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The first major Italian musical event of 2004 materialized in these three dates of the galactic Dream Theater! An event that moved the metal crowd and other music lovers in general.
The "dreamers" who flocked to Milan, Bologna, and Rome witnessed high-level performances.
In Casalecchio di Reno, the show took place where the audience was the scantest, disadvantaged by performances in the two major metropolises. In fact, the thing that struck me as I entered the venue was the half-empty Palamalaguti, both in the stands and on the floor. This didn't bother me; on the contrary, it helped me. My ticket stated a seat in the stands, which didn't sit well with me at all. I traveled almost a thousand kilometers to SEE THE DREAM THEATER UP CLOSE, not to drool from a dull stand!
Aided by the fact that the situation was calm below, I, along with my two friends, managed to get to the stage, thanks to my cunning (yay for modesty!!) and a dash of spirit of corruption.
The air was breathable, and the heat bearable. In the meantime, I also managed to tear down the concert poster. After some jostling and pushing, I got to about five meters from the stage, on the left side. Three screens (1 giant, 2 smaller) were set up on the stage, and a (one??) mind-blowing drum set could be seen! I don't even dare to imagine what the "octopus" might do.
It's 8:34 PM, and the lights go out. A writing referring to something about the galaxy (Star Trek model) appears on the screens, and the history of DT, album by album, starts to roll. The intro tape begins. It starts with Majesty and leads to the new "Train of Thought". Here we go!
"As I Am" is the first gem, just to warm up our throats and make us dream a bit. Labrie welcomes us. His first and last (or almost) words. From then on, only emotions will interact with the audience, thanks also to his ever-beautiful voice.
Hardly time to stop, and the aggressive riff of "The Mirror" kicks in. Each track is supported by images on the screens, and "Under a Glass Moon" could not help but feature a full moon. The piece ends, and the protagonist is one: Jordan Rudess. An unusual look for the keyboardist (shaved bald!!) does not distract our eyes from the solo he and his keyboard shape, with reference to a piece of "Impressioni di Settembre" by PFM.
The atmosphere is magical, and there are no human beings on stage, only extraterrestrials. "Through My Words" follows, and then "Fatal Tragedy".
Petrucci with the guitar invents and executes incredible things. A practical example is "Beyond This Life", where Petrucci and co. improvise and enrich the track with sections from "Summer Song" by Joe Satriani and "Voodoo Child" by Jimi Hendrix.
They follow with "Endless Sacrifice" and the great "Trial of Tears", while the audience becomes increasingly aware they are witnessing something extraordinary.
A Dream Theater concert is unlike any other concert. Appreciating these five true musicians while they realize mind-blowing harmonies and scores is priceless (…even though I paid 35 euros…). It's time for a break, and a sign appears on the boards:
"The next train will be leaving the station 15 minutes"
...the countdown begins…
...14 minutes…
…13…
…12…
…10…
…9…
…8...
…7…
…6…
…5…
…4…
…3…
…2…
…1…
…and…
… "METROPOLIS PT1"!!!!
Everyone was waiting for it and shouting for it out loud. Here it comes, powerful and direct like a train. A wild mix of offbeats and unheard melodies! John Petrucci is above me shattering the bridge of his Ibanez, and I continue to shout at him: "MONSTER, MONSTER... YOU ARE A MONSTER!!!!".
The queen of prog is succeeded by the new, energetic "The Dying Soul". Portnoy is smashing the drum skins like never before, as in the rest of the concert, after all. When he drums, it becomes a show on its own: he throws the sticks and plays with one, or he throws them towards the audience while with his tentacles, he grabs others and makes them spin with all his fingers! The greatest in the world, no doubt!
It's a shame, though, that Myung is stable and doesn't move an inch. His fingers fly fast on his Yamaha, but unfortunately, I can't admire him clearly. The volume of his instrument is a bit too low, affecting an optimal listening experience.
The first album is revisited with "The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun", and the light show becomes even more intense. There are many applauses, and ovations are never missing. "Goodnight Kiss" is like a lullaby, and around us a climate of tranquility and sweetness is created, which continues with "Solitary Shell", maintained by genuinely enchanting atmospheres. This is the calmest moment of the concert, and the four instrumentalists give only great thrills to the eardrums, more relaxed than ever.
It's almost impossible to describe what one feels witnessing something like this. The soul experiences unforgettable sensations.
Small incident during "Stream of Consciousness". Rudess has his keyboard disconnect, preventing him from continuing to play. The song takes on a strange aspect without the keyboard, but the quality doesn't change, and Jordan exits amidst applause. Labrie wishes us goodnight. But it can't end like this. Surely, they can't leave us like this without a beautiful ending. You can't "In the name of God"!!
The most beautiful song from the new album is tasked with closing a magnificent concert like this! They really leave this time, but not before being overwhelmed by a standing ovation. Many bows, handshakes, and various greetings. It's a shame the usual pick throwing and other gadgets wasn't much. A trophy to hang in the room would have been the worthy conclusion of a three-hour dream. A dream that made February 6, 2004, a day to remember forever. A dream that gave all the senses of those present unique and indescribable sensations. A dream I hope comes true again. The desire for our "Dream Theater" to never lower the curtain, continuing to make us dream, is alive and well.
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