Theater of Dreams

...And no! It's not a spelling mistake!

As you'll have gathered from our blog 'Blinded by the Light...' last November, we are huge music fans as well as being musicians. There's no better way to spend a night than watching/listening to either your idols, your peers or your proteges, or any decent musician for that matter!

Just under 2 decades ago I remember sitting up late one night watching MTV and seeing a bunch of guys playing what could only be described as the perfect prog rock 'single' for the modern age... that track was Pull Me Under, the band were Dream Theater (see why it was incorrectly spelt now?!), I've followed them religously ever since, through the highs (Scenes from a Memory anyone?) and, what I consider to be, the lows (Train of Thought)... despite delving further into 'progressive metal' over the last few albums they have maintained the ability to leave me speechless. The new album Black Clouds & Silver Linings (due for release on June 23rd) is, quite simply, stunning! You can check out the 'single' A Rite of Passage on YouTube here. (Not the best track on the album, merely the shortest in its single format!) In addition to the album the band are releasing 6 download only (unles you buy one of the 'deluxe' packages) singles in the weeks leading up to it's release, these are all covers and so far include Rainbow's Stargazer, Queen's Tenement Funster/Flick of the Wrist/Lily of the Valley, Dixie Dreg's Odyssey (and I think Iron Maiden's To Tame A Land is next) so far...

Earlier this week I was asked by a friend if I was going to see them in Leeds, 'Eh?' was my reply... I knew they were playing Download, but I hadn't realised they were playing Leeds on the Friday night of the same weekend!! I've never been able to see them live due to other commitments, so once I realised they were playing 30 minutes away that was it! I went straight to the O2 Academy site and tried to book tickets... SOLD OUT! Never fear! Off to the trusty, but equally dodgy, ebay... 1 search, a couple of clicks and only a fiver over face falue I'm now the proud owner of 2 tickets for the show. At last!

Daymo and I are now counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds to the gig... Me, because I've been a fan since that night, and Daymo because he wants to be touched the hand of God (well, John Petrucci at least!).

Oh! Did I mention we've managed to get access to the after show as well? Bring it on!

We'll let you know how it went, and possible write a review of the gig here, until then,

All the best,

Grae
MORPHEUS RISING
...resurrecting British Heavy Metal!