Philzone.org - Philzone Phansite Community Discussion Board: Setlists and Reviews: Non GD Related Reviews: Archive: Dream Theater, West Valley, UT 7/30/07

Before I eve saw the Grateful Dead, I was primarily into progressive rock. Monday night, I tooka big step back into that arena. My very first Dream Theater concert was quite a spectacle. A couple years ago I got turned onto them by their great live DVDs. However, I wasn't up to spending the $40+ ticket price. I had a hunch that tix culd be had for less than face outside the venue. I knew the show wouldn't sell out - most Utah folks don't realize this kind of music exists! So when I arrived at the venue, I received a call from a buddy who said he had a line on free tix. So I just had to drive to the east side of Salt Lake to pick them up.
Dream Theater came on at about 9:20 pm. The sound took awhile to get dialed in. But, this was just an onslaught to the eyes and ears. These guys are intense! Guitarist, John Petrucci, humbly rips off lightning runs all night long. Keyboardist, Jordan Rudess skips around a thousand different sounds quickly and effortlessly. John Myung, attacks his 6 string bass furiously. My only complaint about the show was that the bass drums drowned out the clarity of the bass. Drummer, Mike Portnoy, is a busy beaver behind his enormous kit(two entire sets). If he's not swinging at drums and symbols, he's swinging at the air, or the audience, or twirling sticks, or throwing them up and catching the, or swatting his own head. And the singer embodies qualities of lead singer greatness like David Byron (Uriah Heep) or the Dep Purple guy. The light show was fantastic with wonderful visuals on the screen behind the band. I was blown away! The show didn't end until 11:35 (no break). It was well worth the investment. It's also hard to believe the house was only half full.

Great band...

Jordan is a madman

Sounds like fun. Great review.

Thanks for the review.

I need to check their tour schedule, because I'd like to see them.