Author |
Message |
jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko
Post Number: 1417 Registered: 10-2002
| Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 4:48 am: | |
Finally saw Dream Theater in Glasgow last night after about 10 years of trying. The skills of each musician are astounding. Watching john myung doubling John petrucci's guitar runs exactly on bass gives a good idea of why he's such a respected bassist. He played alot of the fast metal stuff but mixed in enough slower/more emotional playing to keep it interesting. The venue wasn't perfect - a huge sports arena - and neither was the sound system. Overall, the 'big' sound was very good but it was often a challenge to make out individual instruments. I blame this, in part, to the popular practice of hanging strings of full range speakers from the rigging. I don't think this style of PA reproduces the music as accurately as dedicated Bass, mid and high end stacks. Also, only petrucci uses on stage speakers (for feedback effects) which I don't think works unless you're far enough from the stage to get almost a Hi-Fi stereo effect. Standing in front of the stage, inevitably alot of the music is missing. That said, the gig was excellent. They put alot of energy into the night and played a good range of music from the new album and from just about every previous one. I know we don't often use the 'D' word on here but in my opinion, Mike Portnoy is on a par with Niel Peart for rock drumming. i took my youngest daughter along and she really enjoyed it. She's 15 and usually listens to the likes of evanescence and avril lavigne so I wasn't sure what she'd think. Both of us hated the support act - Symphony X. too much Thrash. If Dream Theater (I can't get used to spelling it that way) are playing nearby and you like a mix of Yes and Metallica, I can thoroughly recommend that you go along. graeme |
adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan
Post Number: 1644 Registered: 6-2002
| Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 5:26 am: | |
John Myung seems to have a reputation for having the worst bass sound out front, as he insists on sending his own processed signal to the PA, and not allowing the sound people make any changes. |
terryc
Advanced Member Username: terryc
Post Number: 301 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 - 12:23 pm: | |
Get the Japanese DVD jacko, it is awesome..and I agree, the unison passages are astounding |
lysosome
Intermediate Member Username: lysosome
Post Number: 107 Registered: 1-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 7:38 pm: | |
I saw them last year in Huntington, WV with Megadeath. Probably the best show I've been to. |
georgesdayout
Junior Username: georgesdayout
Post Number: 12 Registered: 10-2007
| Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 8:00 pm: | |
I liked them a little bit more with the original keyboard player (Kevin). I am amazed with the virtuosity, but believe John certainly is capable of trying to fit in too many notes and not hold down the bottom end. Chris Squire certainnly could blow through tons of notes (granted not with as much of the afforementioned virtuosity), but he still honored the more traditional role of the bassist. From what I understand, John is totally dedicated to the band, though, and even their newer sound seems to work for them and their fans. I guess I'm just too attached to "Status Seeker" and their other early works |
jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko
Post Number: 1418 Registered: 10-2002
| Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 - 2:53 am: | |
I'm with you there George. I'd much rather see Yes in concert again than DT. To be honest, I've not been too impressed with anything DT have brought out since Falling into Infinity - a bit too thrashy for my liking. Having said that, I'm waiting for Systematic Chaos dropping through the letterbox even as we speak ;-) Graeme |
seanhinkle
New Username: seanhinkle
Post Number: 8 Registered: 8-2007
| Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 - 8:17 am: | |
I've liked Dream Theater for a long time and am actually enjoying their new heavier music. Not to mention Jordan Rudess is one of the best piano players...well ever. I'd love to see him do a classical performance considering he was accepted into Juliard School of Music when he was 9 years old. This: http://youtube.com/watch?v=xgZhiYff7nM is probably the closest I'll ever come to a full classical performance. |
georgesdayout
Junior Username: georgesdayout
Post Number: 13 Registered: 10-2007
| Posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 - 1:03 pm: | |
I saw Jordan play with the Dregs I think. He is a great player, I agree. I liked some of Kevin Moore's contributions to the sound a little better (the direction the music was going, not the quality of the playing). Oh well, Kevin pretty much dropped off the scene at about the same time the other great Kevin (Gilbert) died. Total coincidence, I'm sure, but I miss both of them. |
davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck
Post Number: 5570 Registered: 5-2002
| Posted on Sunday, October 21, 2007 - 8:21 pm: | |
I like Mike Portnoy; I have the second Liquid Tension Experiment CD. |