Dream Theater & Symphony X - Wolverhampton Civic - Saturday 10th November

Let's get the Symphony X review over and done with quickly - I was very relieved when their set finished. Give them their due they really couldn't do much with the sludgy sound they got; having said that for a band who have been around as long as they have I expected a lot better.
Very ordinary although the crowd seemed to like them.

Before launching into DT's review I have to make a few things clear;

1. They are my favourite band
2. They played the two best gigs I have ever been to (Bristol 2000 on the Scenes From A Memory tour and Wolverhampton 2005 promoting Octavarium/20th Anniversary)
3. I had been looking forward to this gig to the degree of counting down in a Birthday or Christmas style (which in my case doesn't make a lot of difference...)

Maybe I had built this one up too much - the times I have seen them before became undisputed gig of the year. Despite their unquestionable musical brilliance they won't win that award from me in 2007. To address why will seem like nit-picking but here goes...

Firstly the sound really didn't improve much for the headliners. On the previous occasions I have seen them it was crystal clear. Secondly the setlist relied way too heavily on the new album (Iron Maiden made a similar mistake for me playing Matter Of Life And Death in it's entirity and in album order). At least DT split the album up and put other material in between but there were glaring omissions - still no Pull Me Under, and Under A Glass Moon or Metropolis Part 1 would have been nice (got me I love Images And Words!). Having said that The Spirit Carries On, Strange Deja Vu and Endless Sacrifice were all breathtaking. Of the new material the opener - Constant Motion; and closer - In The Presence Of Enemies Parts 1 & 2 were mindblowing.

The musicianship is as jaw-dropping as ever. Mike Portnoy's drumkit had to be seen to be believed (basically a single and double bass kit put together) and even when playing incredibly complex patterns he seems to have a ridiculous amount of time. John Petrucci can still shred with the best and John Myung has now gone to a six string bass and spends a lot of the set effectively playing rhythm guitar. Jordan Rudess can certainly tinkle the ivories too. Finally James LaBrie retains a marvellous set of lungs although I think Khan from Kamelot is now pushing him hard for best prog/power metal vocalist.

However I would still mark this one as an 8 out of 10 - obviously I was spoiled rotten the other times I saw them. Enjoyed them immensely as did the crowd - these guys are revered and very few acts would dare to even attempt what they do live.

Gig of the year so far? Close call between Porcupine Tree at Wolverhampton and Kamelot at ProgPower 2 although I really enjoyed Killswitch Engage at The Academy in January and the thrash all dayer at the Irish Centre(!) headlined by Evile in September was a belter too. Can Machine Head and the Black Crusade bands win the day? - review coming in a fortnight's time!!