Dream Theater

I moved here in 1997 and I've been to every show in Phoenix starting with Club Rio in 1998, remember that one? Even saw them open for Yes out at Mesa Amphitheater once just so I could see them play 'Stream of Consciousness' !

In reality they've now skipped us 3x; 2008, 2009, and 2011. I highly doubt anything will be added after Texas, so our best shot is next Spring/Summer. There is no reason after almost 5 years without a headlining set in Phoenix they couldn't sell out most of the Dodge Theater...oh excuse 'Comerica' theater, lol... I may contact Danny Z myself and see what he thinks.

We may also need to contact Roadrunner and let them know there is a demand here. Yep, we may have to go grassroots!.

Just got back from LA show - noticed it was NOT a Live Nation/Clear Channel show. That could be the problem w/ Phoenix. If they aren't using Live Nation, that can cause problems in Phoenix because Comerica is a Live Nation venue and the other choices are pretty limited - they're too big for the Celebrity now and the Marquee is a joke. W/ Zelisko booking Mesa Arts and the Orpheum, that might be what DT needs. I could also see a nice Spring show at Mesa Amphitheatre.

well try living in salt lake city, we get skipped all the time, so no sympathy here...they havent been here since 2007 either so there..

Dream Theater is on Roadrunner Records, and, correct me if I'm wrong, but are there a lot of roadrunners, running around in the desert out there?

Guess you're right Pheonix does sound like the perfect city for them to visit.

BEEP! BEEP!

In all seriousness though, I would be upset too. I remember when they toured in support of Six Degrees, when I found out that they were going to be in LA while I was on vacation in Hawaii with my wife I was so disappointed. I actually considered moving our vacation, but one of the few things I love more than Dream Theater is my wife..........barely!

Hang in there Arizona, It's Only a Matter of Time.

@cygnus: I would love to have Queensryche play in my backyard! Do you know how to arrange it? Crap, nevermind I live in a condo, I don't have a backyard. But if I did.......

@Wingnut1991:

Ha ha! My point about Queensryche was that they play Phoenix every year, hell twice a year sometimes. And they play Tucson & Flagstaff! Basically they'll play just about anywhere. While their new album is filth, at least if you are a Queensryche fan there is a good chance you will get to see them live.

These days, that isn't the case with Dream Theater. They tend to skip major markets, and usually are only on the road for about a month at a time. I understand they have kids, etc. But it just seems to me with the loss of Portnoy they would want to hit at least every major market and 'make their stand'.

Let's ignore Phoenix; they are also skipping San Diego, Vegas, Denver, and only playing 2 mid-west dates: Detroit & Chicago. No St. Louis, Cleveland, Minneapolis, etc.

The reality of this tour is it more of a 'promo' run than anything else, lol.

I would really like to see Dream Theater do a 2 month tour, and hit every major market like most bands do. Obviously you can't play everywhere, but this skipping of major markets is going to start hurting them sooner or later. ADTOE sold 4,000 fewer copies than BCSL in the first week.

Had they scheduled dates for Phoenix, San Diego, Vegas, Denver, St. Louis, Cleveland, Minneapolis just the excitement of the band coming to those cities for the fans might have inspired more first week buying. I didn't buy ADOTE until the second just in protest, lol. I have quite a few friends here who didn't buy it, they said what's the point they aren't even playing here!

Times that attitude by these 6 cities and there's your 4,000 in sales, lol. Yes, a stretch but something caused the dip and it wasn't Portnoy.

Dec. 4 Mesa Arts Center according to Danny Zelisko. Tix on sale on 10/10.

=KevShmev said:Well, St. Louis hasn't seen DT since 2004, so I have little sympathy for you guys in Phoenix.

And the venue that they were at back then was the Pageant, which was packed, and is still going strong, and would be perfect for DT (holds about 3K or so, I think). I think the promoter for that venue thinks that that type of music won't sell anymore. That is what I heard a while back. It probably didn't help that Queensryche was there last month and didn't sell well, so he probably thinks that reinforces his belief, but there is a huge difference between QR (who must know suck royally now) and DT (who is still as strong as ever). Not that I would expect him to know that. Blech.

Wasnt that St Louis show the same one the guy fell out of the balcony trying to grab a stick or drumhead?!?!
Could be a possible liability fear with the promoter?

I see it this way nationally not just PHX.....

The brainstrusts in DT's management and promotors were probably in a tough spot when it came to booking in the post Portnoy era, and with a new album less than a month old. This 1st leg is probably a litmus test in cities that have been safe bets in the past. Based on how the crowd draws in these shows, they can shape any future legs.

@azmusicgeek:

You sure about that? It's 10/6 and there is no announcement yet.

If it's true, then my squeaky wheel post worked, lol.