~ Scream For Me Long Beach!! ~

First the bad part, I have been to a few rock gigs at Esplanade, the old Harbour Pavillion, Expo, Fort Canning, Pasir Ris Marquee etc.. but none had a form of security checks like the Indoor Stadium. Its worse than entering back Singapore from Johor Bahru. You have to dig out all your stuffs, and subject yourself to a detailed body scan using some hand held device. The most pathetic thing I saw was this Chinese guy in long sleeved. I think he was from his office, and the security guy even touch his sleeve's cuff or whatever it is? isnt that pathetic? its just a bloody rock concert, I wonder, if its a piano show, or a saxophone show, will the security perform this level of checks? I dont think so.... ok ok enough of the negativeness.

So the ticket says the show will began at 8pm, but no...... the lights are on, the audience are still streaming in and moving about. I have a nice seat by myself, and I think I like it this way better, I can enjoy the show without distractions LOL!! go to the gig with friends, split up during the show, and get back together after the show. The audience has a lot of the Chinese ethnic group, and also what seems to be a contigent of Indonesian fans wearing some previous Indonesian tour tshirt printed with the cool - WHEN DREAM THEATER AND INDONESIA UNITES!!". I really love the words.
The Indoor stadium is huge, but the tickets for this show I think is limited to 3000 and I think its near to sold out.
The stage set is very simple.
At 9 the lights when out and the show starts.

So here is the setlist, with the duration and the album from which the songs came from. I managed to get a recording of it except for one bloody song, my md is spoilt :-(

1. The Root of All Evil "8:45 mins - Octavarium 2005
2. Panic Attack "7:11 mins - Octavarium 2005
3. A Fortune in Lies "5:15 mins - When Dream and Day Unite 1989
4. Under a Glass Moon "8:18 mins - Images and Words 1992
5. Lie "6:54 mins - Awake 1994
6. Peruvian Skies/Wherever I May Roam "10:37 mins - Falling Into Infinity 1997
7. Strange Deja Vu "5:14 mins - Scenes From a Memory 1999
8. Through My Words "1:08 mins - Scenes From a Memory 1999/
9. Fatal Tragedy "6:48 mins - Scenes From a Memory 1999
10. Solitary Shell "5:29 mins - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence 2002
11. About To Crash (reprise) "4:15 mins - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence 2002
12. Losing Time / Grand Finale "5:35 mins - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence 2002
- 15 minutes intermission -
13. As I Am "7:27 mins - Train of Thought 2003
14. Endless Sacrifice "10mins aprox. - Train of Thought 2003
15. I Walk Beside You "4:59 mins - Octavarium 2005
16. Sacrified Sons "10:38 mins - Octavarium 2005
17. Octavarium "28:43 mins- Octavarium 2005
- encore -
18. The Spirit Carries On "9:41 mins - Scenes From a Memory 1999
19. Pull Me Under "5:25 mins - Images and Words 1992/
20. Metropolis Part 1 "10:00 mins - Images and Words 1992

A wholesome three hours of magic!!!

The sound at the start is bad, the vocals are not clear, the drums sound did not stand out.

Hightlights -
THE WHOLE SHOW!!! Every single song.
Super Highlights -
1 - The melodic line from The Root Of All Evil which is similar to This Dying Soul.
2 - When the singer says that -"at last...." they are in Singapore.
3. The keyboards intro to Peruvian Skies is nice and so touching. The ending with Metallica's Wherever I May Roam is even nicer..
4. Strange Deja - Vu . 'kin hell. I think Scenes From A Memory is an album I got to recheck again. It seems I am more and more really into the songs from this album. Note to myself - I have to buy the Scenes From New York live triple cd asap.
5. Through My Words/Fatal Tragedy - The beginning sentimental parts are so sweet and beautiful. Fatal Tragedy has such a commercial chorus.
6. Solitary Shell - A song which suits children's nursery schools, old folks homes, and everywhere and anywhere... Very ear-friendly song LOL!!!.
7. I Walk Besides You - If this song is done by Hoostabank, this will be the pop single of the year.. Unfortunately its Dream Theater. The most catchy and love sounding chorus ever.
8. Octavarium.. I heard the studio version once, 24 mins long. I forget about it after that. But now I am listening to the live version again and again..And I begin to like this song. Not an epic like Maiden long songs, but still very good song..with very sweet keyboards.
9. THE ENCORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If they had played Hollow Years, I think I nearly would cry, but My Spirit Carries On is another tear jerker. It is played so beautifully.
Pull Me Under .. the most popular DT song ever I think.
Metropolis part One, there was a stop at the middle, and then the band restarts again...awesome.

For me Dream Theater is a band that I dont really fancy when I listen to their studio albums. Its boring at parts although they have really some seriously great songs and moments..... but live they are 100% so magnificient.
Worth the ticket prices no matter how much you pay.
The final show of this tour at New York next month will be recorded for an official live cd and dvd. If only I can choose the setlist for that show LOL!!
Go and get those.. This tour has been fantastic...