http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/entertainment/6174163.htm
By Jay Webb
[size=-1]Special to the Star-Telegram[/size]
GRAND PRAIRIE - The long line of black T-shirts waiting to get into NextStage may have looked like a throwback to the '80s metal debauchery, but the audience gathered for the progressive metal double bill of Queensryche and Dream Theater was a polite yet enthusiastic gathering that just wanted to enjoy their guitar heroes.Don't know what "progressive metal" is? Think heavy metal performed by educated and technically proficient musicians as opposed to a bunch of drunken guys riffing on power chords in a garage.Although their long hair makes prog rockers indistinguishable from regular metal heads, a trained ear can tell the real musicians from the ones who are just working off excess testosterone.Early deadlines prevented a complete review of Queensryche's set, but the number of Dream Theater T-shirts in the crowd easily outnumbered the Queensryche shirts, raising the question of which band should have been headlining.The three core members of Dream Theater -- guitarist John Petrucci, bass player John Myung and drummer Mike Portnoy -- took the stage with a blistering instrumental that didn't need any lyrics. Petrucci's guitar solos were intricate; Myung laid down thunderous rhythm while swinging his waist-length hair. Portnoy's drumming was somewhere between a machine gun and a jackhammer. His drum kit has to be one of the largest in the music business with three bass drums, six cymbals and a gong.But then there was lead singer James LaBrie, who spent most of the show barking his vocals and flipping his blond mane out of his face. LaBrie is the embodiment of every bad heavy-metal cliche and unfortunately not in an amusing Spinal Tap sort of way. His falsetto approached inaudible hysterics; he pounded his tambourine viciously against his hip and made overdramatic hand gestures. And worst of all, he started swinging the microphone around with demented glee. Fortunately, he frequently left the stage, allowing the rest of the band to crank out their power solos.Two screens were set up above the stage but they weren't necessary because the upper balcony was empty and there's not a bad seat in NextStage. The venue also has a great sound system and acoustics that perfectly suited Dream Theater's precision-based sound.
By Jay Webb
[size=-1]Special to the Star-Telegram[/size]
GRAND PRAIRIE - The long line of black T-shirts waiting to get into NextStage may have looked like a throwback to the '80s metal debauchery, but the audience gathered for the progressive metal double bill of Queensryche and Dream Theater was a polite yet enthusiastic gathering that just wanted to enjoy their guitar heroes.Don't know what "progressive metal" is? Think heavy metal performed by educated and technically proficient musicians as opposed to a bunch of drunken guys riffing on power chords in a garage.Although their long hair makes prog rockers indistinguishable from regular metal heads, a trained ear can tell the real musicians from the ones who are just working off excess testosterone.Early deadlines prevented a complete review of Queensryche's set, but the number of Dream Theater T-shirts in the crowd easily outnumbered the Queensryche shirts, raising the question of which band should have been headlining.The three core members of Dream Theater -- guitarist John Petrucci, bass player John Myung and drummer Mike Portnoy -- took the stage with a blistering instrumental that didn't need any lyrics. Petrucci's guitar solos were intricate; Myung laid down thunderous rhythm while swinging his waist-length hair. Portnoy's drumming was somewhere between a machine gun and a jackhammer. His drum kit has to be one of the largest in the music business with three bass drums, six cymbals and a gong.But then there was lead singer James LaBrie, who spent most of the show barking his vocals and flipping his blond mane out of his face. LaBrie is the embodiment of every bad heavy-metal cliche and unfortunately not in an amusing Spinal Tap sort of way. His falsetto approached inaudible hysterics; he pounded his tambourine viciously against his hip and made overdramatic hand gestures. And worst of all, he started swinging the microphone around with demented glee. Fortunately, he frequently left the stage, allowing the rest of the band to crank out their power solos.Two screens were set up above the stage but they weren't necessary because the upper balcony was empty and there's not a bad seat in NextStage. The venue also has a great sound system and acoustics that perfectly suited Dream Theater's precision-based sound.
