The gig drew a healthy mix of serious, young as well as 'senior' music lovers who came in droves to pay their obeisance to perhaps the world's best progressive band. We were thrilled to see kids as young as 7-12 lapping it up as DT unleashed a range of their classic and recent music.
The Dome roared to the sound of fans as the band made their entry on stage and kicked-off the nearly 3-hour experience with the song The Gift of Music. Scores of 'knowledgeable' fans familiar with DT's music sang along to each and every number, in fact at times, they sounded louder and overpowered lead singer James LaBrie.
Watching the progressive rockers live is not about going to a rock concert, it's all about the experience where you get to witness the highest levels of rock musicianship and technical wizardry.
For a band whose members are well into their 50s (keyboardist Jordan Rudess is 60) and currently on a gruelling world tour (performing every second day), the energy with which they showcased their craft on stage is commendable! They made complex, highly-technical progressive musical passages look so simple.
Dream Theater's maiden concert in Dubai (and the region) is part of their Images, Words, and Beyond World Tour that celebrates the 25th anniversary of their 1992 album Images and Words.
The gig, as told to City Times at an earlier interview, was divided into two equal parts; the first session featured a mix of songs while the second part focused on music from their critically acclaimed Images and Words album.
The set list showcased their 'dark' and almost gothic sound that featured hits such as Wait For Sleep as well as '80s style songs like Take the Time, to headbangers like Pull Me Under. In one of their songs, DT even paid homage to metal favourites Metallica by integrating their all-time famous Enter Sandman into one of their songs.
After interval
In the second session, it was guitarist John Petrucci who stole the hearts of the rockers with a barrage of 'tricky' solos as he effortlessly swept through the fretboard and made guitar playing look so easy. Case in point is a tough passage from the track Under the Glass Moon - it looked like JP was almost on autopilot mode as he stood in front of the stage, one leg resting on top of a stage monitor and interacting with the audience simultaneously. Both Petrucci and keyboardist Rudess played some delightful harmonies as they played in unison.
The much-talented John Myung too got a chance to display his extreme skills as he did a solo cover of bass legend Jaco Pastorius' classic track The Portrait Of Tracy. Drummer Mike Mangini too got his moment of glory as he performed a blistering, thundering solo. His dexterity proved why he is rated among the world's best drummers.
Vocalist LaBrie's power vocals played perfect foil to DT's musical soundscape. He showed his astounding high-octave range as he screamed, and shouted (a normal for rock singers at live shows) hitting the high register with much ease. His melodic tone impressed us in Wait for Sleep.
The acoustics of The Dome, however, left much to be desired, as did the air conditioning. As LaBrie lamented, "Is there air conditioning (here), back in Canada this would be f***** middle of summer. We'll be on the beach frying our skin," he joked, as he spoke about the city's construction boom and how he would love to invest in the crane business.
The humid conditions and the acoustics, however, did not matter much considering the world-class musicianship that unfolded on stage. And fans who turned up for the show didn't seem bothered by the conditions, after all, they had come for their 'dream' concert.
While Dream Theater will perhaps reminisce about their 'hot summer' concert in Dubai, local fans will remember the band for giving them a memorable performance they will not forget in a hurry!
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