Critiques

Tue 14 Feb – Dream Theater, Periphery

Not having expected much of Periphery, their set, aside from the FOH board guy's abysmal performance, wasn't much of a let down. I still think they are a bad choice for a DT support band. They're a second rate college band with a Ryan Star wannabe for a singer.

Considering they'd only just arrived from being denied a well deserved Grammy, Dream Theater played with great energy and enthusiasm, a sort of proverbial great middle finger to the academy.

Continuing in the trend of the new era, we got the setlist with As I am as the encore, so although they'd compiled a great set, there were no surprises. Beyond that, however, I thoroughly enjoyed their set and would go see the same set again.

On the flipside, what stood out this time was the next stage of their show as fixed event strategy (as opposed to giving fans the most for their money and surprising them). Not only did LaBrie use a vocal harmony generator wherever he could…