Live Review: Mike Portnoy's Shattered Fortress

There is a sense of deja vu in The Croxton tonight, both on the stage and within the packed crowd, to go along with the vibe of pure joy and jubilation in the room. Mike Portnoy is back playing Dream Theater songs - although not with Petrucci, LaBrie and co. Instead, Portnoy's with a guitar prodigy by the name of Eric Gillette and members of Haken - a prodigiously skilled prog-rock band from the other side of the Atlantic - all of whom happen to be wearing Dream Theater T-shirts this night.

Once one gets over the fact that there are no current Dream Theater members on stage playing these classic tunes so magnificently, this show transports you straight to hairs-standing-up-on-the-back-of-your-neck territory. Portnoy announcing early on, in his only talking section of the show, that this is the very last show of a strictly one-off tour for the collaboration known as Shattered Fortress only adds greater power and resonance to this performance. This may conceivably be the last-ever time Portnoy plays these songs live, so we're determined to make the most of it.

The hour and 45-minute set is the live rendering of Portnoy/Dream Theater's epic Twelve-step Suite, which musically chronicles, across the course of five separate albums, his harrowing journey overcoming alcoholism. This is bookended by a bunch of sweetly chosen Dream Theater tracks, culled mainly from the classic 1999 concept album Metropolis Pt 2: Scenes From A Memory. It's a deliciously satisfying selection.

The above-mentioned band that Portnoy assembles around him for this tour is magnificent. Faithfully and accurately recreating the notes, sequences, tempos, time signatures, aura and vibe of these ultra-challenging Dream Theater tracks must be one of the most difficult things to do in music, but these guys pull it off with aplomb - it's quite breathtaking. And not only that, but they also manage to put their own little spin on things without affecting the true essence of the songs in any way.

And lording over it all like a thunder god is that human whirlwind known as Portnoy. Portnoy appears to be having the absolute time of his life tonight as he skillfully and repeatedly blasts around the kit, smiles from ear to ear and spits all over the stage. He truly is a percussive phenomenon and one of the all-time greats on this instrument.

It's an emotionally charged evening for band, crew and crowd. It's unlikely we'll see this line-up touring again, ever, and it's a true privilege to witness.