I was there in the crowd. After so many hours standing up, felt really tired and almost dehydrated, when the first notes of Count of Tuscany started to kick in, it was almost 2:00 in the morning, and it made all the effort to endure the long night of concert worthwhile (Sepultura, Gojira and Iron Maiden performed before Dream Theater). It was my first ever Dream Theater concert and I will never forget how hypnotic John Petrucci sounds live. They are so amazing.
Everything you need to know about Dream Theater lies in these fractions of seconds in the eyes of this girl [00:35 - 00:42], whose emotions will not leave almost anyone indifferent. And it’s truly fucking magical and heartbreaking.
*"The Count of Tuscany"* is definitely the most beautiful DT song from all of the modern albums and I don't think a single song has come close since the post-Portnoy era.
That's a guitar he's playing? Hmm it don't sound like the instrumental guitar of earlier metal. Like "Seputura and Iron Maiden". Some of it does, I don't take away from them as musicians. Personally I never thought a keyboard belonged in a metal band. But I'm old still old school metal I guess. They are talented. Singer can hit em. They don't put on a cheap show.
This band has something for almost everyone. Enough metal edge for the rocker, enough quality guitar to make Van Halen fans drool, enough innovative use of keyboards for the Kansas, Styx, Mahogany Rush, enthusiast, and a moving baseline and clear, concise and interesting vocals/lyrics-for the Rush lover.
Also doesn't help that there's like zero compression or reverb and barely any gain on his voice here which, considering every other instrument does, it makes his voice just sound weaker by default in comparison to the rest of the band.
@@TheBlackQueen Agree. I do a little FOH engineering and was surprised at the mix. The older we get the high register vocal chords just don't last........ but the vocal mix was dry. In any case, great performance.
Always knew of DT but never paid much attention to them….then I heard Count around 6-7 years ago and as a guitar player I was hooked and have been since. I learned it on guitar-took me a month!! But was an amazing introduction into the greatness of this band. Have since seen them multiple times live and have attended JP’s guitar camp 1.0 which was an incredible experience and haven’t looked back-great band, pre-Mangini and post-Portnoy. JP is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.
The opening clean intro is not that hard... I took a single week to learn that clean intro and solo part... Played on my acoustic... Trust me I cried when I plugged my acoustic with a simple chorus pedal... It's heavenly sounding...
These guys are such talented musicians. Who else reads the music while their playing these days? Every song, for each musician of the band, is one-long-assed-solo! No simple 1-4-5 chord progressions here!
@@midpupposIII i wanted to say that in the way they master music, technic and their instruments. Certainly the best band of all time on this point. Do you see any other candidates ?
so lucky Growing up and living in the era of dream theater, witnessing this great show was the best moment of my life... ❤ ❤❤ solo, manahan 10 august 2022, jakarta, & Ancol ecopark 12 mei 2023 ❤❤❤
Damn! It breaks my heart to watch James sing like this, I understand age is taking over his voice and its not easy to sing those high notes anymore, I have watched him sing live in his 'better' days. This just feels miserable.
I saw them when they first got back on tour again after COVID and James sounded really good probably from having time off to rest but now he sounds really strained and tired again. It's sad to see because he was a beast in his prime
It can’t be easy for him, knowing he doesn’t have the same vocal ability as he did when he was younger. But it wouldn’t be Dream Theater without him, regardless of singing ability.
Finally good footage of this song live. This is my favorite DT song. I would littery feel like the girl crying when Petrucci starts the first solo if I had been there. This song spiritually moves me like no other song ever.
HAHA. And to think he was accused of lip syncing! I love the band immensely and hold no ill will against the man but there are four unparalleled geniuses of musical performance up there-- and then him. At least bring him down in the mix! He's way out front here.
Its a real shame whats happened to his voice; he gave everything for so many years...no shame to step down and let a youngun take over, at least on the live shows.
@@danielmcampbell297 Honestly at this point he should do lip syncing because he singing completely ruins the song. He sounds like he's drowning in water, he's always out of breath and is crying like an old man about to die.
I've seen James catching a lot of grief from some of these comments and I would like to address that. For one, keep in mind the size of that crowd and the amount of pressure on him as the voice of the band. Have they performed shows of this size before? I don't know for certain, but it is very likely. Does that matter? No. I couldn't imagine getting up there and singing a single line, let alone an entire concert. James is also pushing 60, if not already there, so singing like he did 20 years ago is probably extremely difficult. Another thing worth mentioning is at what point in their tour this was recorded at. The man could be incredibly exhausted. I would be. So with all of that being said, my final argument is that nobody in the band needs to be replaced. You have to keep in mind that these guys are a family at this point. To us, the band members can be inspiring musicians to look up to. To each other, they are family. It's as simple as that.
