Dream Theater Concert Review Wiltern Theater 3-21-2019

Dream Theater Concert Review Wiltern Theater 3-21-2019

Review and Photo Gallery by Roc Boyum

Dream Theater Distance Over Time WilternTheater Concert Photography Concert Reviews

Dream Theater delivered a spellbinding show of musical brilliance, incredible sound and synchronized lights.

The Dream Theater Show at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles on March 21, 2019 was the second show of their ambitious Distance Over Time tour. This tour is in support of their new CD of the same name, which includes two separate acts with a brief intermission between Acts 1 and 2.

The Los Angeles crowd was prepared for an extreme evening, but what they received exceeded all expectations. The evening started with Act-1 which was a six song set comprised of four songs from the Band’s new Distance Over Time LP. These songs were; Untethered Angel, Paralyzed, Barstool Warrior and Pale Blue Dot.  The other two songs in the set were “A Nightmare to Remember” from their Black Clouds & Silver Linings LP and “In the Presence of Enemies, Part 1″ from their Systematic Chaos LP.

Dream Theater Distance Over Time WilternTheater Concert Photography Concert Reviews

The show opened with Untethered Angel with with the spotlight on guitarist John Petrucci as he executed the song’s peaceful guitar beginning. The song quickly exploded into an aggressive rhythmic assault that gave way to the driving syncopation of the verses hypnotizing melodic chorus. This song encompasses the essence of their Distance Over Time LP, which captures the band with an organic sound of metallic aggression and the progressive scope that the band is so well known for, all rolled up into a concise package.

Dream Theater Distance Over Time WilternTheater Concert Photography Concert Reviews
James LaBrie

The band finished Act 1 with a song from their Distance Over Time LP, the epic Pale Blue Dot.

Dream Theater Distance Over Time WilternTheater Concert Photography Concert Reviews

The song’s eerie keyboard beginning echoed throughout the venue under the Veil of subdued lighting that was accented in blue until a burst of bright light was cast upon drummer Mike Mangini.

Dream Theater Distance Over Time WilternTheater Concert Photography Concert Reviews
Mike Mangini

Bathed in light, Mangini delivered his hammering precision to the beginning of the song’s odd time syncopation before the other members joined in. Mangini continued to execute the song’s complexities with shredding perfection, playing throughout the song in his ambidextrous style making this multifarious track seem much easier to play than it really is.

Dream Theater Distance Over Time WilternTheater Concert Photography Concert Reviews

Meanwhile singer LaBrie effortlessly weaved about across the stage, making his way up his way to the raised stage behind the drums where he strutted from side to side, commanding the stage with grace and conviction.

Dream Theater Distance Over Time WilternTheater Concert Photography Concert Reviews

The song’s middle instrumental section is as intense as it gets with Petrucci, Rudess and Myung all simultaneously playing complicated note runs together that left the audience stunned in amazement of their brilliantly flawless execution.

Dream Theater Distance Over Time WilternTheater Concert Photography Concert Reviews

The song finishes with Petrucci playing sustained notes and blistering lead runs that lead the band up to the song’s monstrously dark chords that finish this masterpiece. After the song finished, Mangini stood up and gave his sticks to the audience in an unconventional manner by throwing his sticks down at the front of the stage so they would bounce of the stage into the hands of a lucky recipient.

For Act 2, the band presented their highly successful 1999 LP, Metropolis Pt. 2-Scenes From a Memory, in it’s entirety. This might seem to be a monumental undertaking but on this night Dream Theater was committed to go beyond any normal show and give the Los Angeles crowd even more than they imagined; because this is what they do!

Dream Theater Distance Over Time WilternTheater Concert Photography Concert Reviews

Metropolis Pt. 2 marked some significant changes for the band, including the first appearance of keyboard virtuoso Jordan Rudess and it was also the first LP by Dream Theater to be self produced by the band. This tour marks the 20th anniversary for this record, so it’s really on point for the band to present this LP in it’s entirety on this tour.

Dream Theater Distance Over Time WilternTheater Concert Photography Concert Reviews

After the break that followed Act-1; Act-2 opened with Regression, a monologue with a hypnotic theme that gave everyone a moment to settle in and get ready for the intense staccato beginning of Overture 1928. Overture 1928 set the pace for a full set of non-stop fan interaction with many in the audience displaying air guitars, air drums, fist pumping and horns-up.  Act-2 had many highlights including the introduction of “Home” when singer James LaBrie imparted that “Home” is a song from 20 years ago when the band was going through a lot of changes from within the band and with the band’s business. LaBrie went on to relate;

Dream Theater Distance Over Time WilternTheater Concert Photography Concert Reviews

With the success of Metropolis Pt. 2 and the band at the helm of the LP’s production, this gave Dream Theater the freedom to become who we are today and this was the catalyst for what became, the epitome of what this band is all about.

The night concluded with the encore of one of the all time fan favorites, “Pull Me Under” from their highly acclaimed 1992 Images and Words LP that is also their most commercially successful studio album to date.

Dream Theater Distance Over Time WilternTheater Concert Photography Concert Reviews

To say that Dream Theater’s show is a mind blowing experience would be a massive under statement. Given the band’s enduring success, incredible material, brilliant musicianship and their die hard/loyal fan base, this show is definitely one you don’t want to miss.

The set list was:

Act 1:

Untethered Angel

A Nightmare to Remember

Paralyzed

Barstool Warrior

In the Presence of Enemies, Part 1

Pale Blue Dot

Act 2: Metropolis Pt.2-Scenes From a Memory

Regression

Overture 1928

Strange Deja Vu

Through My Works

Fatal Tragedy

Beyond This Life

Through Her Eyes

Home

The Dance of Eternity

One Last Time

The Spirit Carries On

Finally Free

Encore:

Pull me Under