Will start by simply saying 'Well done!!!'
7th time in attendance since 2003, 5th time for my wife. Constitution Hall in DC '08 will always be my favorite DT concert, but this one is just a whisker short of that night. She's saying tonight was her favorite.
As to Trivium, I despise cookie monster vocals, so I left the building after the first song, and did not return until intermission.
Sat first row balcony. We had the 'Pull Me Under' setlist. Other than not having 'Beneath The Surface', I preferred this one, but I won't complain about 'Far From Heaven. How nice to see John Myung sitting next to James during this. And unless I missed earlier comments....enjoyed the video to 'Dream is Collapsing'. The two tilted cube stage screens were so unobtrusive, that I forgot they were there 90% of the time. Did not interfere with the best lighting I've seen at any of their shows. The sound was also the best. I was afraid at such a small venue (capacity is 1987, and there were probably 1900 in attendance), that DT would be overloading the place as happened in Philly in '09. The level, though loud, was clear, and allowed me to remove my earplugs half the time.
The interaction between James and the crowd was 'different'. He spoke more last night than he had at my previous six shows combined. Jordan was spot on as always, Petrucci moved around more on the stage, as did Myung, and Mike is a beast!!! A smiling one at that.
When I initially saw the North American set lists, 'These Walls', 'Drum Solo/YtseJam' and 'Through My Words/Fatal Tragedy' and 'Pull Me Under' were my only reasons for going. Then I got the album. '....Backs of Angels', and 'Breaking All Illusions' were added to the list. 'Bridges In The Sky' and 'Outcry' turned out superb. 'Build Me Up...' is so much better live, since 90% of the 'telephone line' vocals are sung normally.
'Endless Sacrifice' and 'Caught in a Web'....not my favorites, but damn, they kick axe in concert.
Wish I could have seen them in Philly, since those reviewers loved it. I was part of, or simply overheard, a few conversations where fans were saying that MP made a mistake. I have to agree.
I didn't even know about DT until their co-headlining tour with Q'ryche. Some of their material I do not like at all. But I like/love a ton of it. I prefer 'I&W', 'Scenes', Six Degrees track(s), and Octavarium, start to finish . I even prefer most of FII over all but a couple TOT, Chaos, , and Clouds' offerings.
I like the new album. It gets better each day. Totally overjoyed about the concert. Loved the energy and exuberance they displayed. Guess we might get another album and tour out of the guys after all.
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