Dream Theater

w/ Pain of Salvation

Convention Centre, Brisbane – 3rd December 2009

Considering the band avoided touring this country for the first 20-odd years of their career, the Progressive-Metal behemoth that is Dream Theater seem to be trying to make up for lost time, returning to Australia for the second year in a row – this time in support of their latest opus Black Clouds & Silver Linings.

Opening the show is Swedish Progressive/Experimentalists Pain Of Salvation. Despite being warmly received they instantly suffer from a horrendous mix, reducing their sound to a vocal-less, bass heavy mess. Despite this the band plays a tight set, focusing heavily on 2007’s Scarsick, as well as debuting two very classic rock sounding tracks off their soon to be released album Road Salt. Finishing with the ridiculously catchy and falseto packed “Disco Queen”, Pain of Salvation leave the crowd slightly deafened, but also on a high note.

As Dream Theater hit the Convention Centre’s stage with “A Nightmare to Remember” it is apparent that Pain of Salvation’s sound demons are still around, with Mike Portnoy’s double-kicks and John Myung’s bass easily over-powering their band-mates – and over-whelming the first 20 rows. Only when the restrained bridge section comes in is the crowd somewhat relieved from the jaw-shattering bass frequencies, but unfortunately this is a problem that plagues the set through-out the evening.

Nonetheless the band ploughs on, with guitarist/shred maestro John Petrucci showing off both his blistering runs and legato on “A Rite of Passage” and his melodic and exotic licks on “Hollow Years”. Awake’s back to back riff monsters “The Mirror” and “Lie” get the night’s biggest reaction, with James La Brie’s combination of low and soaring vocals fusing with Petrucci’s crushing seven-string groove.

What is obvious as the night continues is the band’s desire to rest La Brie’s voice, extending the instrumental sections in numerous songs, as well as including solo spots through-out. While it’s doubtful that anybody here tonight would complain about the band showing off their mind-boggling instrumental prowess, one can’t help to think that at least another song could be added to the set in substitute to the somewhat repetitive interludes.

Finishing tonight’s show is Black Clouds’ epic closer, “The Count of Tuscany”, which encapsulates everything that is the Dream Theater sound; loud/quiet dynamics, muscular riffing, emotive vocals, complex instrumentation and passionate musicianship.

Unfortunately, unlike last year’s breath-taking three hour show, tonight’s performance is a little under two hours and features nothing off their career defining album Images and Words. It is also a little disappointing to see a less than full turn out tonight, with Dream Theater’s devotees occupying an awkward middle-ground; too many for the 1500 person Tivoli and not enough to fill the 5000 capacity Riverstage. Still, Dream Theater are old pros and know how to put on a highly memorable show which, sound and mix problems with-standing, have their fanatical crowd eating from the palms of their highly talented hands.

DREAM THEATER: Wednesday 25th Novemeber, 2009Set List
A Nightmare to Remember
A Rite of Passage
Hollow Years
The Mirror
Lie
Wither
Dance of Eternity
Solitary Shell
In The Name of God
——–
The Count of Tuscany

Reviewed by Andrew Kapper