The Dream Theater 40th anniversary tour rolled into Toronto, ON, vocalist James LaBrie’s hometown, on a warm and sunny Tuesday for a night of Heavy Metal magic. The Prog-Metal icons hailing from New England curated a three-hour set with songs spanning their magnificent career.
Dream Theater
Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto – 11 March 2025
Words And Photography: Taylor Cameron
With the mighty Mike Portnoy reclaiming his throne behind the kit and all founding members back in the band, the chemistry was undeniable.
MetalTalk spoke with John Petrucci before the very first show on this mammoth anniversary tour, and the excitement was there. Five mates on the road, we suggested. “Exactly,” John smiled. “Exactly.”
Tonight, in Toronto, fans were ecstatic to celebrate this big milestone with the band.
Split into three parts, Act I, Act II and the encore, Dream Theater’s energy stayed at an all-time high from start to finish. The audience were completely focused on the musicians who commanded the stage.
Promptly starting at 7:30 pm, they hit the ground running with Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle And The Sleeper, a track from Dream Theater’s first release with LaBrie on vocals. Staying in the ’90s, Scene Two: I Overture. 1928, Scene Two: II. Strange Déjà Vu and The Mirror followed.
Here, the band finished with the Lie guitar solo, accompanied by Jordan Rudess on the Keytar, a fun addition to John Petrucci’s melodic solo. Closing out Act 1 was the heavy instrumental, The Dark Eternal Night, before a fun cartoon played across the screen as Let’s All Go To The Lobby played over the PA, signifying the 15-minute intermission. 
Act II kicked off with two tracks from the band’s latest release, Parasomnia, Night Terror and Midnight Messiah. Fans cheering loudly as the new songs translated very well to the live stage.
Strong musicianship and showmanship are visibly important to Dream Theater, as their instruments are an extension of each member. Petrucci’s guitar tone soared across the Coca-Cola Coliseum, receiving a standing ovation on multiple occasions throughout the night.
Portnoy played his monstrous triple bass-drum kit with ease, his technique and precision proving that he is one of the best in the industry, while Rudess’ keyboards added the perfect amount of melodic tones and atmosphere to the show.
John Myung handles the low end perfectly, his bass playing filling the sound and adding a sense of dynamics to the overall tone of the band. Last but not least, the man at the helm, LaBrie, handled not only his vocal duties but the role of a frontman with ease.
LaBrie was keeping fans entertained with stories between songs, which included checking in on a fan he accidentally hit with his microphone, resulting in a split forehead and a large bandage. The injury did not, however, stop the fan from rocking out front row the entire night, a memory I am sure he will never forget. 
The band returned to the stage one final time for the encore, including a perfect blend of Act II: Scene Six: Home and Act II: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On.
Closing out with Pull Me Under, the crowd erupted into cheers, not wanting the night to be over. A Dream Theater show is more than just a rock show. It is a spectacle.
It is clear that a lot of prepping and thought goes into planning this magnificent show, and it does not go unnoticed. The appreciation the crowd showcased was amazing, and Toronto Metal fans felt truly lucky to be part of a big chapter in Dream Theater’s career.
