Classical Composer Reacts to Liquid Tension Experiment: When the Water Breaks | The Daily Doug

[@Redpmac]

Greatest rock instrumental track ever recorded in my humble opinion.

[@petrucci973]

You’re not wrong.. it’s one of them

[@irena7777777]

La Villa Strangiato is better imo. And by quite a bit

[@Redpmac]

@@irena7777777 big Rush fan but I always struggled with that one. I know it’s highly rated though. All subjective of course.

[@MycontentisgoldJerryGold]

I recall still liking Acid Rain better after first hearing this track.

[@EatMyFist777]

This was my favorite LTE track, until I heard Key to the Imagination. I think it's more melodic, has better solos, and just feels like a step up from their previous work (they have had 20 years of practice in between them). But still, an unskippable track.

[@ZorgyGirl]

Relentless. This song is relentless. It grabs you and shakes you like a maracas for 15+ minutes and leaves you out to dry exhausted. It's the best prog metal instrumental ever recorded and deservedly so.

[@WescleyCarvalho]

indeed my friend!

[@NaanProphet]

The baby cry sound towards the end was used as a watermark to signify when John’s wife’s water actual broke and he had to go. The rest of the guys wrote the rest of the song without him.

[@Graad]

I have been listening to his song for more than 20 years and I have learned something new today ! Thanks for the explanation :D

[@carlosrobles5591]

Stop the 🧢

[@BradenMcClure-q6k]

​@carlosrobles5591 stop the talk

[@ulrishx]

Best LTE song ever. This live version is great, I will say this everytime I see DT or LTE live with MP he is so enjoyable to watch. Petrucci looks so exited playing this song, it's something they don't do frequently.

[@jwismar11]

Biaxident is a track from LTE2 that really grabbed my attention when it popped up on Pandora a few years back. "who are these guys?" Led me to Dream Theater for obvious reasons...

[@falloutfan2502]

I saw them in Chicago performing this set, when their keyboard broke. There's a bootleg called "When the Keyboard Breaks". The second half of the set, they just improvised since they couldn't do the normal songs. Jordan jumped on guitar, John on drums, and all sorts of crazy stuff! Epic!

[@Tommy-he7dx]

That's what i love about the true live events with great musicians, everyone is it's own experience, and it sounds like you had an amazing one :) There are too many modern concerts where the "live" sound just like the album track, some of the soul has been sucked out by "click tracks" in the ear......There's something to be said for the energy of the crowd propelling the band to play a little faster and that interaction makes the experience unique

[@BGkeys88]

Lucky you😊 I saw the show in NYC and there was no malfunctioning keyboard, hence no jam

[@tmapache]

I was there! It was frustrating at first, Jordan had the top brass from the manufacturer of the keyboard on the phone but they couldn't figure it out. I think he said everything was one half step off. What followed was amazing improv. They were there to deliver and they weren't going to let a busted instrument stop them.

[@falloutfan2502]

@@tmapache I remember Mike saying at the end, "any lesser band would have quit", and "you can't say you didn't get your money's worth". Amazing!

[@colinburroughs9871]

I was there too and I'm still bummed that I didn't get to see the gig as intended tbh. The jam was entertaining in the moment, but all things considered it wasn't actually very good upon listening to the bootleg. Ah well.

[@42scientist]

The main reason there was no third album for so long is mainly because Jordan got in Dream Theater, so LTE had no real reason to keep going with 3 out of 4 members in DT. But since Mike left, they can now go ahead and have some more fun together, and produce epic tracks like these. Absolute banger

[@RudyBleeker]

Also, even after Mike left DT, they were all still very busy with all their projects and whatnot. It was only when Covid-19 struck that they found themselves having the time to get together again, if only virtually, and create another album.

[@147pablox]

And fortunately enough, that wise decision end up delivering to the world six of the best albums in human history.

[@RudyBleeker]

@@147pablox What do you mean? LTE has only released 3 albums so far.

