Concert Review
Dream Theater
Monday March 17, 2025
Kodak Center
Rochester, NY
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
It was a day of nothing but celebrations as Dream Theater brought their 40th Anniversary tour to Kodak Center Monday evening. What a party and joyous occasion it was. Not only because it was St. Patrick’s Day no less but to top that off the band also have a brand new album entitled Parasomnia. All this seemed to make the occasion majestic. Not only was the concert sold out but there seemed to be something in the air. A kind of magic if you will with the show divided into two sets.
It felt like the Kodak Center was about to explode as the band took the stage. It was one of those shows where it brought the crowd out of their seats never to return. The band got things started with Metropolis Part 1 from their 1992 album Images and Words. They then carried into their Metropolis Part 2 album for Act 1: Scene Two for Overture 1928 into Strange Déjà Vu. Being the 40th Anniversary tour, it was good to see the band touch on eleven of their releases.
The band is back together as it should be with the return of drummer Mike Portnoy to the band for the first time since 2010. The seed was planted when Portnoy joined to play on guitarist John Petrucci’s solo album and tour. This led to another Liquid Tension album that reunited Portnoy, Petrucci and Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess. It was then in October 2023 that the band announced the return of Portnoy. This version of the band had been together from 1999-2010. With John Myung on bass and vocalist James Labrie this is what is considered the classic era of the band.
Dream Theater is a band that has always delivered quality studio albums. While that is great it has always been the live show where the band truly shines. It also is truly an event to see this band live. The merch line alone easily had over 200 people who patiently waited their turn.
It was in the second set where the band chose to play a pair of tracks from Parasomnia. “Night Terror” and “Midnight Messiah” went over quite well in the live setting. The band ended the second set with “Octavarium”. They ended with an encore featuring “The Spirit Carries On” and “Pull Me Under” arguably two of their finest and best songs.
It had been some eight years since the band last played Rochester’s Auditorium Theatre. Dream Theater last played at this venue in 2002 when it was known as The Theater on Ridge. It was nothing short of astonishing to see these guys all back together still performing at the level that they did. Let’s hope they come back sooner rather than later.
Set List
Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper
Act I: Scene Two: I. Overture 1928
Act I: Scene Two: II. Strange Déjà Vu
The Mirror (with ‘Lie’ solo outro)
Barstool Warrior
A Rite of Passage
Hollow Years (’96 demo version; preceeded by guitar and keyboard solo)
Constant Motion
As I Am
Intermission
Set 2
Orchestral Overture )Tape Containing excerpts from every Dream Theater album)
Night Terror
Midnight Messiah
This Is the Life
Vacant
Stream of Consciousness
Octavarium
Encore
Act II: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On
Pull Me Under
