Dream Theater

A Change of Seasons, A Return to Greatness: Dream Theater Captivates Syracuse, NY

Dream Theater’s 40th Anniversary Parasomnia Tour stop at Syracuse’s Landmark Theatre was a triumphant showcase of technical mastery and emotional depth. With founding drummer Mike Portnoy back in the lineup, the band delivered Parasomnia in its entirety, a career-spanning second set, and an unforgettable encore of “A Change of Seasons.” A night that reminded everyone why they remain the kings of progressive metal.

***Mike Portnoy – Dream Theater- Landmark Theatre, Syracuse, NY***

Progressive metal giants Dream Theater returned to Syracuse’s Landmark Theatre on their Parasomnia Tour, celebrating both the release of their latest album Parasomnia and an incredible forty years as a band. The big story leading up to this tour was the return of legendary founding drummer Mike Portnoy, back behind the kit for the first time in over a decade. Fans packed the historic venue to witness the reunited lineup and hear Parasomnia performed live in its entirety, along with a career-spanning second set and the long-awaited encore A Change of Seasons.

The stage design immediately reflected the new album’s dark and dreamlike tone. An old brass bed sat center stage beneath a backdrop of fog and twisted forest imagery, with haunting ambient sounds swelling until the band’s dramatic entrance. As each member took the stage, the crowd erupted, but it was Portnoy who drew the loudest cheers, greeted like a returning hero.

***Jordan Rudess – Dream Theater- Landmark Theatre, Syracuse, NY***

From the first notes, Dream Theater dove headlong into Parasomnia. Hearing the new material live gave it a new dimension, dense, cinematic, and emotionally charged. Highlights included a thunderous “Night Terrors,” accompanied by a giant inflatable Shadowman, and “Bend the Clock,” which had fans roaring during John Petrucci’s soaring solo, one of his most expressive in recent memory. The visuals and lighting perfectly matched the music, turning each track into a self-contained story.

After a brief intermission, complete with a tongue-in-cheek Let’s All Go to the Lobby video, the band returned for a set packed with classics from across their vast catalog. They opened with “As I Am” and “The Enemy Inside,” both of which showcased the band’s trademark mix of precision and intensity. “Panic Attack” was a major highlight, with bassist John Myung’s intricate riffing drawing cheers from longtime fans.

*John Petrucci- Dream Theater- Landmark Theatre, Syracuse, NY*

The middle of the set leaned into nostalgia, with Scenes from a Memory cuts “Through My Words” and “Fatal Tragedy” bringing back the band’s late nineties energy. A reimagined “Peruvian Skies” followed, featuring Jordan Rudess on lap steel with clever nods to Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” and Metallica’s “Wherever I May Roam.” The band closed the main set with “Take the Time,” a joyful reminder of their early virtuosity.

The encore opened with clips from Dead Poets Society, cueing the start of the twenty three minute epic “A Change of Seasons.” It was the first full live performance of the piece since 2017, and hearing it with the original lineup again was nothing short of goosebump inducing. The interplay between Portnoy and Petrucci was seamless, as if the 13 year absence had never happened.

Musically, the band was on fire. Portnoy’s drumming injected an infectious energy, both rhythmically and through his charismatic stage presence and between song banter. Petrucci was, as always, jaw droppingly precise, his guitar work equal parts technical and emotional. Rudess lived up to his “Wizard of a Million Sounds” moniker, commanding an array of synths and textures from his swiveling keyboard rig. Myung’s bass was flawless, anchoring the band through even their most complex passages. While James LaBrie’s vocals occasionally sat a bit low in the mix, his performance was powerful and heartfelt, with the crowd enthusiastically singing along.

***John Myung – Dream Theater- Landmark Theatre, Syracuse, NY***

Dream Theater proved once again why they remain the premier progressive metal band in the world. The combination of Parasomnia’s dark storytelling, the return of Portnoy, and the 40th anniversary retrospective made for an unforgettable night, nearly three hours of music that felt both nostalgic and forward looking.

If there was one complaint, it was only that it could not have lasted another three hours.