Dream Theater’s 40th Anniversary Tour in Toronto at Coca-Cola Coliseum

An evening with Dream Theater is never just another concert—it’s a mind-bending, soul-stirring, genre-defying experience that transcends what most of us even think is possible in live music. March 11, 2025, at Toronto’s Coca-Cola Coliseum wasn’t just a show. It was a festival of sound, a freaking journey through space and time, a cathartic release, and a celebration of four decades of untouchable musical wizardry. Forget “progressive metal”—Dream Theater have made that label sound like a polite suggestion. What they deliver is more like a sonic tornado of riffs, rhythms, and mind-bending time signatures that leave you questioning the very fabric of reality.

The setlist? Imagine a black hole made of sound pulling from Dream Theater’s entire discography, but with an eerie, beautiful twist. Opening with “Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper,” the crowd was immediately swept away. The technical precision onstage was almost absurd, yet every note rang out with profound depth. But the real kicker? The depth of the show. It wasn’t just about showing off. It was about showing why these five musicians are in a league of their own. It’s easy to throw around words like “technical” and “virtuosic,” but watching them live is like experiencing sound at a molecular level—each note feels like it’s vibrating deep within you, almost like the music is pulling apart your atoms and reshaping them.

Then, of course, there’s the powerhouse duo at the heart of Dream Theater’s sound: John Petrucci on guitars and John Myung on bass. Petrucci is nothing short of a master. His solos carve through the air like lightning, sharp and unrelenting, but with a soul-deep groove that makes every note feel like it’s written just for you. When he hits those blistering sweeps and lightning-fast runs, it’s clear—this man doesn’t just play guitar; he becomes it. Alongside him, John Myung holds down the bottom end with an unfathomable precision that’s almost criminally underrated. His bass lines are like the backbone of the show—firm, unyielding, and absolutely critical. During tracks like “The Dark Eternal Night,” Myung’s bass is so thick and intoxicating it feels like the earth itself is humming beneath your feet. Together, they are the beating heart of Dream Theater, and watching them lock in together during songs like “Under a Glass Moon” is a masterclass in musical communication.

Now, let’s talk about James LaBrie. The man’s vocals are something else entirely. You know how we all talk about “vocals that can fill a stadium”? Forget it. James LaBrie’s vocals didn’t just fill the arena—they possessed it. When he introduced “Barstool Warrior,” talking about hope and resolving past mistakes, there was a hum of collective understanding in the crowd, as if every single person there had felt that same turmoil. And when that familiar “In a dark and lonely corner…” echoed through the Coliseum, there wasn’t a single soul not hanging on every note. The crowd didn’t just sing along—they became the song. It was catharsis in real-time.

After the first song, just before Overture 1928, James was engaging with the crowd, talking about the tour and the new album, Parasomnia. He asked, “Are you with us?” when, unexpectedly, his mic flew off the stand and struck a fan square in the forehead. James immediately checked on the fan, who assured him, “I’m okay.” James replied, “I owe you a beer.” He then added, “Hey, wait a minute… we’re in Canada. Aren’t you supposed to be wearing a hockey helmet?” The crowd laughed, and moments later, a crew member came over to make sure the fan was alright, even putting a Band-Aid on the gash. It was one of those unexpected moments offering a mix of humor, care, and a moment that the fan will definitely have a story to tell.

And then there’s the legendary Dream Monster drum kit? Holy hell. Seeing that beast in person is a whole other level of mind-blowing. Mike Portnoy, the master of percussion, unleashed the full force of his new kit—and when he hit that first crashing cymbal, it was like the heavens themselves had opened. The thing is massive, a two-kit monstrosity that looks like it was custom-built to harness the raw power of the universe itself. Watching Portnoy play it live? It was like witnessing a magician conjure the impossible. Every crash, every snare, every roll felt otherworldly. This is a drum set that was made for people who crave the epic.

And let’s not forget the wild visual experience that accompanied every note. Video screens wrapped around Jordan Rudess’s keyboard platform, syncing perfectly with his every key. During his keytar performance on The Mirror (with the ‘Lie’ outro), lasers and dynamic visuals created an incredible atmosphere. It wasn’t just a light show—it was a damn trance-inducing symphony of visuals, perfectly married to the music, making the entire arena feel like a living, breathing organism.

The entire night culminated in “Pull Me Under,” a track that may as well be the band’s anthem. It was like the final explosion in a fireworks display, the last piece of the puzzle slotting perfectly into place. You couldn’t help but feel a little bit changed by the experience. For those lucky enough to witness it, this night wasn’t just a concert—it was a moment in time, a seismic shift that only Dream Theater could provide.

And when the last notes faded and the lights came up, the only thing left was a room full of fans who had witnessed something truly otherworldly. Next time we see them, they’ll be performing Parasomnia in its entirety, elevating the experience to an entirely new level.

A huge thanks to Sarah from Looters and Ashley from Live Nation for their support, to our hosts at the venue for looking after us during this incredible Journey, and to Dream Theater for an unforgettable performance. Your help and talent are truly appreciated!

Dream Theater

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Drew Osborne

I’m Drew, the founder and editor of Front of the Stage. I have a strong love for music and photography, which started at a very young age. There’s just something I love about experiencing live music and capturing memories that will last a lifetime, and that’s how Front of the Stage came to be.