Dream Theater – Orpheum Theater – Minneapolis MN – September 25th 2025

Dream Theater at Orpheum Theatre – September 25, 2025

Review and photos by Jesse McKinney

When I first got into metal, I would watch videos of my favorite guitar players, and in interviews a lot of them would mention someone by the name of John Petrucci. Naturally, I had to look him up, and that’s when I discovered the legendary Dream Theater. Funny enough, I even ran into one of those guitar players at the show! Even though I’m no guitar player or drummer, I love watching videos like John Petrucci at NAMM, or drummer Mike Portnoy on Drumeo, so I was excited to finally see Dream Theater live! It being Dream Theater, I knew I was in for something massive, and their show at the Orpheum Theatre on September 25th was exactly that.

The crowd was locked in before the first note even started! They were going wild and cheering every tempo change, every solo, and every massive drum fill! The prog-metal legends filled the historic Orpheum Theatre with a wall of sound, delivering a career-spanning set that mixed technical precision with a beautiful stage set that gave their performance an almost cinematic feel. What stood out most was the band’s ability to balance musicianship with showmanship — it wasn’t just about playing insanely difficult parts; it was about creating an atmosphere that pulled everyone into their world.

James LaBrie’s vocals were equal parts raw force and showmanship, the perfect mix for a prog band like Dream Theater. John Petrucci’s guitar work was as legendary as expected, and after seeing him live it’s easy to see why he’s regarded as one of the greatest guitarists alive today. John Petrucci has had a number of signature guitars made over the years and the Ernie Ball-Music Man John Petrucci JP6 is the second best-selling signature model of all time, behind only the Gibson Les Paul.

Every member of Dream Theater put on a technical masterpiece! With the towering visuals looming behind the band and the haunting vibe of the stage setup, it felt less like a concert and more like a journey. Tonight was a great reminder that no one does it quite like Dream Theater!