Dream Theater NA Summer Tour (w/ Crimson ProjeKct)

dt.net announcement

Thu 4/19 Seoul, KR Olympic Hall
Sat 4/21 Jakarta, ID Mata Elang Indoor Stadium
Mon 4/23 Osaka, JP Orix Theater
Thu 4/26 Fukuoka, JP Civic Hall
Sat 4/28 Aichi, JP Prefectural Art Theater
Mon 4/30 Yokohama, JP Arena
Wed 5/2 Singapore, SG Kallang Theatre
Fri 5/4 Beijing, CN Century Theatre
Sun 5/6 Taipei, TW Taipei University Auditorium
Tues 5/8 Bangkok, TH Thunder Dome
Fri 6/15 Rochester, NY Main Street Armory
Sat 6/16 Montebello, QC D-TOX Rockfest
Sun 6/17 Lewiston, NY Artpark
Tues 6/19 Columbus, OH The LC Pavilion
Thu 6/21 Cleveland, OH Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
Fri 6/22 Detroit, MI The Fillmore
Sat 6/23 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre
Mon 6/25 Cincinnati, OH Taft Theater
Wed 6/27 Minneapolis, MN State Theater
Thu 6/28 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theater
Sun 7/1 San Francisco, CA Warfield Theatre
Mon 7/2 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheater
Tues 7/3 Anaheim, CA The Grove of Anaheim
Thu 7/5 El Paso, TX Abraham Chavez Theatre
Fri 7/6 San Antonio, TX Majestic Theater
Sat 7/7 Austin, TX ACL Live
Mon 7/9 Grand Prairie, TX Verizon Theatre
Thu 7/12 Richmond, VA The National
Fri 7/13 Washington, DC Warner Theatre
Sat 7/14 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
Tues 7/16 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion
Wed 7/18 Huntington, NY Paramount Theater
Thu 7/19 Huntington, NY Paramount Theater
Sat 7/21 Chester, PA Harrah’s Chester Downs

DREAM THEATER ANNOUNCES NORTH AMERICAN SUMMER TOUR DATES

LAUNCHING JUNE 15 AND WRAPPING JULY 21 IN SUPPORT OF THEIR GLOBALLY SUCCESSFUL ALBUM ‘A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS’

WITH SPECIAL GUEST CRIMSON PROJEKCT

DREAM THEATER have announced a second North American leg of a world tour in support of their acclaimed and globally successful album A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS (Roadrunner). The progressive hard rock icons who’ve sold in excess of 10 million records and DVDs worldwide will launch their summer dates June 15 in Rochester, NY and wrap July 21 in Chester, PA. The tour includes stops at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles and the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ plus a two-night engagement at the Paramount Theater on Long Island, NY.

Joining DREAM THEATER, starting June 16 in Columbus, Ohio and for the rest of the tour, is special guest Crimson Projekct featuring Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, Markus Reuter, Julie Slick and Tobias Ralph. They’ll be performing the songs of progressive rock legends King Crimson.

For the past few months DREAM THEATER has been touring around the world including visits to Europe and Mexico and are set to begin an Asian tour on April 19 in Seoul. The tour will bring the group to Japan, China, Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan and will conclude May 8 in Bangkok Thailand.

The band—James LaBrie (Vocals), John Myung (Bass), John Petrucci (Guitar and Vocals), Jordan Rudess (Keyboards and Continuum) and Mike Mangini (Drums)—recently received their first-ever Grammy nomination for “On The Backs Of Angels” in the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance category. The song is the first single from their 11th studio album A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS (Roadrunner), which had 14 Top 10 debuts around the world including the U.S. where it entered at #8. The album also features the single, “Build Me Up, Break Me Down.” You can watch the lyric video here.


Meanwhile, A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS is now available on HD Tracks, a digital retailer that offers high resolution downloads. Systematic Chaos and Black Clouds & Silver Linings will soon be available on the platform as well.

Here are DREAM THEATER’s complete tour dates. DREAM THEATER meet & greet and VIP packages are available for all dates. Please visit http://vipnation.com for details.

I know this announcement is a few days old, etc. But I haven't had the time to get around and post it. I don't foresee not going to this, even with how soon after it'll be from the Marillion in Chicago show. For some reason, every freaking big show/tour has to be held within a few weeks in May or June. And I'm missing The Dear Hunter and Kimbra in town of course (both opening for acts I have NO interest in seeing, paying or even free Anthony Green and Foster the People), for said Marillion trip.