[@archonio]

@@RudyBleeker I thought he was referring to post-Portnoy DT for a minute there, then I realized they've only released five albums since he left, so it can't be that either.

[@nmnmnm9509]

Dt was the best band without its vocal ! I'm really happy I can hear their beautiful music without him.

[@ThanosNikolopoulos]

You are in for a treat! This is the epic masterpiece you should hear from the beginning, but even better now that you are familiar with their sound and style! Can't wait for your reaction ;-)

[@beare55]

This entire show is monumental, especially Rhapsody In Blue....

[@kallyfest]

Incredible, incredible precision of each player, it is a sacrilege that the camera does not show us John Petrucci's solo at 19:30 until 20:10. A great prog rock band. When a 17 minutes track feels like 5. wow.

[@richardwoodhouse8404]

SIMPLY ONE OF THE BEST INSTRUMENTALS OF ALL TIME, LETS HOPE FOR A 4TH ALBUM.

[@LuisRdzG10]

Doug trying to figure it out the chord progressions and tempos of progressive metal is always fun. Sometimes you just surrender, and that's ok.

[@pinnsnare]

lol

[@abonham82]

I really love that Mike’s kit is far more restrained than his Monster, but he still shines that classic MP flare

[@ThiagoCamposOfficial]

That is my favorite Liquid Tension song! Actually, my favorite instrumental track, EVER!

[@TheAsphyx666]

Music doesn't get much better than this. Tony Levin is a legend.

[@BadZodiac]

You’ve sampled LTE 3 and now LTE 2, time to go back and explore LTE 1, written and recorded in 10 days 👍

[@fabioriato]

There WILL be a fourth album. Mike's said they signed a deal for two records with Inside Out, so it's essentially a matter of time 'til these guys reunite for more music. Oh, and that baby soundscape you heard in the middle of the track is, according to John himself in the liner notes of the album, the exact musical passage they were working on when his wife's (Rena) water broke, giving birth to their third kid, Kiara.

[@GustavoGFirmino]

This might very well be among the most complex compositions ever. Incredible. The most you listen to this , the more details you get on their change of timings, structures of the riffs and passages, etc. Mike Portnoy some times going with the riff, and some times doing the opposite and finishing with the riff,,, this song is really out of this world.

[@TheKneezee]

Doug, thanks for the reaction. Imo it is their best song. And one of the best instrumentals songs of all time. Impossible to go wrong with this super group. Just brilliant what they do.

[@marcvolgers8352]

My favorite LTE song. Especially love the 7/8 section that culminates and that awesome riff.

[@danchstas]

this band from other galaxy, how need strenght to build this unbelievable and magnificent instrumental song

[@sgtmajorbuzz]

I prefer Acid Rain personally, but this one rocks too

[@curtisracz947]

I love this song! Honestly I've only been browsing this channel for about a month now and it's become one of my all time favorites. Thanks for doing this Doug these videos are awesome and very enjoyable

[@drolakdum7751]

I remember Mike saying that when they signed with a new record company for the most recent LTE, the contract stated that they would make 2 albums. so a 4th LTE should happen at some point

[@RodGrom]

WOOOOOWWW What a performance, and what a reaction!!! Thank you very much Doug, as a huge fan of both, LTE, and your channel, I appreciate this one just a little more!!! Funny story about this tour that they did, I don’t remember if this happened in L.A. or N.Y. But one of those venues, Tony forgot his bass guitar, and had to improvise with a bass guitar he borrowed from a friend, and apparently because the bass guitar had 12 strings, he wasn’t used to playing it, he was forced to improvise many of the songs, and it also changed the way Jordan had to play the keyboard an octave below to compensate for the bass guitar!!!! But they are such incredibly talented musicians, that it didn’t really matter because the crowd enjoyed the show just as much, if not even more so!!! Greetings from Denmark!!! And success wishes to you Doug!!!

