Fates Warning Performance?

[booB]

They were incredible... easily the best I've ever seen them play, and they actually had STAGE PRESENCE -- something I thought was completely impossible for Fates.

I got a little bored during Ivory Gate of Dreams, because I'm not a big fan of it, but other than that, the setlist was great.

It was very beneficent of Nick to lend his ass-kickin' keyboard talents to this band for a few songs.

 

[TheLongshot]

Fucking incredible!!! This is the true prog headliner for ProgPower!!!

And by the way, all of you guys who left early and didn't see Fates, shame on you. Missed a truly amazing performance!!

Eh, not a fan. I sat through the set mostly to hang with my friends, but I could have gone to bed instead. Believe me, I wanted to sleep toward the end of the set. No offense to the Fates fans.

 

[DTJeff]

In my opinion Bobby Jarzombek is just about the greatest drummer out there. An absolutely incredible player in every sense and a very nice guy as well.

 

[KingsGene]

I only own Parallels from back when it first came out. I never really "got it" except for some of the more commercial sounding tunes. I tried numerous times to try to like Fates' over the years. Now that I've matured, I may go back and try again.

I really love Ray's voice when he is "on", and actually thought he sounded a lot better than this time than the last couple of times I've seen Redemption. I agree that he started out strong but seemed to run out of gas later....maybe it was the drink he shared with Glenn and the band? But, he has great emotion and you can hear it come out...

Overall, the band was extremely tight. I am not familiar with the drummer's work, but he impressed the hell out of me.....just outstanding with some of the stuff he was pulling off. .

 

[LunaTEKKE]

I was in tears. Fates Warning are my band. I was more or less taken back in time to 1996.

​

It's interesting that you mention that...I was really into Fates in the early '90s, and I found that the set brought back a whole flood of memories from that time.

I would have loved to hear more early material...and it was a little disconcerting to hear the melodies altered on songs that I have listened to literally hundreds of times. However, the set was still a highlight of the festival for me...especially the "Ivory Gate of Dreams" encore! ​

 

[MysticX9]

Fantastic, I was exhausted and just wanted to head back to the hotel but I couldn't leave once their set started, I'm quite glad I stayed for the whole thing...

 

[7thSaviour]

I am sorry to rain on the parade but I just think it is ludicrous that there is nothing from the Arch era. I feel like they even left out most of their great sings from the 90's..Silent Cries, etc.

I undetsnad that Ray may not be able to hit the notes but they could rearrange or should have had Arch try to join as a special guest (unlikely but still a dream).

Hagar sings Roth, Johnson sings Scott, Alder should sing Arch..period.
Just an insult to the long time fans IMO. Whey I would never go see FW nowadays. Even Dream Theater breaks out Pull Me Under now.

+1 As a long time fan, I felt insulted that they didn't play some Arch material, even one song, at least.

 

[7thSaviour]

True. I tend to neglect the Arch-era stuff since Ray won't sing it live anymore. He just simply can't get up that high. The stuff they play now is pretty much all real life experience stuff. I meant more of current Fates, not the really early stuff.

They played some of my favorite Ray-era stuff, and for that I am grateful, but the complete lack of Arch-era material just offended me.

 

[7thSaviour]

It was a performance befitting the greatest Progressive Metal band of all time.

Matt, they should've gotten YOU to sing the Arch material for 'em!

 

[Virtual Scott]

See post above and, well, everywhere else! 1 word: WOW!

BEST sound of the night. The clarity was incredibly (and definitely noticeable!) It was GREAT to see Bobby behind the kit and he was perfect. I was duly impressed... not that I expected less, I"m sure Jim wouldn't have enlisted him if he couldn't handle the gig but from my end of the pond, I didn't know what to expect as his background is more straightforward metal.

As for Ray, well, we all know he can't hit the screaming high notes, but it doesn't take away from his vocal abilities, his dedication, his voice and passion. Plus, he's gotta be one of the nicest guys in the planet (Frank Aresti is a close second)

Joey - the dude doesn't AGE. He still looks 20! I love the fact that he's so in "the zone" he's almost bopping along to the percolating bass sounds he's providing. Everytime I see him with Fates, I'm reminded what a great pocket AND talented musician he is. Not sure why I constantly FORGET this though...

Frank was doing double duty with background vocals and now we know why I've always missed his contributions on recent Fates CDs. He was definitely in top form that night as well.

Jim... well, we all know what a great songwriter and musician he is, but even HE was having fun. The entire band looked like they were having a good time, and I caught Jim smiling more than twice (including when he hugged Nick, and when Ray purposely stepped on his foot!)

Message to the guys: Get Frank and Bobby in the band (if Mark can't make it of course) and finish the damn CD, boys.

Pointless observation of the night: Fates were the ONLY band where all the members were wearing SNEAKERS. Just thought I'd mention that.

If any band deserved that final slot at the 10th anniversary show, it was definitely Fates. I could've done without the encore of IGOD (and more songs from INSIDE OUT, haha!) but they performed "Island in the Stream"! Again, they performed "Island in the Stream"!

