Gigantour Tampa Show

James and I got there and picked up a shirt each, and then we each got a copy of This Godless Endeavor, and wristbands to meet Nevermore.

This show was set up much better than Orlando. The second stage all played outside, and the main stage played inside...rather than all on one stage. So everything ran a bit smoother, and all the bands had longer sets.

Nevermore was the first band we saw. As always, they were amazing. They played just about the same set as in Orlando, except they played "My Acid Words" instead of "Born" which made me sad because "Born" is kickass. So then we ran to the FYE booth, and were the first in line. We shook all their hands, and I told them how I'd been a fan since Politics. They signed This Godless Endeavor for us, and Jeff Loomis gave us guitar picks.

We saw a couple minutes of DEP, but went outside because Symphony X was starting earlier because it was going to rain. Again...they were so kick ass. They had a VERY large crowd, the largest of all the second stage bands...and they fucking deserved it. Sir Russel Allen always amazes me. He's very impressive.

Fear Factory played the exact same show as they did in Orlando.

Then...Dream Theater
Set List:
THE GLASS PRISON
THIS DYING SOUL
PANIC ATTACK
NEVER ENOUGH
UNDER A GLASS MOON
JUST LET ME BREATHE
LIE
HOME
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Encore: Pull Me Metropolis

Man, I was FREAKING OUT when they started with The Glass Prison. It was amazing. Then they went into This Dying Soul...and I was hoping they'd just do the whole AA trilogy because that'd be sick. But alas, they did not. James Labrie sounded particularly excellent on "Never Enough." I guess the "dramatic" verses in the song fit his style pretty well. Under a Glass Moon was very cool, too. Just Let me Breathe and Lie rocked, but damn...Home was just....wow. It was probably my favorite song of the night (along with Glass Prison). And then the encore was sweet...again. Mike Portnoy brought his kids on stage...except this time it was Melody and Max...not just Melody. John Petrucci still wants to be MR. COOL HOT TOPIC GUY with his Johnny The Homocidal Maniac pants and his stupid hair. James Labrie needs to...wear an undershirt. Even though James is "CANADIAN LOVE, EH?"...I didn't enjoy seeing his bare chest.

Megadave rocked a LOT harder than he did in Orlando. Mostly because...the Hard Rock Live was a pretty small venue, but here...there was FIRE WORKS, FIRE, EXPLOSIONS, and all kinds of shit. "Trust" was the coolest song tonight, not sure why. Probably because the crowd was really into it...and the explosions were cool.

Overall, I'm glad I went to this show. DT's set was much better...and I got to meet Nevermore! I really hope Dream Theater comes back again soon. They just...own my soul.