L. O. L. You are the reason why this band never can develop as they should, with a NEW and at least good enough singer. He has played maybe thousands of shows. No excuse!
Super band, super music, super sound and super video quality. Everything that has to do with Dream Theater is undoubtedly mind-blowing. The best there were, there are and there ever will be! 👍🏻💪🏻👏🏻🙏🏻
My Ringtone is The Count of Tuscany.... only an example how much I love this Band and this song... I cried for the entire performance...... Love DT....
I don’t understand why they don’t just play the old material in Eb so it’s more comfortable for James, a lot of bands do it with much younger singers. There’s no shame on doing that and it would sound much better.
DT should do like Weezer and do cover albums, and not only the same recipe over and over. Always loved their sound and each record as its jewel but since Dave departure mostly 80% of it feels like taking te piss
There’s a reason why DT is my number 1 most favorite band of all time. Many bands that came after are too hardcore and while I respect them I’m just not able to get into them. I think Angra and Symphony X are the only other ones I truly love in second place to Dream Theater.
Weird opinion though: if I really want loud music...I trend towards Opeth, Dropkick Murphys and drum and bass or even post dubstep (squarepusher, uk artists, half of edm, excision, etc) Squarepusher - Terminal Slam is a fire song imo.
The intro to this song is one of the more beautiful pieces of music from the entire DT catalog. I love it. That was really cool how much this song meant to that woman toward the beginning of this song.
Thats it Mike Mangini is my favorite drummer! Hands down. I appreciate that he respects Mike Portnoys Drum parts in Pull Me Under. The man deserves respect! 🙌🏻
I remember several years ago I attended a concert and at the start they announced that you didn't need to record the show because they were recording it and everyone that attended would be able to buy a downloadable copy immediately after. The price was really reasonable too, was only like $10 or $20, and it was of course really good quality. Unfortunately it seems that didn't catch on.
@@andrewawakened628 was at a show where LaBrie said to go ahead and take some clips but try to just enjoy the live show. When I went to take a clip, some usher came up and told me to turn it off. Told him what LaBrie said and he gave me some crap about someone in the audience complained. I said who? He replied, someone. Riiight, I said and finished my clip. I get the bootleg issues but come on. I pay my way and my phone was on my lap in the balcony front on low light. Mind your own damned business.
I've seen JAMES at the beginning of 2022 in Vienna and the vocals were FLAWLESS! His performances can be very different from day to day. With all the things in mind that happened to him in the past, it's astonishing that he manged to sing again and especially to sing still with his age. STOP THE FUCKIN hate. It's his and the Bands decision if he keeps on performing or not. ITS A SHAME that people really want to BOOOO him out of the band. Some people don't get it that their keyboard warrior behavior is online mobbing on the highest level. Would you be happy if you LOOSE YOUR JOB because of some internet-peoples opinions? Sure not!
Sorry Alexis, but, EVERYONE has an opinion and everyone has a RIGHT to express their feelings and opinions! How can you defend James LaBrie’s vocals in this video! HE IS HORRIBLE! I’m FLABBERGASTED that they didn’t just stop the Concert after the first song! I would compare his Vocal Problems with Jon Bon Jovi! Anyone who’s listened to a Bon Jovi concert recently knows what I mean! Bon Jovi’s voice is SHOT! It’s time for him to “Hang it Up”! Apparently, he’s more concerned with selling concert tickets than providing a Quality Performance to his Fans! It’s sad, but, it’s time to face the REALITY OF THE SITUATION!
@@scottpollack1007 sorry but also everybody CAN FORM an opinion online. All I can say is, that I had a great time at their last concert. He did an great job.
@@AlexisGitarrelol, he wouldn't lose his job because of keyboard warriors on the internet 😅 he'd be kicked out or voluntarily step down because he simply doesn't do the songs justice. Here is a band of great artists making great ... yes, art. And he's butchering it.
Labrie is a legend in his own right. His performance here is excellent given when these songs were written and how hard they are to pull off live, especially Pull Me Under.
To me the mix is horrible. Only the guitar, the bass and the keyboard can be heard clearly. Drums are too quiet and the bass drum is inaudible. Labries microphone sounds like it's at 20% gain and it's very quiet as well. No high frequencies are there, they're all drowned, I don't believe that even raw microphone recording can sound that horrible. Plus no compression on Labrie, so it sounds like he stops singing and his voice falls into silence when it cleary doesn't. Luna park definitely wasn't their best mix, but come on, this is even worse than wacken 2015. Give us this amazing footage with normal sound like distant memories, score or BTFW... P.S. it's possible that they'll take this recording and make some sort of Lost not Forgotten bootleg out of it that will sound well. That would be nice.