But my streak of Dream Theater shows in Minnesota I don't foresee ending. I should try and get ahold of whoever is promoting this, whether it be Sue McLean or someone, and see if I can get involved with the posters and flyers.

The Crimson ProjeKct should be cool to see, especially given I missed both Three of a Perfect Trio and Stickmen shows at The Cedar Cultural Center the last couple of years.

A big WTF to the fact THEY WILL BE PLAYING IN CHICAGO THE SAME NIGHT AS THE 2ND MARILLION SHOW.

a big at the Promoters in Chicago:

RUMOR: Anthony Green to work with Casey Crescenzo + tour with The Dear Hunter?

How do I say this as tactfully as possible: I just noticed some rumors about Casey Crescenzo and Anthony Green working together. I guess for fans of both, or for those fans of one and not knowing the other, if it happens, and they like it, good for them. But personally, unless something dramatically changes with Anthony's voice, I expect to not care much for any of it that involves his vocals.

So naturally I'm also not all that crazy about the idea if a tour were to happen with The Dear Hunter and Anthony Green. But again, if others enjoy that prospect, great. But I can foresee seeing The Dear Hunter and tuning-out or not catching any of Anthony's set, save for if Casey were join him on stage I suppose.

Edit: yep, from the new The Dear Hunter newsletter, the dates below are confirmed with Anthony Green, but not in or anywhere near Minnesota.
So, personally I can't be too upset. If we are to not get a tour here for TDH, at least it's not with a band/artist I love or would love to see them with like 3 or Between the Buried and Me (unlike the Porcupine Tree tour last year).

But, for the emo kids who know Circa Survive and Green in this town, perhaps exposure to Casey and TDH would have been nice. But then again, then those kids would show up at every subsequent TDH show and even hardcore dance. Which, now thinking about that, I'm sort of impartial too given I find the kids Hardcore dancing humorous now. But the past accounts of Circa Survive's fan base (not necessarily in MN mind you) still would not be all that favorable a group showing up, unless they didn't both the people I like (the progheads like myself and of course members of The Dear Hunter and any other band on the bill I might like).

Date Venue Location
1/13/12 Toad's Place - New Haven, CT
1/14/12 The Recher Theatre - Towson, MD
1/15/12 The Loft @ The Chance - Poughkeepsie, NY
1/18/12 Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA
1/19/12 Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
1/20/12 Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA
1/27/12 State Theatre - St Petersburg, FL
1/31/12 Warehouse Live - Houston, TX
2/1/12 Korova - San Antonio , TX
2/2/12 Mohawk - Austin, TX
2/3/12 Trees - Dallas, TX
2/4/12 Tricky Falls - El Paso, TX
2/6/12 Clubhouse Music Venue - Tempe, AZ
2/8/12 The Epicentre - San Diego, CA
2/9/12 El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
2/11/12 The Glass House - Pomona, CA
2/12/12 Slim’s - San Francisco, CA
2/14/12 Hawthorne Theater - Portland, OR
2/15/12 Neumos - Seattle, WA
2/17/12 The Complex - Salt Lake City, UT
2/18/12 Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
My .02 + more.

New Radiohead album in 5 days (2/19/11)

My thoughts about this? I'd consider listening if a decision was made to not have Thom Yorke sing on this album.

He's basically as unlistenable to me as Circa Survive's Anthony Green.

Maybe they'll offer an all-instrumental version of this album as well.

