raygun47

From what I've seen lately here and there...it looks as though Mike Mangini is a real possibility.

I'm looking forward to hearing what comes from this. I'm still interested in who will be drumming, but it's gotten to the point where...I really wish they had taken care of it by now. I understand that there are issues beyond their control, but my interest level is lowering...and I'm a huge, huge fan. I feel like they lost some momentum over the process with the casual fan. I have been over the list of suspects, and I'm partial to Minnemann, Lang, or Mangini based on that list. I understand several are not as excited by the Mangini possibility, but I think he'd be excellent on the new material. I don't know what a new drummer is going to do with the older material. I venture to say it will be different. The live experience certainly will be. All the time that has past...and whatever happened, I will miss seeing Mike in this band. I watched a Ytsejam show from Romainia recently, and there's no way the entire presentation is the same with him elsewhere. Whatever and whoever we get, I think we can expect a very different product.

QUOTE (third hand grace @ Feb 19 2011, 09:06 AM) The only thing you have to fear is fear itself, well actually it is our WEATHER.... You need to pack for a snow storm or a day at the beach. You never know what you'll get that time of the year. I know its April but I was at an STP concert in MAY on the lakefront and it was about 40 degrees. I was at a Cubs game in MAY and it was about 30 degrees. Start checking the weather for chicago before you pack but NEVER TRUST A WEATHERMAN ! Welcome to Chicago. I was at a game at the Cell in August...Cal Ripken's last game in Chicago I think...and it was 45. I was in shorts...miserable. Yeah, it's a real mixed bag. April's a total roll of the dice. My birthday is in April, and sometimes it snows.

I love Frank Marino. Saw him live a couple times and the guy just blew the doors off the place. My friend got me into him...through the live experience, then turned me on to all the material. So unsung. So excellent. You may notice that Zakk Wylde mentions him in as many interviews as he can bring him up. It's one of the reasons I dig Zakk so much. I hope that him "putting his name" out there has won him some new fans. My friend just went to Cleveland to see him shoot a new DVD, that I understand will be available soon. He played for several hours at the Agora for the shoot. He told me there were several rarities, and he did take after take of many songs to get them just right. Sounds awesome. Frank's one of those guys that saved music for me in a "down time." Just when you think you know everything there is to know, a guy like this comes up and reminds you that there were far too many greats in the past for you to take that attitude. And that maybe...there's someone in the future. Music is a big world, and if I wasn't aware of a guy like Frank...then there's way more searching and sampling to do.

Add me to the list of those who loved Presto. I liked the song going in, but it was a highlight in an amazing night. I'm really looking forward to seeing them again in April.

QUOTE (rummut71 @ Feb 10 2011, 12:24 PM) QUOTE (raygun47 @ Feb 9 2011, 05:52 PM) The area around the UC is not the worst in Chicago. For my money, nothing compares to the area near the Cell. You obviously have no knowledge about the southside... West of 94 is Bridgeport. Lived here for years, and I consider it to be one of the safest places there is. Cops and firemen and lots of nice families live here and have for decades. You gotta get to south of 47th before it starts going downhill, and then you get to Englewood. If you made it that far south you went WAY too far. East of 94 is a small bit of the college campus, and you are fine. Further east is where you head towards MLK Drive, and I am pretty sure any neighborhood in any city along MLK Drive is a little less like Lincoln Park might be. Hahahah! Yeah, I'm from NWI. I come up through WAY too far south to get to the Cell. I used to deliver for a company in Gary, IN to "out there"...way south...around 15 years or so back. And it was kinda rough back then. I've also had two "dicey" experiences after games at the Cell. I mean...at the Cell. In that immediate neighborhood. My bad. I meant no offense to South Siders in general. I was born in EC, IN. I don't mean any disrespect to the area.

The area around the UC is not the worst in Chicago. For my money, nothing compares to the area near the Cell. It's not gorgeous. I'd stay elsewhere and cab in as has been suggested. Everything's a cab ride away. Stay somewhere else, but there's no reason to fear the area immediately around the UC. I'll be in a bar over there before the show. And inside...thousands of decent midwesterners doing their thing. You'll love it I think. And the Jordan statue. Gotta see MJ.

QUOTE (PariahDog @ Feb 8 2011, 06:57 PM) Maybe next time Rush should do like Iron Maiden did last year, and ONLY play songs from their past three or four albums. Can you imagine the unholy armageddon of complaining we'd have if they only played songs from TFE or later? Actually, I'm guessing that next time they'll play a large portion of Clockwork Angels (maybe even the entire album) and I'm sure that will be bad enough for some folks. Those Maiden shows were AWESOME! Just saying...

Got one "grail" for me on this tour. "Presto." I love it, and it will be great live. That is...if this is what we'll be seeing.

QUOTE (ReRushed @ Jun 29 2010, 12:18 AM) QUOTE (Kenneth @ Jun 29 2010, 01:14 AM) 6. Workin' Them Angels 7. Faithless (never played live) 8. BU2B (new song - never played live) That's going to suck.... I really hope this isn't the real setlist, as everyone else is saying; it could be way better. Suck? Nah! "Workin' Them Angels" is a great song and "BU2B" is excellent. And "Faithless" is pretty good. Personally, I would replace "Faithless" with something else. "Faithless" will be like "Ghost of a Chance" for me...didn't get it when I saw it's inclusion, and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

