Dream Theater Montreal, Canada Place Des Arts March 12, 2025. Sold out crowd enjoyed 40 years of Dream Theater with nary a hit in sight...and the crowd could not have been happier.
Review by Perrin Wolfson, Alan Dixon and Jimmy Kay
All Photos by Jimmy Kay, The Metal Voice
They say “absence makes the heart grow fonder”, and that was certainly on display during last night’s Dream Theater show at Montreal’s stunning Place des Arts. The prog metal stalwarts returned to town, featuring their classic lineup, for the first time since 2010, the same year founding member and drummer extraordinaire Mike Portnoy, departed the band. Portnoy returned to the fold last year, in time for the band’s 40th anniversary, and to write and record the heralded Parasomnia record, released earlier this year.
Musicianship and virtuosity were on full display much to the delight of this Montreal crowd that were on their feet before a note was played. Last night’s show celebrated the rich history of the band and was a marathon display of prog metal prowess, clocking in at 3 hours and 15 minutes, with only a short intermission between sets that were as long as some bands’ full shows.
Despite the set list being aimed more at the diehards, their was enough for even the casual fan to enjoy. Not to imply that the band was running out of steam on their last few albums or tours but Portnoy's return really brought back some of that X factor energy that was kind of missing for the last few years.
Side note last night's show featured two co-frontmen, James Labrie and Mike Portnoy. As James would take a break between long instrumental sections, Portnoy would stand up from his kit and get the fans fired up upon his return. In fact half the night Portnoy was kind of playing in a hybrid mode half standing and half sitting and the crowd ate it up.
DREAM THEATER Mike Portnoy Interview-New Album PARASOMNIA, Reuniting w/ Band, Setlist w/ Mangini Era
Dream Theater kicked things off with the fan favorite epic track that has defined the bands style early on, Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper from their best selling album Images and Words. From set opener Metropolis Part 1 - and through cuts from every phase of the band’s career (even records Portnoy did not play on), Portnoy, guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and keyboard/mad scientist Jordan Rudess were in lock step as if no time had passed between them playing with each other. The winks, nudges, and smiles were evident as the lifelong friends were clearly thrilled to be playing together again.
Set highlights included: The Mirror, A Rite Of Passage, beautiful ballad Hollow Years, wickedly heavy As I Am, as well as the new tracks from Parasomnia - Night Terror and Midnight Messiah. Stream Of Consciousness and Octavarium were accompanied by dizzying lights, lasers, and video graphics, and the night climaxed with encores Home, The Spirit Carries On, and the band’s signature song - Pull Me Under.
All in all an incredible night of musical ability and generosity that will seemingly be repeated in the near future, as Labrie noted the band would be back this Fall to perform Parasomnia in its entirety. Judging by the reaction of last night’s sold out audience, there’s little doubt Dream Theater’s reunion will be anything but short lived, and phase 2 of this year’s tour is poised for great success
Act I (according to Setlist.FM)
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
Barstool Warrior
A Rite of Passage
Hollow Years
Constant Motion
As I Am
Act II
Orchestral Overture
Night Terror
Midnight Messiah
This Is the Life
Vacant
Stream of Consciousness
Octavarium
Encore:
Act II: Scene Six: Home
Act II: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On
Pull Me Under
Tour Dates
us MAR 14: WALLINGFORD, CT – Oakdale Theater
🇺🇸 MAR 15: BOSTON, MA – Boch Center
🇺🇸 MAR 17: ROCHESTER, NY – Kodak
🇺🇸 MAR 18: WHEELING, WV – Capitol Theater
🇺🇸 MAR 19: CINCINNATI, OH – Brady Music Center
🇺🇸 MAR 21: WASHINGTON, DC – The Anthem
🇺🇸 MAR 22: NEW YORK, NY – Radio City Music Hall
DREAM THEATER- Parasomnia Album Review & Mike Portnoy’s Impact On The Album? -The Metal Voice
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