dredg tour dates supporting Circa Survive, Codeseven, and Animals as Leaders

OCTOBER 16, 2010 STONE PONY ASBURY PARK, NJ
OCTOBER 17, 2010 THE RECHER THEATRE TOWSON, MD
OCTOBER 19, 2010 CAT'S CRADLE CARRBORO, NC
OCTOBER 20, 2010 THE MUSIC FARM CHARLESTON, SC
OCTOBER 21, 2010 THE MASQUERADE ATLANTA, GA
OCTOBER 22, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL
OCTOBER 23, 2010 REVOLUTION FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
OCTOBER 26, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES NEW ORLEANS, LA
OCTOBER 27, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES HOUSTON, TX
OCTOBER 29, 2010 WHITE RABBIT SAN ANTONIO, TX
OCTOBER 30, 2010 WHITE RABBIT SAN ANTONIO, TX
OCTOBER 31, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES DALLAS, TX
NOVEMBER 4, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES ANAHEIM, CA
NOVEMBER 5, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES - SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO, CA
NOVEMBER 6, 2010 AVALON HOLLYWOOD, CA
NOVEMBER 7, 2010 THE REGENCY BALLROOM SAN FRANCISCO, CA
NOVEMBER 9, 2010 WONDER BALLROOM PORTLAND, OR
NOVEMBER 10, 2010 EL CORAZON SEATTLE, WA
NOVEMBER 12, 2010 THE COMPLEX SALT LAKE CITY, UT
NOVEMBER 13, 2010 THE SUMMIT MUSIC HALL DENVER, CO
NOVEMBER 14, 2010 THE BEAUMONT CLUB KANSAS CITY, MO
NOVEMBER 17, 2010 CABOOZE ON THE WEST BANK MINNEAPOLIS, MN
NOVEMBER 18, 2010 THE EAGLES CLUB MILWAUKEE, WI
NOVEMBER 19, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES CHICAGO, IL
NOVEMBER 20, 2010 ST. ANDREWS HALL DETROIT, MI
NOVEMBER 21, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES CLEVELAND CLEVELAND, OH
NOVEMBER 23, 2010 THE CHANCE POUGHKEEPSIE, NY
NOVEMBER 24, 2010 HOUSE OF BLUES BOSTON, MA
NOVEMBER 26, 2010 THEATRE OF THE LIVING ARTS PHILADELPHIA, PA
NOVEMBER 27, 2010 IRVING PLAZA NEW YORK, NY
NOVEMBER 28, 2010 IRVING PLAZA NEW YORK, NY

This is *that* tour that was rumored a few months ago; dredg apparently is not even co-headlining but a support act with those other 2.

The fact is, in 2005, Circa Survive opened for dredg. Reversals like this, are not supposed to happen, you'd think. Yeah I know, Circa Survive is on a major label, and has more fans, blah blah..especially after opening for Coheed, blah blah. Those facts frankly do NOTHING for me and how I feel about this.



"Circa"? as they are so often referred to as by the way. Did I miss something, or did the band change their name? "Circa" is the name of the Alan White (of Yes) and ex-Yes members Tony Kaye and Billy Sherwood side-project. Every time I see someone refer to Circa Survive as "Circa" I want to point this fact out, lol.

But here again, I have to live with the fact this band I am done with. Through, not-interested, and frankly sick as hell seeing their name. I have to deal with the fact they get stuck not only touring, but having one of my favorite bands in dredg, open for them.

I mean they just-won't-go-the-fuck-away will they? In 2007, they tour with Ours. And their crowd at more than one show, treat Ours like shit, throwing quarters and giving them the finger. Their were multiple accounts. All I would have to do is look up some of the history on the Killtheband forum to see.

And maybe almost as bad for me personally, the show in St. Paul that included not only Ours but The Dear Hunter as well, got canceled within a few hours due to someone in Circa Survive's band having a death in the family. Sure, it's sad and understandable for them, but it also meant both Ours and The Dear Hunter plus the other opener who I forget at this time, were not going to be playing that night either.

I had been looking forward to that show for months. And really hoped to get some kind of photo perhaps with both Casey Crescenzo and Jimmy Gnecco together.

All this within a few hours of the start of Thanksgiving weekend for me too.

Then a couple of years ago, with all the effort I put into helping spread Kaddisfly's name and having people hear their monumental record Set Sail the Prairie, they end up getting in some kind of showcase for some major label representatives in NYC. The details and circumstances aren't exactly black and white, but what I have read and seen others say was the label were going to sign 1 band, and it was between Kaddisfly and Circa Survive. And of course Circa Survive is the band they chose.

The parallels to The Galactic Cowboys and Nirvana thing back in the early 90's are kind of scary with that. The label chooses the annoying less-talented band, while the other is left to wane into obscurity.

THIS SHIT IS NOT FAIR.

And now they have dredg, of all bands, a band whose been around a lot longer and they once opened for, ends up opening for them.

