2009-2010 tour program messages

Hey Everyone,

It seems we are back doing what we love. It’s always a thrill to be on stage hanging with our friends, having this magical connection and interacting through the power of music. Very proud of the latest batch of new songs from our latest disc. I hope you enjoy the experience and vibe when hearing these songs live.

Okay, see you out there, have a blast and let us hear you.

Cheers,

James

The making of Black Clouds and Silver Linings was an escape for me during the world economic turmoil. It was great getting to work with Paul Northfield for the second time, building upon what I learned from him during the making of Systematic Chaos. The end result was sonically rewarding.

Getting to record the cover songs was a lot of fun, a departure from the norm which added something new to the sessions. Recorded with a new bass this time around, a Bongo 6 string which was developed and finely tuned regarding different wood combinations during the Chaos In Motion Tour.

Had a memorable experience once again, looking forward to seeing you out there on tour somewhere.

All the bass, take care,

John

Hi all and welcome to the Black Clouds & Silver Linings 2009-2010 world tour! I can’t tell you how psyched I am to once again have the privilege of playing in front of all of you...our absolutely crazy fans! From the die-hard and loyal DT heads who have been to more shows than one can imagine, to the newest and youngest who have only just discovered the band and are ready to join us as we travel across the globe.

The band and I are really pumped about our latest studio album, Black Clouds & Silver Linings. As these tunes are generally and for the most part only performed a handful of times as they are being written and recorded, the experience of playing them in front of a live audience amidst all the glory of a big rock n’ roll show production is something pretty magical. It’s kind of like pushing the baby bird out of the nest to see if it can fly. They have a rebirth as they are exposed now against a much more raw and unforgiving yet most often more passionate and rewarding setting. It’s awesome to watch them “grow up” over the course of the tour!

For all of you guitar players out there, I brought along a bunch of new goodies for the tour. Some new MM JP signature guitars to unveil as well as new Mesa Boogie amps and cabs. It’s always fun to play with new toys!

On a final note just to put things into perspective...DT has played literally hundreds of shows on hundreds of stages across the globe, yet has only been in a handful of studios 10 times give or take, constructing the creative catalysts which propel the tours. In that sense, each subsequent studio experience is still quite fresh and new and we have so much more to learn and to conquer musically. I look at it sort of like going to school...each year you come back to class hopefully a little smarter, better, stronger, faster and ready to rebuild yourself in order to achieve a greater destiny. What an awesome honor to be able to do this, and I thank you sincerely for the opportunity to relive and reinterpret these musical creations night after night.

Later,

WOW! Is it that time again already? Well, here we are again....2 years later, another album, another tour....time flies! (or as another band once put it: “tempus fugit”)

I can honestly say this band is better and stronger than EVER! The musical and personal chemistry is as smooth and comfortable as ever and I do believe we are still growing and progressing... even after 24 years (hey, that’s 168 in dog years...and something like 218 in band years!)

This tour I have a new set of Tama Bubinga drums (in their “Black Clouds & Silver Linings” finish) to go along with my usual assortment of Sabian cymbals and I’m still beating my Remo heads with my Pro Mark sticks. Setting them up, breaking them down, cleaning ‘em up and taking care of me is my old drum tech of 12 years, back for some more torture after a 5 year hiatus: Mr. Jose “Ho” Baraquio (what a glutton for punishment!)

One of highlights of this World Tour for me is that for the majority of it, we will be touring with Progressive Nation which is a dream project of mine that has finally come to life. I have personally hand-picked all of the bands to tour with us this year and believe that each and every one of them are truly talented, daring and extremely musical artists and bands.

Please open your minds and ears, enjoy them and make them feel welcome: Zappa Plays Zappa, Opeth, Bigelf, Scale The Summit and Unexpect (and also thanks to Cynic, Frost, Neal Morse, Pendragon and Ephrat for joining us in Europe this past summer).

OK - enough from me....

Enjoy the show!

As I sit here sliding my finger across the iPhone watching the little on screen keyboard wizard character of “Wizbot” react and go through its animated movements, I realize that a lot has changed since the last Dream Theater world tour. My technology adventures continue to lead me to new exciting sonic dimensions. Occasionally in this mad quest of mine, I find a musical device that I want to bring into the Dream Theater experience. The Apple iPhone (which is used on A Rite of Passage) was one of these discoveries.

Also in my corner of the Dream Theater onstage universe, you will see some technology that has been developing for quite some time. With the talents of master 3D visual designer/programmer Robert Medina, he was able to bring a vision of mine to life, beyond my expectations! Notice at various times during the show, my little alter ego 3D Wiz character (originally designed by Mika Tyyska) is following every move I make on my keyboard in perfect sync! As cool as my setup is, I think the Wiz’s Octagonal surround keyboard set in a gothic castle environment wins!! I’ll have to talk to my “real world” keyboard designers about this. We did manage to keep this a secret for the most part, with slight hints coming out over the last year or so. Now finally, we can show it for the world to see!

Black Clouds and Silver Linings was another whirlwind DT recording experience. It never ceases to blow my mind how these Dream Theater albums happen. As if controlled by a power greater then each individual involved, they swirl into form and become reality. Of course after the “swirl” for this keyboardist comes the next part of the job, which is to try and make everything I did in the studio come to life on the stage. Wow-no small task indeed! When recording my keyboards in the studio I fill the control room with all my computers and keyboards. In the live show my system is focused around one Korg Oasys which even in all it’s might and glory, might just explode soon from everything I’m asking it to do! So far so good though! With that, and my trusty Roland synths, Continuum, iPhone and the return of the Zen Riffer my world is complete. Enjoy the show!!