Dream Theater

In roughly its 25th year, Dream Theater is an absolute anomaly. The progressive metal group recently scored its highest selling album, Black Clouds & Silver Linings, which debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard's Top 200, selling 40,285 copies. It was a feat made more improbable considering the band was joined in the top 10 by the likes of the Jonas Brothers and Black Eyed Peas, and even more impressive considering that the lead single from Dream Theater's 10th studio release, A Rite of Passage, failed to chart and was given little to no radio play. This accomplishment is most definitely a testament to the band's strong fan base, but it also reflects the group's quality recordings and legacy as a touring workhorse. One could say that Dream Theater are at the top of their game, and there are few bands that can make such a statement after such a lengthy career. Also performing with the 2009 Progressive Nation Tour are Zappa Plays Zappa (a Frank Zappa tribute act led by his son Dweezil), Bigelf, and Scale the Summit.
Fri., Aug. 21, 6 p.m., 2009