Dream Theater – Matinee in Cleveland

Rush had the Three Stooges, but Dream Theater has got Bart. The Three Stooges’ theme song used to be a staple curtain call for progressive trio Rush, contrasting against the seriousness of the night’s music. In the same way, Rush disciples Dream Theater, opened their October 17th show at Cleveland’s Flash’s with the Simpson’s theme song, complete with Lisa’s “saxamathingy” solo.

As memories of Homer and Krusty Pork Products faded into the night air, kid gloves were removed and Dream Theater started their blazing set with “Metropolis – Part 1”, taken from their second release, “Images and Words”. Eventually the entire album would be covered, along with some tracks from their first album and some instrumental passages tossed in along the way.

Highlights of the show included current single, “Pull Me Under” and rocker, “Take The Time”. Currently, “Pull Me Under” is being played on the radio as an edit, since the song is over eight minutes long.

“Radio programmers seem to have a problem with songs that aren’t three and a half minutes long,” says drummer Mike Portnoy. “With an edit, at least we can get played on stations and get some exposure. If we have to do it to get people to hear us, then fine.”

“Some DJ’s who have supported us are playing the whole song and the label has supported us the whole way,” added guitarist John Petrucci. “They signed us because we do eight minute songs. They don’t want to limit us in any way.”

Dream Theater’s rhythm section, Portnoy and bassist John Myung, were in fine form at Flash’s. Portnoy was an obvious ham, joking with the audience and tossing out Spinal Tap lines. Myung was incredibly intense, working out intricate bass lines as he thrashed about the stage. Hearing Myung live was a special treat, as some of his lines seem to be buried in the mix on Dream Theater’s studio albums. To appreciate his flying fretwork, he really has to be seen to be believed.

Dream Theater had returned to the stage after a three year absence caused by poor support from their previous label and trying desperately to find a new vocalist. After sifting through over 200 demo tapes and working with countless singers, the band was nearing on frustration until they found Canadian James LaBrie.

“We were even thinking of doing an instrumental album,” said Petrucci. “But we realized the material was vocally oriented. It was getting so frustrating. I lied awake at night wondering if we would ever find somebody. I got to thinking maybe it wasn’t meant to be. We worked with so many vocalists, once even going so far as flying in a guy from Seattle. After one show, we knew he wasn’t who we wanted.”

“Each person was always missing something,” added Portnoy. “They would look great and have an image, but they couldn’t sing live. Or they might sing great and not fit in with the band. We’ve been together for years through school and everything, so it was important to us to find someone who fit in.”

As was obvious from his performance, James LaBrie fit the bill. Explains LaBrie, “I came down to be with them for one week. After three days it seemed like we had been together for years. We have the same kind of humor, the same direction in music. I already knew these guys were incredible musicians, but I needed to see if we fit.”

When the show ended with the encore, “Learning to Live”, inspired by the problems Dream Theater has had to overcome in the past three years, not one person in the audience could have been dissatisfied. Unlike many other technically oriented artists who seem to be stale live, whipping out notes with little sense of emotion, Dream Theater delivered an inspired set.

“Live, you really have to slow things down a bit to get the feeling,” says Petrucci. “When the keyboards, bass and guitar are all playing a real fast run simultaneously. If you don’t slow it down it will become muddy, you lose the feeling. I used to listen to Rush’s live albums and wonder why they sounded slower than their studio albums, and that’s exactly why.”

Although there is nothing definite yet, a Pittsburgh show for Dream Theater is in the works. Keep watching for details. Dream Theater is a band about to take off, if their tenacity live is any indication. In the meantime, they are working on a big tour, one with a major heavyweight.

“We’ll probably tour Japan since the album has already gone gold there and is near platinum,” said Portnoy. “But Bruce Dickinson and Steve Harris are big fans of ours, so we’ll probably tour Europe with them. Iron Maiden is still on top over there and it will be great exposure for us.”