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Prog metal kings Dream Theater kicked off their highly anticipated 40th Anniversary tour in London, England on October 20, and two days later they landed in Berlin, Germany at the pristine Uber Eats Music Hall for a sold out show #2. Featuring a setlist identical to the London gig, the band performed two sets of fan favourites and rarities - so, other fan favourites - broken up by a 20-minute intermission and capped by a three song encore. There were a couple minor technical hiccups over the course of the show, but that's to be expected this early on in a production with so many moving parts, and it didn't prevent the band from delivering a solid show.

Arguably the best way to kick off and end a Dream Theater 40th Anniversary show is with songs from the album that really started it all, Images And Words, which they did with "Metropolis Pt. 1" and "Pull Me Under" respectively. Sandwiched in between those two iconic tracks were several songs that haven't seen a lighted stage for years prior to London; "Stream Of Consciousness" (2004), "The Mirror" (2014), "Octavarium" (2006). 

They also unleashed their new single, "Night Terror", which is a welcome barn-burner in a live setting. Masters of their craft, it was an evening of instrumental fireworks from John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, John Myung and the returned Mike Portnoy, and while they all killed it individually over the course of both sets, it was the interplay between then during the songs "Constant Motion", "Barstool Warrior" and "Stream Of Consciousness" that was simply astounding. 

James LaBrie had a few vocal hiccups over the course of the evening, but given it was the start of the tour, the keyboard warriors out there should give him a break. He had several shining moments, most notably on the killer "As I Am", and the unexpected "Vacant" towards the end of the night.

And while it was and is a big deal that drummer Mike Portnoy is back in the fold, neither he nor his bandmates acted like it. They got down to business and everything felt right, as it should be. It's worth noting that the band chose to include "Barstool Warrior" and "This Is The Life" in the set, two songs originally recorded by Portnoy's successor, Mike Mangini. Respect where it's due.

The Berlin show wasn't Dream Theater at their absolute best - give them a couple weeks to dust off the cobwebs - but for a 40th Anniversary celebration, they gave the fans exactly what they needed.

Setlist:
Act I
"Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper"
"Act I: Scene Two: I. Overture 1928"
"Act I: Scene Two: II. Strange Déjà Vu"
"The Mirror (with 'Lie' solo outro)"
"Panic Attack"
"Barstool Warrior"
"Hollow Years" ('96 demo version)
"Constant Motion"
"As I Am"

Act II
"Night Terror"
"This Is the Life"
"Under a Glass Moon"
"Vacant"
"Stream of Consciousness"
"Octavarium"

Encore:
"Act II: Scene Six: Home"
"Act II: Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On"
"Pull Me Under"