[@Yupppi]

Jordan is just wild. Saw a bit of him playing with Steven Wilson prima vista on a small gig. Also saw him play improvising with Mr. Fastfinger Mika Tyyskä and that was amazing as well. You could never tell he hadn't learned the songs he was playing in my opinion. Petrucci also says he's on just another level musically, carrying him on stage. Of course that's humble flattery, but speaks to Rudess' abilities. Modulating on that keytar is just insane. Like on guitar you don't much care about your tuning because you just progress on the fretboard and everything is the same, but on keyboard you have the black keys, have to be really aware of where you are theorywise to combine it to mechanical performance. And he also performs entertainingly with his body on top of the mechanical aspect of the instrument. This really is like getting shocked by what people can do when they are good enough and decide to push the boundaries.

[@josenicolasmolinacartes5873]

finally this comment

[@speakwithanimals]

oooooooh my god i didn't know this was happening! he's gonna love this

[@levshyrokov6464]

Ohhh, yeah!!! Great! Each time someone of Dream Theater shows up on this channel I'm getting happy

[@projetofaq]

Hey Doug, you nailed it: unbelievable

[@theangryhog]

My son and I flew 1000 miles to see this tour on the "closest" stop (Chicago...a few nights before this performance) and at that particular show, about halfway through the set, Jordan's keyboard crapped out. I think it was something like every 4th note was playing a half step sharp or something. Anyway, he went off stage to call the keyboard's engineers at Roland in Japan to work on a fix while the rest of the band started just improvising. They didn't find a fix and instead they jammed for a good hour or so, which was awesome. At various points, everyone played different instruments without the music stopping. John moved to the bass, Jordan moved to the guitar (and was quite good, BTW), then the drummer for Anthrax (Charlie Benante) came on stage, took over the drums and Portnoy grabbed the bass. It was nuts. Some time later, they released the only (admittedly, mediocre) recording they had of that performance as a standalone album called "When the Keyboard Breaks". Sadly, we never got to hear "When the Water Breaks" that night (I think it was next) but instead we got something very unique. I got video of much of it on my phone, but phones sucked back then. It's not even watchable. Anyway, when they release their 4th album (which I read somewhere is a guaranteed thing) and they possibly tour, I'll travel wherever I need to so I can catch them again.

[@ssaammaael]

The most extraordinary concert ever.

[@FrancescoDiMauro]

unparalleled performance

[@DanielGarcia-sh8gk]

musical virtuosity in its purest expression!

[@CompleteProducer84]

Oh yes! I cannot wait for this one. One of my all time favorite LTE songs. While I do like the more recent LTE songs Doug has reacted to so far (Key to the Imagination, Rhapsody in Blue etc), IMO nothing beats some of the classics from the first 2 albums.

[@speakwithanimals]

totally agree, their first two albums are S tier

[@CompleteProducer84]

@@speakwithanimals Yes for sure! And some of the more under-appreciated songs like Biaxident and State of Grace are among my all time favs.

[@bernardodc9631]

He didnt do acid rain yet?? Oh no, i gotta search in his playlists right now

[@BGkeys88]

Yes, all songs are great from the first two album. And Acid Rain is so insane that a review is a must

[@CompleteProducer84]

@@bernardodc9631 I could have sworn he did Acid Rain awhile back (before he got into the LTE3 stuff), but apparently not! I bet he does it next. It's far and away their most popular tune.

[@capitansorete]

fun fact about Jordan's rig..he wanted to turn around with his keyboard because he likes to smile at everyone..both the audience and the rest of the band

[@otacon04psn]

Nice! my fav from LTE

[@marcusanthonyPOV]

The whole album is great but Another Dimension is my fav.

[@Tom-zy6ke]

Stupendously good, every so often people come along who redefine what's possible, leaving us mere mortals open mouthed in wonder. Saw an interview with Tony Levin talking about using the Chapman Stick rather than a standard bass in pieces like this, bassically (pun intended) it's the only way he can keep up with the tempo, as the Chapman stick lets him use both hands.

[@fabioriato]

That's essentially why he focused on it for their second album, instead of playing multiple basses like he did in their first record. He came prepared for fast music.

