When the mega-monsters of metallic progressive rock Dream Theater took the stage at the MayoPAC in Morristown, New Jersey on October 11, 2011 it was a true triumph and a testimony to the power of perseverance. The band has had their fair share of drama and difficulties over the past year which left them hanging on by a thread. The departure of a key founding member threatened to bring their high-flying musical act crashing to the ground. But, fans need not have worried. The band's two-hour energized and exhilarating performance proved that their spirit is carrying on quite majestically.

Dream Theater on stage in Morristown, New Jersey in 2011.

A Dramatic Turn of Events is the eleventh studio album from Dream Theater. The title aptly describes the events that started in September 2010, when drummer and founding member Mike Portnoy announced he was leaving the band. The news for many fans including us was shocking. Mike had been a powerful presence in the group for the past 25 years and it was hard to imagine DT without him.

It was reported that Portnoy wanted Dream Theater to take an extensive break from the cycle of recording an album and touring in support of it. The four remaining members (James LaBrie - vocals, John Myung - bass, John Petrucci - guitar and Jordan Rudess - keys) did not agree and spent the Fall of 2010 in search of an able replacement.

The process was documented in "The Spirit Carries On" - a video that was released in three parts on the Internet in 2011. It was an inventive idea and a good way to introduce drummer Mike Mangini. In the film, Mike came across as both personable and professional. Mangini has played with other musicians including Steve Vai and was a professor at Berklee College of Music. This was an interesting coincidence since Myung and Petrucci met Portnoy at Berklee in 1985 with all three leaving the school after their freshman year to devote their energy to what became Dream Theater.

Dream Theater's James LaBrie. (Photo courtesy of Scott Kahn/MusicPlayers.com)

In the summer of 2011, Dream Theater played a number of festivals in Europe and the reviews were positive. Mike Portnoy kept himself busy with a bunch of projects including an album with Neal Morse, the formation of Adrenaline Mob and working on demos with guitarist John Sykes.

On September 13, 2011 A Dramatic Turn of Events - mixed by Grammy award winner Andy Wallace - was released. The CD is filled with dark imagery, dynamic arrangements and LaBrie spanning the moody gamut from angry growls to gentle refrains. Dream Theater's signature style remains intact with some new twists, notably the mixing. Keyboards and especially bass lines are more pronounced than they have been on past albums. The drum sequences are still very technical and tricky as are John's guitar leads.

The nine track CD opens with "On The Backs of Angels" a forceful foreboding tune that is classic DT with a dash of Pink Floyd. "Build Me Up, Break Me Down" is bold with a multi-layered hook and dare we say has a bit of a dance beat mixed in. "Lost Not Forgotten" is complex and compelling. "This Is the Life" is melodic with unusual modulations. "Bridges In the Sky" is a strange mix of religious chants at the front and back of the tune filled in between with rapid fire riffs and rhythms.

Dream Theater's John Pettruci. (Photo courtesy of Scott Kahn/MusicPlayers.com)

"Outcry" is intense addressing uprising in the Middle East . "Far From Heaven" is a plaintive piano/vocal piece that flows into "Breaking All Illusions" - a beguiling blend of prog with the blues, jazz, melody and shredding. "Beneath the Surface" is a subtle acoustic number that closes the recording. A Dramatic Turn of Events runs the range from rocking to reflective and the album will be backed by live shows.

"We are all very pumped about the release of A Dramatic Turn of Events this September, as well as the world tour we'll embark upon in support of the album," said Petrucci. "Our first leg will bring us throughout North America where we'll showcase songs from the new album along with tons of fan favorites and a brand new tour production unlike any other that we've done before. We're equally excited to have our friends in Trivium join us. It's sure to be an incredible tour. We're looking forward to seeing all of our friends on the road this Fall!"

SoundPress.net caught The Dramatic Tour of Events in the Fall of 2011 and as the stage was being set up we could not help noticing how massive Mike's drum kit was. It had four bass drums and a canopy of cymbals and smaller drums that almost went full circle. Above the stage were three dimensional cubes that were used as screens with banks of lights running horizontally and parallel to the stage.

Dream Theater's Mike Mangini. (Photo courtesy of Scott Kahn/MusicPlayers.com)

Cartoon images of DT appeared in the cubes before the band came out all clad in black with a blazing version of "Bridges In The Sky". The flashing lighting added fuel to the fast paced piece. "These Walls" (Octavarium) was well executed running the range from pensive to potent propelled by a smiling Mangini pounding his kit with pure passion.

"How are we doing everyone, lovely room (which it is)," greeted James as he thanked the fans for the great reaction to the new album and their support. "On The Backs of Angels" was an ominous orchestrated ode as Jordan added opulent keyboard sounds to the mix. "Endless Sacrifice" was powerful with LaBrie singing the ballad with much emotion. The lighting added to the energy of the speedier parts of the song.

Next was Mike's daunting drum solo. Mangini made full use of the kit with furious movements and was well received by the crowd. The others returned to the stage for an amazing "The Ytse Jam". James joined Jordan for the reflective "Wait for Sleep" from Images and Words. It was followed by the stark "Far From Heaven" where Myung added subtle bass lines to the piano/vocal piece.

Dream Theater kicked it back into high gear with "Outcry" - an aggressive anthem enhanced by the use of lights and visuals. They returned to the past with an expansive "Caught In A Web" from Awake. "Through My Words" and "Fatal Tragedy" flowed from meditative to menacing. It was followed by "Breaking All Illusions" - a progressive powerhouse with Petrucci sizzling on his guitar solos as he had been all night. Their encore was an energized "Pull Me Under".

Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess. (Photo courtesy of Scott Kahn/MusicPlayers.com)

The Dream Theater concert was a broad mix of past and present material. It appears that the set lists for much of the North American leg of the 2011 tour have been similar with some alterations, demonstrating that the band is committed to the next chapter of their creative career and proving that DT can take A Dramatic Turn of Events and work it for good!

Before the show we ran into our friend and colleague Scott Kahn who runs the fine publication MusicPlayers.com. Scott recently sat down with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess to discuss the making of A Dramatic Turn of Events and he graciously let us use some of his photos from the Morristown concert in this article. Thanks, Scott - great work and nice shots!

Opening for Dream Theater was their Roadrunner Records label mates Trivium -- a four piece hard-core rock band. Their songs were fierce running on a rampage of riffs and rhythms. Vocals were a blend of "cookie monster" and melodic metal styled singing. Trivium moved at a manic pace and much of their rap was about having a good time and they worked hard to get the crowd warmed up for the main event.

Dream Theater's Johnny Myung. (Photo courtesy of Scott Kahn/MusicPlayers.com)

DREAM THEATER SETLIST - 10/11/2011:
01. Bridges in the Sky
02. These Walls
03. Build Me Up, Break Me Down
04. Endless Sacrifice
05. Drum Solo
06. The Ytse Jam
07. Wait for Sleep
08. Far From Heaven
09. Outcry
10. On the Backs of Angels
11. Caught In A Web
12. Through My Words
13. Fatal Tragedy
14. Breaking All Illusions
15. Encore: Pull Me Under

Dream Theater's A Dramatic Turn Of Events has received widespread acclaim from critics and fans.

Related Links: For more information on DREAM THEATER and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -- DreamTheater.net | Roadrunner Records | MusicPlayers.com | Mayo Performing Arts Center

(Originally Published on October 15, 2011)