FOH was real cool about it when I thought there was no tour...he assured me that there would be, and that I would here about it within the week, and it did in fact go down that way. Scores Out...if he has a friend in the know...probably can't tell us what we want to know. I respect that. If I knew someone who told me things I shouldn't know, I probably wouldn't say anything at all...but I definitely would want to. I'd want to tell. But if he gave someone his word, what can he do? Betray that trust? That's not cool. And now...he doesn't show here anymore. One thing I really dig about seeing Rush...I'm an avid concert goer and music fan. I'm big into metal, prog, everything. I've seen countless gigs, and I've seen countless Rush gigs...and Rush fans are among the coolest to spend an evening with. Can't wait to see the band, and see everyone again after the relatively short lay-off. The guy I like to see Rush with...this is basically the only time we really hang out. To see Rush...and maybe a few other bands...but I digress. I play my fantasy hockey here. Reigning champion...and I mention that with all due humility (yeah, right...I rule), and I love playing that here. Wouldn't even bother anywhere else. I have been a member of other band's boards, and this is the only one I like posting to because everyone is normally so cool. I hope this thread is just a flare up and not the wave of the future. Guess I just wanted to let you all know that I hope upon hope that...even if you don't care much for what we believe the set is...that you attend and give it a roll, because I think this set can be real good if done by paid professionals, which I believe the guys to be! Normally, I see a few shows per tour, but I can only make it to July 5th this time around. And I'll enjoy. And you will enjoy. I can only guess that we have all blown this up to the point where it can never live up to what we expect in our imaginations. But damn it...I kind of enjoy our community, and I'd like to continue to do so. I want to whip your behinds again in fantasy hockey, and hopefully meet some of you in person in Chicago.

QUOTE (Wilderness_of_Mirrors @ Jun 28 2010, 03:51 PM) anyone else excited for Faithless?!?! I am. Faithless and Presto. Presto very, very much so. I'm down with the whole set. What I want really isn't important. I could put together a list of what I want and some...or most...would hate it. When I get a set...I'll put it on a playlist and play it out to see what it all sounds like (I'm listening right now as a matter of fact). I think this will be great. It works. I've been looking forward to this since the last show of the Snakes n' Arrows Tour...literally. I have been looking forward to this that long. I'm optimistic based on this set.

8 or 9. Solid eight and a half.

QUOTE (tangy @ Apr 4 2010, 09:16 AM) QUOTE (KenJennings @ Apr 3 2010, 07:38 PM) QUOTE (Wilderness_of_Mirrors @ Apr 3 2010, 02:36 PM) i finally found a Dream Theater song that i actually LIKE..... The Count of Tuscany what a great song......too bad theres not more DT like this song, or i might actually like this band Umm... A Change of Seasons Octavarium Metropolis Part 1 Learning to Live The Ministry of Lost Souls Home If you like The Count of Tuscany, you should like those. I second ACOS and Metropolis Pt. 1! Edit- definitely check their instrumental side project too- liquid tension experiment. The whole 6DoIT too, I think. And if you don't like that, too bad...it's great. You're wrong then.

Just stopped in to give a shout out to Frank Zappa. Glad to see a thread of dedication. I probably couldn't choose an album as a favorite. Too many...and they've all worked at different times for me. Did want to mention "Trance-Fusion." Sort of a more recent release that I'm fond of at the moment. I'll be back in the future to talk some Zappa.

The one with "Bad Motor Scooter?" I've got that one. I didn't know I was allowed not to have it. I loved Sammy Van Halen...solo...eh...not so much, but Montrose was some very nice Sammy. Very nice.

Pride and Glory "Sweet Jesus"

QUOTE (metaldad @ Oct 6 2009, 07:57 AM) Portnoy said they will never play S D V and it is an overrated song . Plus, Kevin M is not on their A-list Seems like a lot of people are real into "Space Dye Vest," but I don't get it. It's good. I don't feel slighted after every DT show because it isn't done. Kevin Moore...same thing really...I prefer Jordan. I haven't left a DT show thinking they would have been so much better if Kevin had been there. But that's just me. I like the guy...OSI...but I don't see the guy as being as important as most people do.

I've been able to devote a good deal of time to this release over the last few days. All due respect to the negative reviewers, playa haters, malcontents, and Kevin Moore jock riders...it's great. I kinda withheld defending anything until I could get familiar, but at this point I'm convinced. It's real good, and the more I listen, it gets better and better.

I wasn't aware of Marillion until a couple of years back. Maybe that's why I'm not attached to Fish as far as they're concerned. I like the Hogarth version, mainly because it's a more "updated" sound. "Easter," to me...is the stuff. I can tell I'm in the minority here. And by "here" I mean as far as most people are concerned. I have a friend that's down with the fish...and when I told him I prefer them lyrically without Fish too, he completely dismissed all Marillion opinions from that point forward. Again, I think it's more understated in the Hogarth era. I like Fish stuff though. Just like Hogarth stuff a whole lot.

If I played like John Petrucci (or Myung), I'd have a pretty high opinion of my ability. I can say that. Petrucci was the nicest musician I ever met. Hands down.

QUOTE (metaldad @ May 19 2009, 03:50 PM) QUOTE (yyzyy @ May 19 2009, 02:21 PM) I agree...the Wey over at mikeportnoy.com is a huge friggin' douchebag! BUT CAN'T WAIT TO LISTEN TO THE NEW ALBUM!! that guy is a jackass to the 10th degree. i got banned about 5 years ago and had a e-mail fight with him for about a week. he thinks he works for the president of the united states for christ sake. know what i did ? i posted the word asshole The whole forum didn't seem to care for my presence. I never got into anything serious with anyone. I mean, it's easy to talk on these things because you never have to face anyone. My guess is a lot of those guys rarely get to stand up for themselves, and it makes them feel good. It's cool. I just do my thing here now because the people are way, way cooler.