July 14, 2003
A night of surprises
Posted by Jess in
Day to Day
Last Wednesday’s Fates Warning/Queensryche/Dream Theater concert was nothing short of incredible.
For those that have never heard of Dream Theater, it’s incredibly cinematic hard rock, with genius coming out of every note. Songs are epic in nature, and can be on average about 7-11 minutes long. They usually take you through every possible emotion, leaving you in a total state of catharsis at the end of each song, capable of one thought: “phleh.”
As for Queensryche, I only know songs from their Empire album, but it does hold special meaning for me. Right after I graduated college, me, Matt and our roommate Jay would put this CD on and play the whole thing while sitting around playing cribbage and High-low-Jack. I remember the feeling like it was yesterday… and now, every time I hear any song from that CD, all I think about is knowing that it was 6PM, and I had absolutely NOTHING I had to do. No papers to write. No exams to study for. Freedom.
I’ve come up with some superlatives from the show…
Best quote:
The lead singer of Queensryche said it best: “this will be a night of very complicated people playing very complicated music.”
Best concert souvenier:
I woke up the next morning feeling like I had a hangover, though I hadn’t been drinking. Turns out this alleged “hangover” ended up being a nasty virus lasting a few days. Which is why it's Monday and I'm writing about a concert I went to last Wednesday! I’m not surprised, considering how many people I probably bumped elbows with that night. I would have rather had a T-shirt, though.
Fastest rendition of a song that was tough to play in the first place
Any Dream Theater fan knows the song Metropolis. I guess the band decided it needed a little "pick me up", to which they played the entire song at two or three times (I have no idea which one) it's original speed.
Best surprise ending:
Seeing both sets of drums uncovered and a fantastic rendition of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by both bands sharing the stage.
Well worth seeing them if they are in your area!
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Dream Theater's John Myung uses one of those Chapman Stick thingie you know... ;-)
You know, I'm starting to hear more and more about those, though I don't quite understand what it is.
Ben, is there a particular song or anywhere I could hear what it sounds like?
D'oh.. I forgot you had a whole section on it on your site. ;-)
Myung has only used it in DT's work on the Falling into Infinity CD, New Millieum track. The whole intro part
Mainstream stuff includes people like Peter Gabriel (most albums), King Crimson (most, esp. "Beat" and "Discipline"), Paula Cole ("This Fire" album), Pink Floyd ("Momentary Lapse of Reason" album), David Sylvian ("The First Day"), Belinda Carlisle ("Between A Man & A Woman), latter-day Kajagoogoo / Kaja, and so forth. Once you know what you're listening for, it's quite distinctive!