[@ryanfox3337]

I love seeing someone react to this in this way. This is the one song I try to put people onto for like 20 years

[@RickReipert]

No one plays like Portnoy! Amazing!

[@N13900]

This is Epic!! I always waited for this React by Doug

[@gradypatterson1948]

This is in contention for my favorite song of all time! I can listen several times in a row just counting the time signature changes! 😛 Tony "Legend" Levin - tied with Chris Squire and Ray Shulman (of Gentle Giant) for my all-time favorite bassists (and like Jordan, a really nice guy to meet after a show). I don't think you've reacted to any of his work with Stick Men - can't recommend them enough! Originally Tony with fellow Chapman Stick player Michael Bernier and drummer Pat Mastelotto (get the "stick Men" reference?), Michael left and was ably replaced by Touch Guitarist Markus Reuter. Given your classical background (and enjoyment of LTE's version of "Rhapsody In Blue"), their 3-man interpretation of Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite" would be a good place to start, but there isn't really a *bad* place (although their longer improv pieces - while excellent - might be a bit ambient for an intro to the band).

[@CounterflowEntropy]

This is one of the best compositions from LTE

[@michaelhylanddpt]

LTE 2 and their first album have been on my bucket list for a physical copy for a while now. I picked up LTE 3 as soon as I could and I have loved it. But I’ve streamed these songs for two years now and absolutely love “When the Water Breaks.”

[@underratedgarage]

My favorite song!

[@topfeedcoco]

Yeah I'm subbing to your reacts, thank you for not stopping and starting incessantly. Great channel, I like the way you listen to music brother.

[@The_rocking_scotsman]

Loved that Album. It's another masterpiece from LTE. Thx 4 that one Doug 👍🏻👍🏻

[@TheDondoran]

I haven't even watched this yet, but thank you so much for covering it. I've watched so many of your videos, and a lot of other reaction videos. This song just isn't featured very often, and it's probably my favorite instrumental piece ever. Not just within metal. Just a silly side note: I'm a cook, and when I know things are about to get really tough in the kitchen, LTE is one of my go-to bands. This song (and Acid Rain and Paradigm Shift) have helped me through a bunch of rough times.

[@efrankphd]

It always amazes me how they can preform a piece like this without sheet music in front of them and still be tight as hell....wow!

[@chillwestmusic]

I think JR had his charts on an iPad on his stand.

[@krismaciejewski]

@@chillwestmusic Correct. But none of the others.

[@BGkeys88]

​@@chillwestmusicit's actually not an iPad. He uses a different company for that device but yes, he always has his sheet music on there to read and follow along

[@NorgGrimm]

"They're just kinda going around in a sequential pattern" That my friends is how I would sum up music.

[@baconair]

I had my first child at the time I heard this song. To me, it encapsulates everything there is about having a baby - the chaos, the love, the tiredness, the beauty, the "constant crying", the over-the-top feelings going rampant. It's bullseye.

[@fabhypnotik7272]

Amazing !! Many thanks ! I discovered it differently with you !

[@Maurock-NZ]

loved this reaction Doug, i discovered LTE before DT in 2000 at school, and this song is my favorite, you are awesome !, from a Chilean in New Zealand

[@emersonrodriguez9076]

When the Water Breaks should be the Anthem of the Universe.

[@tixximmi1]

I was thinking of Greggery Peccary.

[@rebeccamennen5020]

Its the anthem of MY universe.. changed my life! Top fave of faves….A masterpiece. Cheers!

[@emersonrodriguez9076]

@@rebeccamennen5020 Cheers!!!

[@jima6545]

Oh man!!! This is worth the wait 0(and the loss of sleep). PS i actually held my breath afraid you wouldn't hear the live version. Thank you Doug. You're the one reactor i wanted to see this

[@r.b.ratieta6111]

Watching this makes me glad I'm not the only person who's gone back multiple times in the middle of a DT/LTE song so I can analyze what they did and how.

