There are a lot of different music genres in the world—good old-fashioned Rock ‘n’ Roll, Heavy Metal, and Pop—but the one genre that stands apart from all others is Progressive Rock (Prog Rock). Its non-traditional song structures, unconventional time signatures, and experimental sounds make it truly unique. Bands such as Yes, King Crimson, Rush, and Pink Floyd pioneered and popularized this musical style in the ’70s and ’80s. However, in the ’90s, Dream Theater combined the sounds of these innovators, added a bit more heaviness to the mix, and elevated themselves as the modern-day kings of Progressive Rock, never looking back.

2025 is an exciting year for Dream Theater and their fans. The band is out on tour in North America celebrating their 40th anniversary, and they made a stop in Los Angeles at The YouTube Theater on Saturday night, February 22, for a SOLD-OUT show. Adding to the excitement, original drummer Mike Portnoy rejoined the band in 2023. This marks the first Dream Theater tour with him in over 15 years. If that weren’t enough, the tour is also in support of their critically acclaimed new album, Parasomnia, released on February 7. The album features Portnoy’s first appearance on a Dream Theater record since 2009’s Black Clouds & Silver Linings. That’s a lot to celebrate!

“An Evening With Dream Theater” kicked off at 7:40 p.m. with no opening act, and for the next three hours, Los Angeles witnessed five of the most talented musicians on planet Earth dazzle their eyes and ears. The night began with the 9+ minute “Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper.” Drummer Mike Portnoy, guitarist John Petrucci, keyboardist Jordan Rudess, and bassist John Myung blasted the song's powerful intro before vocalist James LaBrie took the stage, belting out, “The smile of dawn arrived early May,” marking the start of a magical night of celebration. Although this was technically a seated show, everyone in attendance was standing and remained on their feet for the entire performance once the music started.

Three huge video screens provided the stage's backdrop along with additional video displays on the edges of Jordan Rudess' massive keyboard setup and beneath Portnoy’s colossal drumkit. The visual spectacle, complete with lasers shooting into the crowd, was perfectly synchronized with the music and its themes. LaBrie welcomed the audience to the 40th Anniversary tour and made it clear he expected the crowd to match the energy of the band's performance. Spoiler alert—they did.

With many Dream Theater songs spanning significant lengths, there was no need for dedicated solos, as each musician already had ample opportunity to demonstrate their incredible skills. The musicianship in this band is unparalleled. Petrucci seamlessly moved between his six- and seven-string guitars, Myung expertly wielded his six-string bass, and Portnoy’s colossal drumkit seemed to have more cymbals and components than any stage could hope to contain. Rudess’ keyboard might as well have been a device from another dimension, producing sounds and atmospheres that transported the crowd. During these extended instrumentals, LaBrie would often step offstage, only to reappear just in time for the next vocal part.

About 75 minutes into the show, after a crushing rendition of “The Dark Eternal Night,” LaBrie announced a 15-minute intermission. Upon returning for Act II, the show resumed with a video montage spanning Dream Theater's entire catalog before the band launched into two songs from Parasomnia: “Night Terror” and “Midnight Messiah.” Both tracks were standouts, featuring heavy, groove-driven guitar riffs and showcasing some of the finest music the band has crafted in years.

The song selection for the evening was the perfect blend of fast, slow, new, old, and everything in between. Act II climaxed with the haunting soundscapes of Jordan Rudess’ keyboard introducing the marathon 24-minute masterpiece, “Octavarium.” This epic track encapsulates everything Dream Theater embodies as a band. Of course, no Dream Theater show would be complete without an encore. And what an encore it was—three songs totaling about 27 minutes. The grand finale came with the iconic “Pull Me Under,” delivering the ultimate capstone to a phenomenal concert. For all the reasons this tour feels so special, as highlighted early in this review, this night in Los Angeles may have been the most memorable Dream Theater performance to date—beyond incredible. THANK YOU, Dream Theater. Keep on ROCKING!

A special note on the performance: With all due respect to Mike Mangini, who is an extraordinary drummer and an even better human being (thank you for your incredible contributions to the band), seeing Mike Portnoy back behind the drumkit was nothing short of epic. He belongs there—as a founding member of the band and a vital ingredient in the Dream Theater machine. This is what the fans have been hoping for, and it’s everything we could have dreamed of.

Setlist:

Act I
“Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper”
“Act I: Scene Two: I. Overture 1928”
“Act I: Scene Two: II. Strange Déjà Vu”
“The Mirror” (with “Lie” solo outro)
“Panic Attack”
“Barstool Warrior”
“Hollow Years” (‘96 demo version)
“Under a Glass Moon”
“The Dark Eternal Night”

Act II
“Night Terror”
“Midnight Messiah”
“This Is the Life”
“Vacant”
“Stream of Consciousness”
“Octavarium”

Encore
“Act II: Scene Six: Home”
“Act II: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On”
“Pull Me Under”