Time is running quickly but what I was missing? nothing, especially it is one of my favorite metal band tour, yeah Dream Theater (DT) is about to come to Jakarta at 21th April 2012. The tour is named after their 11th album's title: A Dramatic Turn of Events world tour and luckily they also pick Jakarta as tour destination, so I would like to say thanks to Variant Entertainment as promoter for bringing the progressive metal band here (and also for the high-price ticket). This is their first (might be the ONLY one) visit to Indonesia, so I will not take any compromises and must go to the show.
Saturday 21th April I wear my metal attributes: Black CONVERSE John Varvatos (limited edition), Black Led Zeppelin sweater and a old black jeans, unfortunately my DT t-shirt is out of date now, so no DT stuff. Approx. at 3 PM I start from Arion Plaza by a taxi heading to Mata Elang Indoor Stadium (MEIS) at Ancol for the metal show after withdrawing the ATM for IDR 2,000,000.
Arrived at MEIS stadium, there are already a lot of DT's fans and they are here also for one reason: A metal show from a world class band, just like me. Then I look for the official ticket sale, and I feel lucky because there are buy-1-get-1-free ticket that means if you buy 1 ticket you will get 1 free ticket, it cost IDR 1,500,000 but with one condition: the voucher will be available for exchange (for the real ticket) after 7.45 PM, yeah sounds like a marketing strategy or what the hell. I will have 2 tickets, so I call my friend Iwan and asked if is available to join me for the show, considering he was also a crazy DT fan, yeah, of course he was available.
It is on 4 PM, DT fans is keep coming from everywhere, still has a lot of time to wait before the show that begin at 9 PM. So I wasted my times by taking some pics, walking around in front of MEIS stadium, eating AW fast food and walking. At 7.30 PM, the stadium was fulled by fans who came for the live show. I was queued for ticket exchange and got it, 2 Last Entry Festival tickets, at the time peoples were entering the stadium, one I still missing is Iwan, he was still heading here. I wait this guy in front of stadium until he came at probably 9 PM.
Entering MEIS stadium and going to the festival area, it still a solo acoustic guitar player as opening, peoples are shouting while he played A Change of Session intro as his closing. The band's crew are coming, opening the black large fabric and the stage showing up. Fantastic view, so that is the Dramatic Turn of Events tour's theme, it has 3 big box as background display and fantastic lightnings, the crew also tune some well known rock song, some of them are Anything Goes (AC/DC), Welcome To The Jungle (Guns N' Roses) while preparing. And the shows begin, John Petrucci attack us with Bridges In The Sky, you know the situation should be, a metal band with almost 8000 fans are watching, the band continue with Build Me, Break Me Down also from Dramatic Turn of Events album. Then a nostalgic song: 6.00 (Awake), after that Jordan Ruddes take the intro of Sorrounded (Images And Words), I keep singing and banging my head. The spectator did the same, keep their hand higher with metal sign and follow James LaBrie singing while the lights keep it's magic. The band continue with these songs in a a row The Root of All Evil (Octavarium), A Fortune In Lies (When Dream And Day Unite). After that, John Petrucci pick a accoustic guitar and sit beside James LaBrie, it is going to be acoustic. We sing together when they playing Silent Man (Awake), a very good song, then followed by the last song of Dramatic Turn of Events album, Beneath The, what can I say, this song was so beautiful and meaningful, one of DT killer song. Continue with On The Back of Angels. Then the most liked song: The Spirit Carries On (Metropolis), yeah everybody is singing and enchanted by this one. After that is Mike Mangini drum solo, I think he is very skilled drummer who able to replace Mike Portnoy, and John Myung also rocks too. Continue to Breaking All Illusions, this song is very dynamic and complex, It has good pattern and reff lyrics to sing. We want more... We want more... we are shouting this after they left the stage, this is a ancient band ritual, the band want to hear if you are demanding more. So they back to the stage and playing Pull Me Under (Images And Words), and the fans was again enjoying the famous DT's hit. So this is will be their last song. What a very fantastic and monumental event.
So that's all, Dream Theater live. thanks DT, you are one of the best band in my soul. That's all I can say. Then me and Iwan take a rest at AW for some foods and drinks, then leaving Ancol.