[@flapjackson6077]

Lmao! When Doug said “I love his rig!”, I said: you ain’t seen nuthin yet! And you may notice, that blues keyboard solo is very reminiscent of Pink Floyd Echoes! I’ve been waiting for a couple years to see your reaction to this song. LTE are master musicians. Yep, Rhapsody in Blue is a great performance!

[@m_adinterim]

Petrucci and Rudess did this live performance quite a few years ago; just the two of them (mostly acoustic). It’s called An Evening With Petrucci and Rudess (i think). You should check that out. Awesome performance.

[@WhizMitchell]

Wow. Just wow. World class players. How do you remember all of that?? 😮 Those incredible time signature changes. Astonishing.

[@pozzowon]

14:25 Doug so happy he forgot to complain about double kick drum, even after seeing it in action

[@evgenyovechkin8607]

Thank you for these DT and LTE video reactions! Always fun to watch) It would be also interesting to watch a video about this composition from the composer point of view. Musical choices, scales, rhythmic structure and so on... Will be wainting )))

[@volpeverde6441]

insane band with one of my favourite bass players....

[@shanebilowitz7261]

I love how the music box theme at the beginning is reprised during the guitar solo much later

[@drbastianac8252]

simply the BEST song ever created by human beings

[@BGkeys88]

Behold the Zen Riffer!!! Jordan's keytar has a small number of keys but he is very good with using the octave up and down buttons 😊

[@bernardodc9631]

Been waiting for this for so long!!!!

[@JuanCAraujoS]

What I love about the part you listen to in 11:01 is that, while bass, guitar and keys are playing on 6/4, the drums alternate between 5/8 and 7/8 (thus 12/8=6/4) as explained by Mike Portnoy himself. Different time signatures landing perfectly together, BEAUTIFUL!

[@Kaffekimmer]

I found my self sitting and analyse this a loooong. Time ago as well. Huge fan of both dream theater and liquid tension. Just an amazing band, song and heavenly music 🎵🎶

[@OddVenture7]

GOATS

[@KPD017]

Saw them in 2008 at The Independent. That was a tiny but mighty venue! Great memories! I had seen DT many times by the time I saw LTE I just watched Levin the whole time. He’s amazing. I even made it onto his picture he posted on social media. I’m just so grateful I was in their presence. I love the story behind the song. You know John’s wife is a rock star too!

[@basione]

This one is my absolute favourite LTE piece! Practiced this on guitar for years. Still, can't play at all. If I may also humbly suggest "Angra - Sprouts of Time" for your attention? It's a very nice song. Though, no relation to LTE :)

[@pandomeglio]

Best of best!

[@stephendennis5911]

Such an amazing power Full of energy and sound

[@williamscolaro1159]

I’m happy they did LTE3, but nothing could touch what they did in the late 90s.

[@colombanoalessandro]

Thanks for listening to our feedback ❤

[@MacTaipan]

Whenever I see Tony vibing with his Chapman stick, I can't help but think he's the coolest looking dude ever.

[@diasspeed]

Damn! They are fantastic! So good performance!

[@raptortalon86]

Love these guys so much. Met Jordan in Philly. He was so nice.

[@paulgambro4264]

I wrote my residency's thesis while listening to their two albums

[@shellderp]

all their live videos are incredible!

[@user-ef4dl9ey9w]

7:25 Dr indeed. Studied a little music theory in high school, played Trumpet and a little bit of drums but this, blows me away! What you just said reminds me of this: Einstein: 'What I most admire about your art, is your universality. You don't say a word, yet the world understands you!' Chaplin: 'True. But your glory is even greater! The whole world admires you, even though they don't understand a word of what you say.'"

[@ssaammaael]

My favorite piece of music ever.

[@NS1.]