Special unannounced by a certain musician going by the initials NvD on this board, on keyboards, added to the enjoyment (and not just his, the bastard.)

Awesome!

 

[7thSaviour]

Inside Out is one of my fave Alder-era discs! I am always happy to hear any of those tunes. Yeah, I noticed they all worse sneakers, too. Nothing wrong with that. There's a lot to be said for wearing comfy shoes when you're TCB!

 

[Cheiron]

Bobby did play with Fates Warning in 2007, so I'm sure he knew some of the material already, but he probably had to relearn some of it. He makes it all look so easy.

 

[Virtual Scott]

I'm an INSIDE OUT fan boy, so I definitely concur.

 

[Virtual Scott]

True. I tend to neglect the Arch-era stuff since Ray won't sing it live anymore. He just simply can't get up that high. The stuff they play now is pretty much all real life experience stuff. I meant more of current Fates, not the really early stuff.

The band (specifically Jim) don't want to do Arch-era material anymore. Considering the quality and quantity of post-Arch songs, it's easy to understand the reasons behind the lack of Arch-era songs, not to mention that Arch hasn't been in the band in, what, 20 years? lol. That said, Ray has lost his high end, like many singers who can't hit those higher than the Sears Tower notes they used to, but why? As he mentioned in an interview, the music doesn't require it and the band has just moved beyond (like many) the high pitched vocals. Objectivity aside, I'm all with the evolution with bands especially when it comes to vocal styles and their connectivity with the changes in music.

I am sorry to rain on the parade but I just think it is ludicrous that there is nothing from the Arch era. I feel like they even left out most of their great sings from the 90's..Silent Cries, etc. I undetsnad that Ray may not be able to hit the notes but they could rearrange or should have had Arch try to join as a special guest (unlikely but still a dream). Hagar sings Roth, Johnson sings Scott, Alder should sing Arch..period.
Just an insult to the long time fans IMO. Whey I would never go see FW nowadays. Even Dream Theater breaks out Pull Me Under now.

Ah, this falls into the "get over it already" category... ;-) You know, it's the bands decision and I respect the band's decision on this. The material of the Arch-era vs the Alder-era (!!!) is distinctly different in MANY respects, it's almost an entirely different band. You aren't raining on a parade as much as you are standing in a puddle, though. That was a silly joke, btw. The old stuff, and this is purely my opinion, isn't very good or (to me) memorable, and it's an entirely separate style of vocal that maybe doesn't apply for a vocalist like Ray Alder and the band where they are artistically. If the Arch songs were "hits" I can almost understand your concern, but, well, time marches on and there is just too much quality new material that the band is concentrating on than rehashing the past with a vocalist who hasn't even been in the band in 20+ years. I hope this didn't come off too confrontational or hostile, that's not my intent. Rawk!

 

[Burke]

I finally got to see Fates live after being a fan for so many years

and it was amazing

notworthynotworthy

The whole set was incredible - what a way to end such a spectacular weekend

Ultimate highlight

STILL REMAINS

About my favorite track from them and it really has a real special connection for me

Freely admit I started to get a little choked up during it


GLENN - THANK YOU for staying after these guys for so many nears and getting them to Atlanta.

 

[TribunalRecords]

Fucking incredible!!! This is the true prog headliner for ProgPower!!!

And by the way, all of you guys who left early and didn't see Fates, shame on you. Missed a truly amazing performance!!

i left early. was kind of bummed that ray didn't have it anymore. nothing against him getting older, but for me my memories of seeing Fates Warning were back in 1988 during Perfect Symmetry tour and it wasn't anything close.

plus i really don't like the newer albums at all AND i own the Live In Athens DVD which it seemed like they were just regurgitating. Once he dipped out of a few of the high notes i knew they weren't going to be playing anything that i really wanted to hear except "The Eleventh Hour" (my favorite of Ray era) and after they did that i split.

but from here on out i will continue to just let listening to the albums make me smile.

 

[7thSaviour]

Bobby did play with Fates Warning in 2007, so I'm sure he knew some of the material already, but he probably had to relearn some of it. He makes it all look so easy.

He's a great drummer-for-hire. Nice to see him again!

 

[TychoCelchu]

Not much I can add that hasn't been said. Most deserving headliner for the Prog part of ProgPower, no doubt, and the way they played showed it. I loved how evident it was that the band themselves were having such a great time, and Ray seems like the nicest guy (I didn't meet him). It was electrifying to finally see the band that was essentially the reason all of the other, also excellent, bands, exist. It did seem like a "standard" setlist for the band, which as far as I'm concerned is 100% awesome. (Maybe not to those who've already seen them before)

 

[BABS]

I was in absolute heaven during their set. Many people know, that this was the first time I have ever been able to see them play live (yes, my Fates curse has lifted)!

I had my daughter and my nephew come to Progpower this weekend and they were both given "the talk" of, I don't care if you are bleeding to death or in jail - do NOT bother me while they are on stage!

One of my favorite songs is Monument, and to hear them do it was a treat.

I'm glad to hear they are writing for a new release and hope that it brings a tour with it as well!

 

[crazycamera]

A dream come true for me!! I really enjoyed it!!