It took place at the SD University Open Air Theatre; tonight was the first night of their new 2007 U.S. tour and featured two heavy metal opening acts: Into Eternity, and then Redemption.  Eternity was not my kind of band at all: the music was sloppy with its "time changes" and the lead singer was one of those weird growlers you see on bands similar to Dokken, Slipknot, and bands of that nature.  Redemption was alittle better, the lead singer of that group seemed as if he lost his voice, his singing was weak, and unfortunately the sound coming from one of the guitarists' speakers or amps weren't working, leaving you with an empty sound.

The evening culminated with the appearance of the five members of Dream Theater to thunderous applause.  I was there primarily to see John Petrucci, the guitarist, whose technique is amazing, and always has excellent ideas.  Dream Theater are one of those "metal" groups who take a lot of time with the musicality and make sure that they're playing the music right, and that it's always challenging, not just make noise.  However, I can't say that I really love their music, and I don't know much of their music at all,  but their concerts are worth seeing if you want to see a band who can play tight, clean, and smart.   The lead singer of the band really cracked me up tho.  For a frontman he's got to have one of the easiest jobs in rock.  When he's not singing he walks offstage and hides behind the amps leaving the crowd mesmerized at the foursome instrumentalists playing the music; seven minutes later he comes back at the end of the song to sing the last chorus before singing the beginning of the next one, only to walk off when the music takes over.

All the headbanging though was very tiring (not me, I was looking at everybody doing it) and it was interesting to finally see what all the fuss was about.  It's time for bed for me.

Geoff