Dream Theater in San Francisco
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Live Performance Reviews
Forum Description: Performance Reviews by Members
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20132
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Topic: Dream Theater in San Francisco
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Subject: Dream Theater in San Francisco
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 03:23
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Words cannot describe what I just saw. It was utterly... perfect so to speak. The intensity, the volume, the sheer power, it was all there in San Francisco tonight. I remember standing in line outside the venue when a homeless person on the street said, "Damn, this must be a good show" and she was right. The place in question, the Warfield theater in the heart of San Francisco, was given another sold out Dream Theater extravaganza. My brother and I found our spot in the theater, on the left side with a clear view of the stage in sight. We waited for a half an hour, and I spent the time talking with the guy in front of us about Neil Peart's two books, Ghost Rider and Traveling Music. Then, the opening synths kicked in and the theater became dim. We all screamed with joy as a video of Dream Theater's history was played before our eyes. Then that droning F came like a shockwave, it had begun. The show began with The Root of All Evil, a very powerful rendition that sent shockwaves (literally) through the theater. After that, a song from the old Majesty days called Another Won was played. This song was a powerful metal anthem with nice odd timed breaks between the verses. Next was Afterlife, in my opinion one of the weaker tracks on When Dream and Day Unite, but it was none the less brilliant, with Petrucci giving it his best. Next was Take the Time, played perfectly. It was followed by Caught in a Web, one of the heaviest songs of the night. I remember feeling the pulsating bass drum of Portnoy during the intro and the quality of LaBrie's voice. After that, Peruvian Skies was played. After the first verse, they went straight into Wish You Were Here, with Rudess giving a nice keyboard solo in place of Gilmour's classic one. Towards the end of the song, they changed it up and played Metallica's Wherever I May Roam, with a staggering riff and Petrucci's magnificent lead work over it. After that, they decided to throw in a demo from the Falling Into Infinity sessions Speak to Me. The song was met with a round of applause and a cheer of joy when it was over. It was followed by three Scenes From a Memory songs, Strange Deja Vu, Through My Words, Fatal Tragedy, all were played superbly and I cannot stress how much I was enjoying myself. Next up was About to Crash (Reprise) segued with Losing Time/Grand Finale, and after those songs were played the show went into intermission. I took this time to go and purchase a t-shirt that costed me $35.00. The second set opened with As I Am, and there was a costume change by LaBrie, Portnoy, and Petrucci (who was wearing a Sting t-shirt in the first set). Myung's droning distorted harmonics rang through out the countless cheers and cries for joy. The song was played perfectly and after the maelstrom of feedback it was followed by These Walls. This rendition was powerful and of better quality than the studio version. It was followed by I Walk Beside You, and was greeted with joy as well as power. LaBrie's voice was earth shattering on this one. Next up was Sacrificed Sons, and Rudess shined on this one, with awesome Continuum and keyboard work. The band was precise and kept the flow of the song perfect. The finale of the second set was an extended take of Octavarium, with Rudess going off on the Continuum for 5 or so minutes until he switched to the lap steel. LaBrie was at the corner of the stage playing the keyboard chords while Rudess was having a ball at the lap steel. Petrucci's glittering double neck soared during the first 5 minutes of its use, and it was replaced thereafter with a shiny white Music Man. During an instrumental section of the song, a video that was very remnicient of Rush's By-Tor and the Snow Dog concert video was played with much delight to the crowd. The epic ended with hands in the air and voices at their highest, we were giving them their first send off of the night. A few minutes later, Rudess returned to the stage and gave us a minor Keyboard Solo that went seemlessly into Wait For Sleep, the crowd ecstatic knowing what song was to be played next. Wait For Sleep was met with mass applausal at its end, and the crowd cheered as the opening synths of Learning to Live were played. The song was played exactly as the studio version, until the first instrumental break, where the song went into a completely different direction. Petrucci's phaser washed cleans were met with Rudess's soaring synths. The song was ended another uproar of applause and joy as they said their final farewell. Overall, this show was perfect and was well worth the time and money. I cannot stress the quality and integrity of the show and I recommend that you see Dream Theater the next chance you get. Setlist: 1st Set:
2nd Set:
Encore:
Fanboy enough? ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 03:36
Sounds great. If i was a DT fan i would be sooooo jealous  ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Ed_The_Dead
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 07:42
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Why does everybody get Learning to live on the gig? Seems everybody got to experience it live... just NOT me!!! The Pull Me Under/Metropolis pt. I cross-over was still awesome but... Nothing can beat Learning To Live! ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ed_the_dead/?chartstyle=asimpleblue5"> 
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Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 10:35
Come to Ft. Wayne again!  ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 11:52
