Dream Theater Is Coming To Manila For their “Top of the World Tour” Concert

Dream theater is coming to Manila!

The American metal rock band DREAM THEATER, formed of James LaBrie (vocals), John Petrucci (guitars), Jordan Rudess (keyboards), John Myung (bass), and Mike Mangini, will perform live at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, May 4, 2023, as part of their “Top of the World Tour.” The performance begins at 8 pm.

In 2019, the group began on a sold-out tour supporting “Distance Over Time” and the 20th anniversary of “Scenes from a Memory” scheduled to last well into the following year. Nevertheless, a global pandemic thwarted these plans. The musicians were at home with LaBrie in Canada and the rest of the band in the United States. As fate would have it, they had just completed construction on the Dream Theater Head Quarter, a live recording studio, rehearsal space, control room, equipment storage area, and creative hub. It proved to be a blessing for recording, regardless of the Plague.

Initially, he collaborated with the band via ZOOM on a monitor in DTHQ while LaBrie was in Canada. He flew to New York in March 2021, was confined, and recorded his vocals face-to-face with Petrucci. Ultimately, the record is woven with lean and uncompromising hooks with seasoned technical proficiency.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the band continued to create music, as seen by their last studio album and current world tour.

The New York quintet’s fifteenth album, A Look from the Top of the World, features seven equally entrenched in articulate arrangements, groove-laden guitars, and skyscraping melodies. The Alien (9:32), Answering The Call (7:35), Invisible Monster (6:31), Sleeping Giant (10:05), Transcending Time (6:25), Awaken The Master (9:47), and A View From The Top Of The Earth (9:47) are the album’s tunes (20:24).

The band won a GRAMMY for “The Alien” in the Best Mental Performance category. Almost four decades later, Dream Theater continues to amaze and astound audiences worldwide.

The single “Invisible Monster” from the studio album features a head-nodding midtempo grind countered by cinematic keys, lyrical shredding, and a sweeping refrain. “It’s about how anxiety plagues individuals,” explains Petrucci. “It’s as though an unseen monster is hitting you. You cannot see it, but it constantly haunts you.”

The dramatic “Sleeping Giant” climaxes with Petrucci and Rudess trading iconic solos. It combines this virtuosity with yet another LaBrie-enhanced chantable refrain.

“Transcending Time” interprets “the flow condition” as a musical rollercoaster. Petrucci uses an 8-string guitar for the first time on “Awaken The Master,” which is equally devastating and soaring. Yet, the album’s title track remains the album’s crown gem and a crown jewel in the band’s discography.

“A Look from the Top of the World” is a 20-minute epic of uncompromising breadth that displays the group’s interplay as it twists and turns through luscious keys, gravity-defying guitar, brain-numbing rhythms, a moment of heavenly respite, and vocal fireworks.

Petrucci chuckles and explains, “We set out to write a ludicrous epic.” “There is no ballad on the record, although there is a breakdown in the middle of A View from the Top the World. It aids in creating a story with a dynamic flow. I considered those who perform hazardous activities such as surfing 80-foot waves, slacklining across gorges, deep sea diving, conquering Mount Everest, and free solo mountain climbing. I frequently ask, “What motivates you to do that?” One false action will result in death. In addition to being addicted to adrenaline, it makes them feel more alive than ever. This was written as having never felt more alive than on the verge of death. Our limit is membership in this band. We’re just not going to die in the process,” he chuckles.

Ultimately, Dream Theater’s current situation is quite favourable.

Rudess continues, “When you hear this, I hope you experience the best that Dream Theater offers.” “We attempted to create a necessary aural experience. Nobody among us has slowed down. We are, if anything, moving faster.”

LaBrie elaborates, “Even with everything going on, this was intended to be optimistic.” “We cannot wait to return to the stage and perform these songs.” — Rick Florino, the month of June 2021

“Music can communicate with you on an emotional level,” concludes Petrucci. We could not ask for more if this record allows us to connect with listeners emotionally.

In all of their songs, listeners can sense not only the technical aspects of the band, but also the passion and musicianship that they put into their unusual music, powerful riffs, and rock rigs in order to connect with their audience emotionally.

Dream Theater Ticket Prices Manila Tour

The ticket prices are ranges from P2750 to P7250 (plus ticketing charges) via Ticketnet.com.ph

Make sure to follow Ovation Productions social media sites to get more updates about the concert!