does loads of backing vocals. Haven't you seen his really cool micstand attatched to the back of his kit? It swings round when he's about to sing. He does alot of the harmonised vocals with JP.

He does the crappy vocals on As I Am.

Haha, yeah. I really don't like the way they tried to utilise rapping into the songs on ToT. I don't like the way that they made a metal album, but in places, the only vocal style they could muster was to rap.

Heh, sorry, I don't usually notice different vocalists (But in TGP, ~8:00 I don't think it's possible for James to get that low and keep it deep/ish).

But where in As I Am does Portnoy sing? :D