Dream Theater: Live at Budokan (2004)

Definitely an amazing performance, they play tight together from the first note until the last one... The medleys are awesome, they assemble the bits of a bunch of their songs in such a smooth way... I enjoyed it!Mike Portnoy is on fire, stood up for at least half of the gig... John Myung is almost inexpressive as always, but shows quietness and self-control... Jordan Rudess keeps turning his keyboard and makes weird funny faces... John Petrucci gets you in the mood whatever the song, may his sound be distorted and powerful or clean and soothing... James LaBrie is good as well, but we feel like he is getting old and Dream Theater sharp edged songs are a bit blunt by his performance...This gig remains an amazing show though, and Stream of Consciousness never sounded that breathtaking!

I have discovered this band about 10 years ago and no other type of musical work satisfies me then... Every member of the band is at least master on their instruments and precision and synchronism of their performances are just incredible. They redefined the term "progressive rock" in my opinion. I saw one live show of Dream Theater in Istanbul in 2005 and... I quit to go concerts from thereon :)) Live in Budokan is not just a live performance; it is a lesson to all music enthusiasts on how to play, how to compose and how to enjoy when dealing with music.. All members have already exceeded themselves and you will definitely be amazed when you start the watch this unique show! Briefly: Just unbelievable! Thank you Petrucci, Portnoy, Rudess, Myung and LaBrie for your work... I know you will continue to amaze us for some time :)) What can I give to this brilliant work other than 10/10?

Yeah, as the user rating will show, this is quite an awesome concert. With a varied and extremely technical song list, Dream Theater handily performs their best live DVD show.Petrucci on guitar is a sight to behold. His shredding is so precise you can see why he's one of the most proficient players today. Rudess on synth and piano is amazing. His unison riffs and passages with Petrucci are tight. Myung on bass is understated, but no less powerful. His calm and collected stage presence makes him all the more bad ass. LaBrie, now recovered from throat surgery performs his usual singing calishtenics strongly. And of course, Portnoy rips on drums and percussion. The guy seriously has four arms.Show this to people who appreciate musicianship as well as those who demand the ultimate in technical prowess.

If you're a frustrated musician, get this video. If you're seeking for challenging songs to play along, get this video. If you want to seek finesse and grace of music craftsmanship, get this video. If you want to see a real concert and not just a crappy show, get this video. If you want to improve your music skills, get this video. Simply said, this IS one of the bands you must listen to before you die... If possible, collect all their DVD releases and their albums. I've listened to them for the last 8 years and so far none can match their heart and skills they put in their songs. Perfection at its best can only be described (and maybe subscribed to) this band.