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ORIGINAL: MusicianDad

I saw both Patrucci and Portnoy when they were part of the G3 tour last year. I wasn't that impressed with Patrucci, but Mike Portnoy was just fantastic. I think he's the best drummer/showman since Kieth Moon.

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That suprise's me because I think Petrucci is one of the best guitar player's in the world today.

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ORIGINAL: howling wind

I've always enjoyed Dream Theater, but I'm just a casual fan. The only CD I own by them is the one where they do a GREAT cover of Elton John's "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding."

I was going to post a new thread earlier today about a similar subject. I have REALLY been on a progressive/power/symphonic metal kick the past few weeks. I've been listening to a lot of Nightwish, Epica, Midnattsol, Vanden Plas, Angra, Vintersorg, Edenbridge, Opeth, etc.

I'm going to see Symphony X/Epica in Houston this weekend and Iron Maiden on May 22.

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ORIGINAL: Rufas2000

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That suprise's me because I think Petrucci is one of the best guitar player's in the world today.

Maybe it was an off night or the set list didn't showcase him so to speak.

BTW: welcome to the forums.

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ORIGINAL: JordanW

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ORIGINAL: MusicianDad

I saw both Patrucci and Portnoy when they were part of the G3 tour last year. I wasn't that impressed with Patrucci, but Mike Portnoy was just fantastic. I think he's the best drummer/showman since Kieth Moon.

That suprise's me because I think Petrucci is one of the best guitar player's in the world today. Portnoy is a beast though you're right.

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ORIGINAL: MusicianDad

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ORIGINAL: JordanW

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ORIGINAL: MusicianDad

I saw both Patrucci and Portnoy when they were part of the G3 tour last year. I wasn't that impressed with Patrucci, but Mike Portnoy was just fantastic. I think he's the best drummer/showman since Kieth Moon.

That suprise's me because I think Petrucci is one of the best guitar player's in the world today. Portnoy is a beast though you're right.

He's got crazy chops but he's got no soul and zero showmanship. The lack of soul was really evident during the all star jam at the end when they did Hendrix covers. His hard rock/blues skills are very average (IMO).

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ORIGINAL: MoshForChrist

I just started listening to this band. I like some of their music. I'm very new to Prog music.

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John's playing can sometimes sound a bit contrived and cold, which I feel is a byproduct of his technique and his Morse and Howe influences. To me, Petrucci's playing often sounds like it's based on thought rather than feel. For example, instead of varying his vibrato to express different emotions and feeling in his solos, he has one perfected vibrato that he seems to use for everything. I also think the constraints of the progressive format demand that he focus more on execution at the expense of emotion. There are some great exceptions to this — in fact, Awake is filled with intense, emotional guitar work, but in general, throughout Dream Theater's catalog, the guitar work often sounds very sterile.

Originality. John doesn't bring much new to the table, and I don't feel he gets much of himself into his solos, either emotionally or through signature techniques or licks. He's very broad, but not very deep. It's almost as if his approach is: This solo should be a Yngwie sweep picking thing, then I'll throw in a Steve Morse bit, then I'll toss in this Vai lick, and then a Blackmore lick . . . He's so studied that he puts different guys' licks together — almost note-for-note sometimes. While he definitely captures the essence of some of these players and executes it well, it's not too original.

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ORIGINAL: drnick

And as far as Christian influence is concerned, Mike Portnoy has drummed on every solo album Neal Morse has produced since he was saved (Christian prog rock!!!), and toured with him as well, so he has definitely heard the Gospel.

And by the way, you ought to get Neal Morse's "Sola Scriptura" - Christian Prog rock, with some metal moments, Portnoy on drums, and Paul Gilbert doing some of the lead guitar.

Mmmmm.......

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And by the way, you ought to get Neal Morse's "Sola Scriptura" - Christian Prog rock, with some metal moments, Portnoy on drums, and Paul Gilbert doing some of the lead guitar.

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ORIGINAL: drnick

I know what you mean about Petrucci. He's almost too good, and sometimes I wonder what he's brought to the table as a guitarist that's truly original.

To quote from his www.dinosaurrockguitar.com profile:

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John's playing can sometimes sound a bit contrived and cold, which I feel is a byproduct of his technique and his Morse and Howe influences. To me, Petrucci's playing often sounds like it's based on thought rather than feel. For example, instead of varying his vibrato to express different emotions and feeling in his solos, he has one perfected vibrato that he seems to use for everything. I also think the constraints of the progressive format demand that he focus more on execution at the expense of emotion. There are some great exceptions to this — in fact, Awake is filled with intense, emotional guitar work, but in general, throughout Dream Theater's catalog, the guitar work often sounds very sterile.

Originality. John doesn't bring much new to the table, and I don't feel he gets much of himself into his solos, either emotionally or through signature techniques or licks. He's very broad, but not very deep. It's almost as if his approach is: This solo should be a Yngwie sweep picking thing, then I'll throw in a Steve Morse bit, then I'll toss in this Vai lick, and then a Blackmore lick . . . He's so studied that he puts different guys' licks together — almost note-for-note sometimes. While he definitely captures the essence of some of these players and executes it well, it's not too original.

John can show some emotion sometimes, and one good example is "Take Away My Pain" on "Falling into Infinity" (a patchy album with some gems). And he doesn't always just shred a-la Yngwie; there are some very melodic moments on Octavarium and Systematic Chaos. Not so much on Train of Thought, which was planned as a "metal" album. Apart from "Vacant", which is beautiful.

I personally love Dream Theater as a whole, rather than dissecting out individuals. Withough DT, Jordan Rudess would probably produce fabulously complex music, but without any melody, for example.

And as far as Christian influence is concerned, Mike Portnoy has drummed on every solo album Neal Morse has produced since he was saved (Christian prog rock!!!), and toured with him as well, so he has definitely heard the Gospel.

And by the way, you ought to get Neal Morse's "Sola Scriptura" - Christian Prog rock, with some metal moments, Portnoy on drums, and Paul Gilbert doing some of the lead guitar.

Mmmmm.......

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Maybe he was just having an off night? From all of the DT albums I've heard his soul and showmanship are always present.