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Band(s): Progressive Nation 2009 Date: 2009-08-07 Venue: Convention Hall City, State: Asbury Park, NJ Reviewer: Nick
Official Dream Theater Website Official Zappa Plays Zappa Website Official Scale the Summit Website
So after having already reviewed two Progressive Nation 2009 shows, could I possibly have anything new and constructive to say? Probably not, but I have a computer and Microsoft Word, so what the fuck.
Coming into town for this show my initial reactions were quite positive, the venue sat right on a beautiful beach, I ran into Jordan Rudess on the boardwalk, and he told me that an issue I had encountered six days earlier in Columbia, MD had been fixed, and there would be re-entry allowed, which is always welcomed, even if only to allow the crowds to spread out between acts and leave a bit of space. However my expectations of the show started to go downhill once I actually got inside the Convention Hall. The place looked like a glorified high school auditorium, but in any case I had sixth row tickets, the closest I have ever been for Dream Theater, so how bad could things be?
Well, Scale the Summit took the stage and I was immediately thrown into a bit of dismay over the very noticeable drop in sound quality compared to the other two shows I had attended on the tour. The boys sounded muddier, louder, and more distorted than before, but it didn’t keep them from having another exciting and well executed set. Unfortunately the reception Scale the Summit got after their final song was practically nothing compared to the other two shows I went to, and later in the show the band told me that the show in general was probably the one with the lowest attendance so far on the tour. In addition, friends who were sitting well off to the left side told me that the sound was even worse over there.
After only about ten minutes of setup Bigelf took the stage and gave a third awesome performance, but unfortunately the sound issues would be more apparent for their set than any other. I have to really give the guys credit at this show, most bands with a half hour opening slot would just go out and play the same set every night, but this was my third time seeing them and it was the third different, albeit only slightly different set list, and it was the first to include one of my favorites from their newest album, “Money, It’s Pure Evil”. After their set the guys from Bigelf and Scale the Summit once again came out to the merch stand to talk with everyone and I really have to compliment both bands on doing their casual meet and greets after every show. It is a great way to build up a solid fan base, the guys from both bands were both super friendly, and it really was a cool experience when Pat from Scale the Summit sees you and says, “Oh, you again!”.
Zappa Plays Zappa’s set ended up being far more entertaining than it was in Columbia, mainly due to the addition of what seemed like a lot of the guys in the band having a lot of extra fun. Dweezil tried out a new game amongst the instrumentals, making them try and mimic his jumping intervals in unison as he bounced around the stage, and although simple, it really was a highlight of the entire show. I was happy to hear “Montana” again, and even though I’m not very familiar with Frank Zappa’s music I can say that at least half the set differed from what I had heard before. So with the exception of Scale the Summit, everyone on the tour was going the extra mile with set list rotation to make things even more interesting for someone like me who attended three different shows.
And now it was time… as I said earlier I have never been so close for Dream Theater before and was not sure how much improved the experience would be from up close, but I was happily about to find out. They show opened once again with the lighting spectacular that is “A Nightmare to Remember”, which then went into “A Rite of Passage” a song which simply rocked live for a third time. After that Dream Theater started “Beyond This Life”, a song I have not seen yet this tour and certainly a welcomed treat. Dream Theater’s heavier songs almost always sit well live with me and this was no exception, it was however at this point I was somewhat losing hope in the crowd near the front with me. With the exception of two fourteenish year olds next to me who insisted on swinging their hair throughout the entire night and in effect having it brush up against me, the crowd up in the front seemed very tame compared to my two previous shows in which I was farther back. After “Beyond This Life” came “Erotomania”, a song I have now become very fond of hearing live. Just seems that all four instrumentalists get really into this one and really push it to the next level in a live setting, and as I’ve said before the animated videos of Robert Medina certainly will help maintain the interest of anyone whose mind would otherwise be meandering after six minutes of notes with no lyrics. As expected “Erotomania” made its transition into “Voices” and ten minutes and an incredible guitar solo later Portnoy was stomping on his base drum, getting the audience to clap along as John Petrucci strapped on his double neck guitar and started “Solitary Shell”.
The song was once again extended to contain a jam between Jordan Rudess and John Petrucci and once again it ended up being one of the more memorable moments of the night, both for the music and the odd antics. It was very odd to see Petrucci, who often plays a billion notes a second take a seat on the drum riser and chill casually as Rudess broke out the Zen Riffer to make his way to the front of the stage, and Portnoy decided to make a trip around his drum set, clicking and clacking on whatever he could to keep the beat during his journey from out behind the massive kit. After that came “In the Name of God”, another song I could never hear enough live. Despite a very tame crowd I got into this song unlike any other during the night, singing along and head banging to every single section. I even tried to get a back and forth wave going towards the end of the song ala Live at Budokan, but the failing crowd only gave me about five short lived supporters. Finally the show concluded with “The Count of Tuscany” the new nineteen minute winding epic which awed yet another crowd.
All four acts were once again entertaining, and Dream Theater was, as always, exceptional, but this show certainly sits below the other two I had seen due to inferior sound and a sterile crowd. |
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