Dream Theater is back with Mike Portnoy
Last Thursday, December 19th, we were about to witness one of the most unforgettable shows of 2024, at the Movistar Arena. We were not only going to enjoy a great legendary band, with 40 years of career, but also the return of one of the best drummers in the world “Mike Portnoy” to it, Dream Theater in Argentina!
Opening the evening is the local band Lörihen, It is always a pleasure to see this wonderful band play live, and we are very happy that they were chosen to open this beautiful night, with a special guest the vocalist of Horcas, Walter Meza.
And the long-awaited moment of the night was about to arrive, with the great guitarist John Petrucci entering the scene with the chords of “Scene Six: Home,” and Mike Portnoy arrived, positioning himself at his emblematic drum set, doing what he knows best, making those drums sound like no other, the audience automatically burst into shouts of excitement.
When the full band took the stage they started with “Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper”, continuing with “Scene Two: I. Overture 1928” a song where keyboardist Jordan Rudess and guitarist John Petrucci indisputably stood out.
Regarding James LaBrie (vocalist) who has suffered a slight deterioration in his voice over the years, something that unfortunately does not only happen to him, after 40 years of career, But without a doubt he gave it his all, and his voice improved throughout the night.
It was time for “Hollow Years” (96 demo version; with extended guitar and keyboard solos), in which the audience illuminated the stadium with the lights of their phones.
Closing the first part of a concert that lasted more than three hours with the band’s hit “As I Am” where everyone shook their heads, the mosh pit formed and we all sang at the top of our lungs.
After a break of almost 20 minutes, the crowd left the venue to eat and drink something. The time came for the second part of the show, where we could see on the screens a journey through the history of the band, (something worth highlighting was the art that was projected on the screens throughout the concert, something incredibly beautiful).
We had the privilege of listening to the premiere of “Night Terror” from the studio album “Parasomnia” which will be released on February 7th.
Closing the night with “Pull Me Under”, Dream Theater has shown us how powerful they are, and how much the return of the great “Mike Portnoy” has strengthened them.
SETLIST:
Prelude(Bernard Herrmann song)
Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper, Act I: Scene Two: I. Overture 1928, Act I: Scene Two: II. Strange Déjà Vu, The Mirror (with ‘Lie’ solo outro), Panic Attack, Barstool Warrior, Hollow Years
(’96 demo version; with extended guitar and keyboard solos), Constant Motion, As I Am, Nickle and Diming Me To Death (Chris “Swississippi” Harper song), Act II Orchestral Overture (Containing excerpts from every Dream Theater album), Night Terror, Under a Glass Moon, This Is the Life, Vacant, Stream of Consciousness, Octavarium
Encore:
There’s No Place Like Home (Movie clip from ‘The Wizard of Oz’), Act II: Scene Six: Home, Act II: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On, Pull Me Under, Singin’ in the Rain (Arthur Freed & Nacio Herb Brown song)
Review by Maria Fernanda Capici
Photos by Cande Allende Press´s Courtesy
Produced by Foggia Company