Live at Luna Park review

Dream Theater

DVDS (2)

Rating: 4 out of 5

Level: all $17.98

This first live Dream Theater DVD featuring Mike Mangini proves to be a testament to the strength of the core members of the band overcoming adversity, and it also chronicles a warm welcome for the drummer. It’s a win-win for the band and the fans, as there’s an undeniable chemistry on display that cycles from the stage to the crowd and back again. The complexity of current material such as ‘Bridges in the Sky’, ‘Lost Not Forgotten’, and ‘Outcry’ is delivered with spot-on perfection. It’s obvious that Mangini has found a home with the fans when he delivers a dynamic solo that sends them into prog pandemonium. The two-disc live set includes many DT classics, as well as the entire Dramatic Turn of Events collection. Disc two features bonus concert footage, recaps the dramatic drummer auditions that led to Mangini’s hiring, and details Mike’s initiation into the band. (liveatlunapark.com)

—Mike Haid