Dream Theater excited to reunite with dedicated fanbase in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Hailed as the “standard bearers” of progressive metal/rock, Dream Theater is bringing back their signature high-energy show to the Philippines on May 4 at the Araneta Coliseum. They last came here in 2017 for a sold-out concert.

The five-piece American band, which has been rocking since the mid-’80s, is made up of James Labrie (lead vocals), John Petrucci (guitars and backing vocals), Jordan Rudess (keyboards), John Myung (bass guitars) and Mike Mangini (percussion). Dream Theater is best-known for their technical proficiency as musicians, as well as their extremely loyal fanbase.

Formed by Petrucci and Myung with then-bandmate Mike Portnoy when they were students at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Dream Theater has since released 15 albums, including the latest A View from the Top of the World. To support and promote the album is mainly the reason why they’re currently touring the world.

One of the record’s singles, The Alien, also earned the Grammy for Best Metal Performance last year, giving Dream Theater their first-ever Grammy win after having been nominated for the third time.

Concert promoter Ovation Productions boss Renen de Guia said of the band’s return: “I brought Dream Theater back firstly because I was offered the band by their agent, whom I have had a long relationship with as far as booking other artists in the past.

“I checked with the previous venue, the New Frontier Theater (then called Kia Theater), where the first concert was held and was told that Dream Theater’s concert there sold out in 2017.

“The other reason is that the band enjoys a solid core of followers in the Philippines and it’s not often people get a chance to be treated to really good progressive rock music. It will be quite an experience to come to the concert.”

The Philippine STAR had an exclusive virtual chat with vocalist James Labrie to talk more about their upcoming Manila concert.

Dream Theater has released 15 albums to date, including the latest A View from the Top of the World.

Photos courtesy of Dream Theater's Facebook page

On what audiences can expect from their comeback concert:

Labrie: “It’s gonna be an amazing show. I mean, you know, one of the things that we’re always trying to, I guess, include in the evening is, it’s not only the musical experience. Because I mean, yes, that’s what’s brought us all together. It’s that music that we all understand and we all have embraced.

“So yeah, the setlist alone and the songs that we’re going to be playing obviously are songs from the new album, A View from the Top of the World, and then, you know, songs from various other albums in our catalog, which will make it a full kind of representation of who and what we are as a band musically.

“But beyond that, it’s the visuals that we are very focused on. And so the lighting design that we’re bringing out with this is incredible. We have our tour de force guide, Steve Barrett, who’s been with us since 1995. Actually, he’s been our lighting director. And he’s put together such an incredible lighting design for this tour. So, you’re gonna see that at the show.

“Also, there’s all the visuals, the imagery in the background, with the big screen that really supports the songs and the imagery tells the story as well. So, it will be a very, very impactful experience for our Filipino fans. We’re really looking forward to it. This is going to be an amazing evening for sure.”

On their loyal Filipino fanbase:

Labrie: “We knew that we had a fanbase there and so we were really excited to finally get there and be able to play for our Filipino fans. But knowing that you have an amazing fanbase is totally different from when you’re actually there and you see them in front of you. And that’s what really kind of blew us away. We were so overwhelmed, you know, because there’s just so many of them.

“Then the fact that they were singing along to the songs, they were cheering and very animated, very, very full of energy, that made for an incredible evening for us as well. I mean, I know the fans loved it, but we were also loving it because we were getting all this energy back. And it was pretty amazing. It really was an incredible experience for us. And that’s why we’re looking forward to it again, for sure.”

On being back on the road and performing live again:

Labrie: “It feels great. I mean, it was so hard for us as a band to know that we weren’t going to be performing. What happened was we weren’t out performing for two years. It was very difficult for us but, you know, we used that time to be creative and write an album which became A View from the Top of the World.

“I also used that time to write a solo album called Beautiful Shade of Grey. So, I released that as well. So, you know, it was time that I was able to spend individually and then collectively with Dream Theater to be creative.

“We didn’t like the fact that we weren’t out touring and being amongst our fans. That was hard for us. Not only us, for every band around the world, it was hard. It was difficult to not do what you love to do. But luckily, and fortunately, we did get through it. And now here we are, once again touring and doing what we love, and once again interacting with our fans and that’s the ultimate for sure.”

Dream Theater’s Top of the World tour in the Philippines will take place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on May 4 (8 p.m.), presented by Ovation Productions. Tickets are available at ticketnet.com.ph. Tickets are priced at P2,750 (lower box), P4,750 (patron C), P5,750 (patron B), P6,750 (patron A), and P7,250 (VIP).