Damn!, Count of Tuscany is a very beautiful song.👍 But as a guitarist, cant help but be impressed with J.P's guitar playing especially his tone in "Pull Me Under" one of my favorite songs in DT because as iconic as it is, it's also one of the "easiest" to play among all the DT songs, Just love the sparkling cleans on the intro and the crunchy gain on the verses, so crunchy it taste like food to my ears.🤤my fave part is the riffing, Can't help but headbang on the crushing E minor chord ( 27:27 - 28:27) Cheers!🤘
The Count of Tuscany makes me feel like standing upon the field of Tuscany in Italy!! I just visited the Italy just one time but, I remember the atmosphere n feeling in Italy through this great song and player!!
I really like to see Mike in this reduced drum kit, not the ridiculuous large one. Great show, "The count" is by far my favorite in that black clouds album. Btw i'm kinda surprised with the crowd haha
And one more thing.They are on Tour since couple months and LaBrie is tired !His Voice is not in the same condition like here in Vienna in 11 of June where I was at.For me one of the greatest Musicians and Humans on the Stage ever!❤️❤️❤️
He hasn’t been in a “good” condition since the Dramatic turn of events Tour like 10 years ago. I was watching Live at Luna Park concert the other day and LaBrie sounded absolutely Fcking amazing, I don’t know what happened to him after that. His voice hasn’t been the same
Tuve la suerte de verlos en vivo el 7 de septiembre en Buenos Aires, fue un show magnífico, es increíble como uno se desconecta del mundo con sus canciones y viaja en cada nota ejecutada. Realmente uno de los mejores concierto al que fui. Ojalá los vuelva a ver 🤘 DT ❤️
Remember this album (and song in particular) really restoring my faith in the band! Saw this performed live a the 'Thebarton Theater' live in Adelaide South Australia with Portnoy. Changed my life for ever, what an incredible display of musicianship!!! So glad to see Mike Portnoy back in the line up & cant wait for the new material. 🙌 Hail from Australia, & we all love ya!
I flew 1500km to see them in Adelaide in 2008. They played in a tin shed at the showgrounds, so the acoustics were absolute dogshit. Neither gold nor silver tickets sold out, so you had a fairly small crowd that was then split in half (front and back) with empty floor and a fence between them. I couldn't find the bar. My friend fell ill and ghosted me during the intermission. But the intermission ended with the beginning of Metropolis Pt1, followed by six consecutive tracks from Metropolis Pt2, and I had the time of my fucking life.
Respect the band they are the best musicians on the planet, i got to see them in their last rare uk tour and are warily then best musicians I’ve seen in my life. Wizards
Been listening to DT since '92. Amazing band no matter who is in it. James is older and been singing forever. He will never sound the same but loyalty still means something to some people (kudos to Petrucci). My favorite band and always will be!!
This is Rock In Rio😂😂😂 Many singers sing so bad on this Festival. Maybe bad monitoring... Listen Angra 2011Rock in Rio, Sebastian Bach Rock in Rio 2011 (or 2012) Angra absolutely win. 😂😂😂
Omg I don't think we've ever gotten a good filmic recording of this song live...like EVER!! Thank christ! This is one of their best! Oh...and god-dayum is Jordan mixed really loud in this one 🤣
Ofcourse, he's a drumbot. Portnoy brought much prog and inspiration along the way, this guy just drums and has not much creativity, sadly. Can't hold a candle to what Mike has done for the band or the genre.
An amazing performance. John's guitar sound on Pull Me Under was amazing. James' stage presentation was exceptional but I hate it when he shrieks. What an amazing crowd.
One of the best song Y ever Heard!!!! This is Masterpiece Composing 🎼✌️ EPIC EPIC EPIC EPIC LOVE YOU GUYS 🎸🥁 DU hast mit diesem Song definitiv meine Seele berührt Dieser Song hat sich für immer in meiner Seele eingebrannt forever 💥
these live recording mixes are getting really good, I remember a footage of DT live in Download Festival that made me decide to never go see them live at a festival setting because the sound was so bad, but this would make me think otherwise. Nicely done.
Different shows and venues will have different mix qualities. Also a soundboard recording sounds very different from house sound. That's how live music works.
Download Festival is notorious for having some of the worst sound mixes out there. There's a pro video of Symphony X playing there, some years ago and you can barely neither hear Michael Romeo's guitar nor Russell Allen's vocals, because they're so low in the mix. Apparently, they improved this but generally speaking, you never know what type of mix you get on these large open air festivals. Wacken Open Air is consistently good though.