Look, I have nothing against the people in the band Circa Survive, as I don't know them personally, etc. I know Anthony Green is a good friend to Casey Crescenzo and I imagine some of the guys in dredg given it was him and maybe some of the other members who I guess discovered the whole El Cielo/Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind thing a few years ago.

I have friends who enjoy their music of course.

And I know some of the members of Circa Survive are fans of bands I like, including Ours, given one of them (not Green) ended up chewing out one of the feeble-minded kids at one of those shows on that tour. Saying they were longtime fans of Ours, etc and I recall he made him apologize at that show. And there was a long-winded apology made by the same member of Circa Survive online, embarrassed by their fan base.

But I don't care for their music. I tried with their new album, and had some optimism with David Botrill working with them. But it didn't matter. I can't stand the way Anthony Green sings. The sound of his voice. The tone of immaturity has not gone away, and frankly, I suspect it may never.

And with that, I am really sick of seeing them left and right, touring-with bands I really am into.

However, it's not to be overlooked, Circa Survive being on this tour is not the only head-scratcher for me. Animals as Leaders being added is another. While I suppose I could stomach their music a bit easier than Circa Survive, there is a reason why their album from last year ended up on my Turkey List from 2009.

And I just checked out the new album from the band Fleshwrought, an album that included Animals as Leaders drummer Navene Koperweis (playing drums and guitar among other instruments). But other than some of the saxophone parts, I don't think I can say much positive about it, including his drums and guitar work.

I mean perhaps their music could be better live, but I'm skeptical. Instrumental prog-metal? I wonder if that drummer-turned-guitarist was trying to replicate the guitarist from Animals as Leaders style on that Fleshwrought album, because there were a few sections that the Satriani/Vai long-winded + pointless wanking sounded all too familiar to me.

It was really fucking boring, not to mention bad 4C and muddy production, and not an album I foresee wanting to listen to again to be honest.

So, dredg, who have been on some cool tours in recent years (even with the RX Bandits debacle from last Summer), are on tour with 2 bands I probably don't desire to give 5 more minutes of my time.

And then there's Codeseven, I guess who could be the wildcard on this tour as I honestly don't remember them all that much from a few years ago when I 1st saw their name. I mean I know/knew them, as they have been a popular band among dredg fans especially, really since I got into dredg back in 2005. I know I checked them out once or twice, but I don't remember enough about them to now know how I feel.

I do know, some of the members are in Telescreen, a band who opened for dredg a few years ago. And Telescreen actually has Jared from Distrails, a band who I really do like a lot, and want to see have a lot more success. But I don't think Jared is with Codeseven unfortunately. Although, maybe they'll be selling Telescreen and/or Distrails stuff at this show given the connection.

I guess I probably should revisit Codeseven now to see, especially given this is some kind of reunion for them I guess. And it may be a 1st/last time to ever see them.

Circa Survive - Blue Sky Noise (2010) + "Get Out" single..DAVID BOTRILL

4/16/10 3:16AM

Comments and elaboration about the band, their fan base and this album.

1) When they went on tour with with Ours in 2007, their fan base boo-ed, gave the middle-finger and threw quarters among other things at Jimmy Gnecco of Ours.

2) Upon my 1st positive impression of the band in 2006, some clown posted automatically playing videos of some other band or artist on their myspace page. I messaged the user who did that and expressed my disinterest for the good of the band. The reason being, when someone unfamiliar with a band, clicks on their myspace page, they should hear THAT BAND, not a video of some other band who has some user post a video when signing their page. I explained this to the user in a private message and they ended up taking all sorts of offense to it and had no agreement with me. In fact, I question whether they even understood why what they did was a problem. And it wouldn't surprise me they did the same on many other band's pages. But it's childish behavior like that, which is another example of how tactless many of their fan base are.

And then just recently on this very blog, a few of the responses to this entry I posted expressing my opinion and actually IN SUPPORT of the band in a lot of ways. If people actually follow why I would even include anything about them at this stage, they'd understand it was only because I may actually be able to like them again. But to not include my background and the whole context of my experience with them and their music would just be lacking in telling the honest truth.

But some of their fan base are still as petulant as how Anthony Green can sound, they had to try and reply to said entry no matter. Hardly the only examples (on this blog), but those failed trolling reply attempts were pretty much the end of my allowing ANY COMMENTS on this blog.

But with all that being said, my impressions of this album are this.

This album is better than their other 2 lps, but the biggest fundamental problem with this band still exists, and I'd assume will always exist as long as they have Anthony Green as their singer. He still sounds like a whiny little brat far too often. David Botrill's presence sadly didn't change that much if at all. He sounds like a kid who is sent to his room by his parents kicking and screaming. He annunciates certain words like a girl or a mother. "Grouwwwww-nd" for example at 1 point. No! no! no! Don't sing it like that you little kid! You sound like a spoiled brat when you do!

The sad thing is, he can sound good, or at least older and more mature when he sings in lower registers. In fact there's 1 track, a piano ballad that he does and his vocals sound fine on that song. If the whole album, and pretty much every song he ever sang in the future was that way, his vocals would be not only listen-able, probably pretty good. And actually, there are some moments he does chant or sing out higher, especially when doing harmonies and not using any words, that sound good. Like Jonsi from Sigur Ros or even Jimmy Gnecco in a way. But it's way too few and far between still. Maybe if they made an album with no lyrics, but him just chanting with oohs, ahhs, and la la la's, his voice would work.

It's awful how much of a waste the music on this album is, because there is some really fine guitar work and textural writing here. It would probably be good for the lead guitarist and drummer to do music in another project without Anthony Green, and get a better or at least adequate singer. Get the guy from Minus the Bear even, given Circa Survive is basically like Minus the Bear with a little kid singing. Such a sad waste of good music, and a waste of a major label release and record deal. And a waste that Kaddisfly didn't get said deal. All they need to do is get an acceptable singer, or hell even have him sing like he does in spots, and this would potentially be a fine record..maybe even a top 10 for the year. The cymbals clipping in spots were the only other issue with it, but the music is so good, that it would probably become a minor issue.

But no, I'm done with this band. The best producer in the music business today, David Botrill, couldn't fix their singer, so I don't know why I should believe it'll ever happen.


2/23/10 9:56PM

edit: track list added below.

2/17/10 12:03AM
This 3rd lp is being released on 4/20/2010 as well.




1. Strange Terrain
2. Get Out
3. Glass Arrows
4. I Felt Free
5. Imaginary Enemy
6. Through the Desert Alone
7. Frozen Creek
8. Fever Dreams
9. Spirit of the Stairwell
10. The Longest Mile
11. Compendium
12. Dyed in the Wool




Studio album by Circa Survive
Released April 20, 2010
Genre Experimental, Indie rock, Ambient, Progressive rock
Label Atlantic Records
Producer David Bottrill

key word in this is David Botrill, the man who has a very impressive resume at getting bands to SOUND GOOD. Fair to Midland's breakthrough "Fables From a Mayfly:..." is a perfect example in a lot of ways.

But as maybe I have or yet to have posted in this blog, Circa Survive I more or less cannot stand. I can't stand Anthony Green's 12-year-old-spoiled-brat feminine vocals. And maybe even more than the range of his voice, THE STYLE. the way he expresses himself. Blech..he sounds like Thom Yorke..maybe worse at times. blech blech blech..finger-nails-on-a-chalkbaord.

However, when I learned of Botrill's working with them, I decided I would give them 1 more shot. If ANYONE can get Green to sound listenable it would be Mr.Botrill.

Well, I'm not sure yet, but this 1st single sounds okay from hearing it once. And also what Botrill is a master of, is getting the LAYERS and ARRANGEMENTS to show muscle and punch. Compare the songs from i.f.s to Fables..that is certainly 1 of the big differences.

This album still may suck and Green as well, but like Riverside last year, I won't be shocked to find this to be the only thing this band ever has made/will make worth my time. Hopefully he got Green to start showing some balls and sing thicker and deeper. Not like the pussy he always sounds like on their 1st 2 albums.

And perhaps Botrill has also influenced their music itself to be much better. Which at times, separating what they have had without the appalling singing, has had some moments. But maybe Botrill got their instrumentalists and the band to finally grow up and become a professional band.

But if this sucks more or less as much as their others, I will never have any interest in this band again, until Green is gone as their singer.

also a little ironic and almost annoying how this new single is put up the very day Water & Bodies (the guys from Kaddisfly) release their new EP. This CS album is their major label debut, the deal that Kaddisfly was going for and in-effect lost to this vastly inferior band. ironies..they always force their way into these events..