Shaun Wee
It’s hard to believe but the world’s most iconic progressive metal band, Dream Theater, is back to perform live in Singapore. Visiting our little island for the 2nd time in just 2 years, this event’s rarity is almost like having the Fifa World Cup live every Saturday night. (Dream Theater fans, this is truly the time to pinch yourself. Done that? Good; now we can carry on.)
With a line up of John Petrucci (lead guitarist), Mike Portnoy (drummer), John Myung (bassist), Jordan Rudess (Keyboardist) and James LaBrie (lead vocal), the first thing one would instinctively notice about Dream Theater, is that every member is a true maestro in their respective instruments. Almost, but never, stepping across the line where their skills would overpower one another, each member of Dream Theater has perfected their own craft, creating an overall potent and vivacious touch to their music. Why, yes! Maybe that explains how their concerts always manage to sell-out, all across the world.
Since their formation 22 years ago, the band has constantly defied the norms in any given circumstance. Even during their early days as a band, fellow schoolmates, Portnoy, Myung and Petrucci were seen as the rock deviants of Berklee’s acclaimed Jazz school.
Explains Portnoy in a press statement, “We aren’t part of what’s on MTV or what’s in Rolling Stone; we haven’t succumbed to trying to be what is popular, because usually that stuff passes within a year or two.”
Sure enough, from the “Stone Age”, this non-mainstream “dinosaur-of-a-band” has overcome the test of time, evolving into a permanent player in today’s modern music scene. With 9 albums under their belt, Dream Theater’s trademark has consistently been the integration of both their powerful epical lyrics and their unrestrained melodious accompaniments. Songs especially from the album Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence are testaments to that. Close your eyes, and immediately, the grand euphony fabricates an entirely majestic scene in your imagination.
Supplementary to their latest album, Systematic Chaos, Dream Theater’s Chaos in Motion World Tour is set to take centre stage at Fort Canning Park, on Jan 17 next year.
As the album’s name so aptly describes it, Systematic Chaos “is methodical and meticulous on one hand, but on the other is acrobatic and abstract”, explains Portnoy. While Dream Theater has displayed their versatility in previous albums,with some of their more mellow strains, such as “A Change of Seasons”, Systematic Chaos, as stated by Petrucci, is rid of the “more sensitive, softer material”.
However, don’t mistake this for a compromise in any way. So focused are these musicians, that with each album, fans who truly scrutinize every note of every song Dream Theater has ever produced, are always able to notice the consistencies between them regardless of their different rhythms. As many fans would already have this as common knowledge, recent albums including Systematic Chaos explore chapters in the Alcoholics Anonymous’ 12 Step Programme, which Portnoy finds “incredibly therapeutic” to write about.
But, as we all know well enough, Dream Theater concerts are never just about the songs; from the moment the members step on stage, till the moment they leave, be prepared to expect at least 2 hours of high-energy mayhem. Now for some variety, how about allowing Portnoy to add some covers of evergreen classics into their performance? Yes, a rare treat indeed. But keep those fingers crossed; he very well might cause the band has done that on several occasions.
With Dream Theater sounding more “vibrant, powerful and wide-raging than ever”, LAMC Productions, the event promoter for the band’s concert, assures of an experience that would make even the most devout of devotees marvel in awe. “You can’t compromise with the type of music that we play and the relationship we have with the fans,” says Petrucci.
Whether or not you enjoy progressive metal, here is a sheer guarantee that Jan 17 will be an extraordinary night for all.
With Singapore’s rapidly expanding fan base, who knows? Perhaps Dream Theater might consider coming in regular 2-year successions!
Concert Details
Event: Dream Theater Chaos In Motion World Tour 2007
Date: Jan 17, 2008
Venue: Fort Canning Park.
Ticket Prices: $95
For more information, please visit the Sistic website or call the Sistic hotline at (65) 6348-5555.
UrbanWire readers get to pay a discounted price of $85 per ticket instead of $95 when they mention the password “Systematic Chaos” at any Sistic outlet or through the Sistic hotline. The password is valid till 6th January 2008.
LAMC Introduces THE DREAM THEATER VIP PACKAGE limited to 50 people, at $435 per person including ticket or $340 if you are upgrading.
The Package includes includes the following:
* Exclusive Pre-show Meet and Greet with Dream Theater
* Autograph session (includes Dream Theater concert poster)
* Group Photograph with the Band
* Official Dream Theater Meet and Greet VIP Laminate
VIP laminate allows access to special VIP stage front standing section. This special meet and greet will begin before show time at the venue. The meet and greet instructions & location will be emailed to each confirmed guest (1) week prior to show date.
Terms & Conditions:
* During the autograph session, guests are encouraged to bring Dream Theater memorabilia for the band to sign (please limit up to 2 items per guest, guitars included).
* Book first by calling (65) 6324 0764. All payments must be made by cash payment at LAMC Productions office at 5 Shenton Way, UIC Building, Suite 37-02. Office hours are 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday. Overseas customers should call us at 65 6324 0764 to arrange wire transfer. If you are upgrading you must show your original ticket.
* All packages are sold in Singapore Dollars.
For more information on THE DREAM THEATER VIP PACKAGE, click here.