LIVE: DREAM THEATER – Charlotte, NC, USA – September 16, 2025

Venue: Ovens Auditorium

City: Charlotte, NC

Dates: September 16, 2025

Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com)

2025 has been a great year for concerts for me personally – living in a new area I get to experience new venues and have had the good fortune of seeing more bands that are new to me, including prog rock legends Dream Theater as they tour their latest release Parasomnia as a prelude to a run of 40th Anniversary shows in 2026.  This tour and release marks the return of Mike Portnoy behind the kit anchoring the band’s sound.  I knew we were in for a great ride of rock and roll when the preshow music was a compilation of various horror movie compositions, setting a mood in the auditorium before the band hit the stage.  Before the band took their respective places on stage, watching the crowd was an exercise in fandom with a plethora of Dream Theater t-shirts covering a lot of the packed auditorium.  Armed with the new material, the band did what they have always done – whatever they want.  The opening act / segment of the show was all new music, with the band featuring the complete release in order to start the night.  Watching guitarist John Petrucci tackle the new material was exciting to see.  There is something to be said about a band’s conviction and belief in themselves and their music to play all new material to start a show.  Singer James LaBrie’s voice was as strong on the new material as it was older material that would be featured in the set.  After a short break in the action, the band then proceeded to dig into their catalog and feature a song from each of a handful of releases.  The tandem of bassist John Myung and keyboardist Jordan Rudess kept the music moving with their rhythm section finesse that added punch and depth to the set sonically.  A high point was to hear was the one-two punch of singles that opened Act II with “As I Am” and “The Enemy Inside” launching the middle section of the show, while other fan and band favorites dotting the evenings musical landscape.  The sixth band ember – the light and video show – was an integral component that accentuated and deepened the overall vibe of the show from song to song and section to section.  The encore was another playthrough piece featuring the bands lone EP A Change Of Seasons being played from open to close bringing the evening to an end.  I am not sure why it took me this long to check these guys out, but I guarantee it won’t be this long before seeing them again.

SETLIST ACT I: In the Arms of Morpheus – Night Terror – A Broken Man – Dead Asleep – Midnight Messiah – Bend the Clock – The Shadow Man Incident

SETLIST ACT II: As I Am – The Enemy Inside – A Rite of Passage – Act I: Scene Three: I. Through My Words – Act I: Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy – Peruvian Skies – Take the Time

SETLIST ENCORE: A Change of Seasons: I The Crimson Sunrise – A Change of Seasons: II Innocence – A Change of Seasons: III Carpe Diem – A Change of Seasons: IV The Darkest of Winters – A Change of Seasons: V Another World – A Change of Seasons: VI The Inevitable Summer – A Change of Seasons: VII The Crimson Sunset

[Show as slideshow]

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Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries