Dream Theater To Showcase ‘Astonishing’ At Oakdale

Few bands are making albums remotely like Dream Theater’s “The Astonishing.” The prog-rocker’s latest concept album clocks in at a remarkable 2 hours and 10 minutes. The project isn’t just much longer than any album — it eclipses the running time of many films.

“The Astonishing,” which is a heavy, double disc sci-fi rock opera, takes place in a dark and disturbing future in which music performed by humans is outlawed by the state, could be a movie a la Pink Floyd’s “The Wall.”

“We were conscious that we were creating something like ‘The Wall,’” keyboardist Jordan Rudess said while calling from Montreal. “But we even went a little further with it tapping into a musical theater vibe. Shows like ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Phantom of the Opera’ are ingrained in us and we were up for telling a big story.”

“The Astonishing” is a huge, complicated tale. Dream Theater has created more than one opus; 2001’s “Six Degrees of Turbulence” is an example of the band’s excess. But “The Astonishing” is even more ambitious: It’s an epic album filled with dense, meandering tracks, which are cinematic and surprising.

Rudess and guitarist John Petrucci co-wrote all 34 tracks that comprise “The Astonishing.”

“John was working on the story and we wanted the music to fit the story like a glove,” Rudess said. “We went into the studio by ourselves and worked for months. We didn’t want to spare anything that could take this to another level. We added an orchestra and bagpipes. We left nothing behind.”

The Prague Symphony Orchestra was led by maestro David Campbell, who is Beck’s father. Campbell, who helped make this such a lush production, was directed by Rudess, who also provided the choral arrangements. Much of the music started with Rudess’ pianos, organs and synthesizers.

“It was a lot of responsibility and work but we did it,” Rudess said. “But we had a huge assist with David Campbell, who is incredible. It was like writing a film score and that played to the strength of the Prague Symphony Orchestra.

Dream Theater will showcase the album Wednesday at the Toyota Oakdale Theatre. Screens will help tell the cinematic tale. “You have to come out to the show to believe this,” Rudess said. “It’s different.”

But Dream Theater has been different ever since it emerged out of Long Island in 1985. “We’re not like other bands,” Rudess said. “We just do our own thing and the great thing is that it’s just been this group of guys all of these years.”

It’s notable that Rudess, Petrucci, vocalist James LaBrie, bassist John Myung, have been intact for 25 years. “It’s not easy to keep it together for that long,” Rudess said. “But we’re on the same page. We love to make a particular type of music.”

It’s about intense, baroque prog-rock for Dream Theater, which also includes drummer Mike Mangini. “We really enjoy making these albums,” Rudess said. “We’re just fortunate to have this diehard group of fans, who seem to enjoy as much as we do. It certainly was an effort to make “The Astonishing.” I’m just glad we had the opportunity to make it. We have a record company (Roadrunner) who believes in us and fans that really get into it. It’s a cool thing.”