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Glad you had a great time. -------------  |
Posted By: santiagomo87
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 12:30
I went to the one in Mexico City and it was awesome as well. They
played pretty much the same songs, except we only had fatal tragedy
from scenes from a memory.  . After
that they played the last 3 movements of six degrees (solitary shell,
about to crash(reprise) and loosing time/grand finale). After As I Am
they played endless sacrifice with some of the solos from stream of
consiousness. Then they played I walk beside you(which i would have
rather they played anything else), sacrified sons and octavarium with
it's 5 minutes of the continuum improvisation. The last part
consisted of a piano solo from rudess which i heard it is a cover from
emerson lake and palmer, which evolved to became wait for sleep and
then learning to live. I can't wait to buy a very special evening with
dream theater dvd.I'm pretty sure that throughout the whole gig they will be playing all of their songs without a single exception. ------------- Santiago |
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 12:59
I thought since it was San Francisco we were going to either get a Journey or Metallica cover, and I thought it might have happened during the encore. But once Rudess came out and started playing the piano, I knew what was coming. -------------
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Ed_The_Dead wrote:Posted By: Ed_The_Dead
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 13:20
I was damn happy with the Poznan gig... but still the set-list was... well not one of my all time favs got played... and I didn't even get These Walls... No "Scarred", No "Great Debate", NO "LEARNING TO LIVE"!!! But still it was awesome... it was the real 20th anniversary on that day (at least thats what Portnoy said) so we got an extended set... about 3,5 hours of music... In summery I had stood about 7 hours that day... and I survived... because the crowd REALLY went into a frenzy during the gig... ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ed_the_dead/?chartstyle=asimpleblue5">
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Posted By: Moatilliatta
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 14:20
I just saw them, and they encored with In the Name of God. I was really hoping for Learning to Live too. Here was my shows set: 1st Set:
2nd Set:
Encore:
I liked how they went back to Majesty days and played one song from every album chronologically. Great performance, great visuals. Truly an unforgettable experience. ------------- www.last.fm/user/ThisCenotaph  
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Posted By: chamberry
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 14:59
Sounds like it was a great show. I was also surprised when in Peruvian skies changed into Wish you where and the Metallica song and I also was waiting for Learning to live (my favorite song  ) but at least the Pull me under/ Metropolis pt.1 was worth it all the way.------------- 
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Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 15:59
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Words cannot express how jelous I am Cyggie, good review. They've done something similar with Peruvian Skyies before in the Sherinian days were they played the Have A Cigar riff in the middle. I dont know what WYWH was like but HAC would probably work better. ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005 
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Posted By: D.Noisserger
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 16:09
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I hope I'll see a simular show when they gonna play in Québec City. ... and I'll be right front of the stage, first row, center ! Can't wait any longer the see them ^^
------------- [IMG]http://www.painofsalvation.com/news/images/a-collage-change.jpg"> |
Posted By: Shrump
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 16:27
| Ha ha ha. When I saw them on Friday thier first encore song was Pink Floyd's Sheep in it's entirety! After that they played keboard solo/Wait for Sleep/Learning to Live. I win. |
Posted By: Viajero Astral
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 20:31
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Why everybody had 2 sets except me? The Root of all Evil Panic Atack A fortune in Lies Caught in a Web Under a Glass Moon Endles Sacrifice Through my Words Fatal Tragedy I Walk Beside You Octavarium As I am Pull me Under 1:45 hrs aprox. Thats all they played that night, I was expected Metropolis or a second set, all fault of the bad scenary and the awfull organization of the Monterrey staff, but was an excelent show. ------------- 
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Posted By: Drew
Date Posted: March 13 2006 at 00:14
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Wow- I was at the same show- no need for me to write a review when Cyg's was that on- it was, AMAZING Learning to Live had to be my favorite of the night- what they did with that song was freakin AWESOME!!!!!!!! They never fail to impress me- Dang, sometimes I forget how truely awesome of a band they are. The sound quality was superb- what an evening! A, 10/10- 5 stars!!!!!!!! Dream Theater, Thank You. ------------- |
Posted By: Drew
Date Posted: March 13 2006 at 00:17
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well, they always say don't drink the water in Mexico- maybe they had some water. That sucks! ------------- |
Posted By: hamham
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 18:27
| impatiently awaiting dvd's of the new york event :( |
Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 19:18
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You're one lucky man, Cyggie. I missed DT in Norway last year because of lack of money ------------- RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! |