Mr. Helvering, since you enjoy the style of Dream Theater (and other technical prog metal bands), I think it's time you introduce yourself to the band 'Andromeda' from Sweden. Their first album, 'Extension of the Wish' was released in 2001 and it is a masterpiece. They didn't have a permanent vocalist, so they used a session singer named Lawrence Mackrory. Just a few months later they found a permanent singer (David Fremberg) and re-recorded their debut album with him on vocals. So, there are 2 version of that first album. The re-recorded album is called "Extension of the Wish - Definitive Extension". Some people love the first version with the session singer, (He's not bad. Kinda unique, but not a lot of range), and some people prefer their second/permanent singer who has the better range. Personally, I haven't decided which one I prefer. However, on the original I think the production is better. All that being said, please do a reaction/analysis of them. 😁🤞The music is great. Very impressive and easy on the ears. If I had to choose one or two for you, I'd recommend "In the Deepest of Waters" (either version) or the title track "Extension of The Wish" (either version). Pretty much every song is great so it's hard to choose. Actually, I'd be giddy as a schoolgirl if you did the whole album. 🤭

[@147pablox]

You should listen to the track Another Dimension, which is literally from another dimension..

[@miguelangellobraceignozza900]

Hello there my friend, from Verona NewJersey. Best band ever

[@TsunamiBeefPies]

Remarkable piece of music, and as you said, impeccably performed. The looks you give the camera (and us, of course) when musicians do seemingly impossible things just slay me. And these musicians really are in the upper echelons of musical talent on the planet at the moment. But since you love TLev (Robert Fripp's nickname for him) and great musicianship so much, you can hear Tony use the upper register of his Stick more often in his other band Stick Men. Tony, his friend from Crimson Pat Mastelotto on acoustic and electronic percussion, and the remarkable Markus Reuter on the U8, a touch-style guitar that he designed himself, form a power trio the likes of which you've never seen before. Studio albums "Deep", "Prog Noir", or "Tentacles" will amaze and delight you.

[@leocam]

I would love to see a reaction on allan holdsworth's atavachron, or any of his albums. Great channel!!

[@fabianbh]

Awesome, although I have listened to that song many times, I really enjoyed watching it with you!!!

[@charlesquinn8746]

I was watching you'r video on Shine on you crazy diamond when this one popped up had not seen it so this evening I gave it a go glad I did what a band checked them out on youtube then went on Amazon and purchased their 3 albums on cd

[@ArtGuitarLTX]

Haven't seen the video yet but this is one of my FAVORITE LTE tracks... and damn hard on guitar... lol. I know you are gonna dig it.... Man the way you broke this song down in keys.. mind blowing how fast your brain work.. not surprised. lol. You are AWESOME! @15:42 .. that Petrucci line always scared the hell out of me to learn 😅

[@julien2231]

That bass at 14ish!!!❤❤

[@wfly81]

For what it's worth, which isn't much, my favorite LTE song is "Biaxident".

[@keysersoze5443]

16 min mark i definitely here Deep Purple. tribute maybe?

[@BatFang-s8y]

I was actually at that Downey show. I can't believe it was that long ago; seems like yesterday. You know when you rearrange the letters in 'hell yeah' you almost get 'Hey y',all.' You should also do Acid Rain.

[@sebulban]

LTE 1 and 2 are incredible albums. To me they are the hallmarks of instrumental prog. I always thought that they made these so they didn’t had to think about vocals and Labrie. Just enjoying the jamming sessions freely and put them on a record.

[@lifeofapotato4595]

I'm more a Paragdimn Shift, Acid Rain and Universal Mind guy but this song still feels goood

[@Calabrel]

Reminder that during your interview, you told Jordan Rudess that you'd do an episode of his cover of Tarkus from his album "The Road Home"

[@BeadsArtBrasil]

I love your channel. Hugs from Brazil

[@Starman_67]

Doug, Acid Rain from the same gig. My personal fave. 🤘👀🤘

[@norair1010]

When I was a student at UCLA they had people come and share their experiences. They ranged from Tommy Lasorda(baseball manager), Steve Martin (comedian) and Chilliwack(Canadian band). One day they had Emmett Chapman the inventor of the Chapman Stick. I didn't know what a Chapman Stick was but I had nothing to do between classes so I went. Mr. Chapman turned out to be a UCLA alumnus . He spoke about the invention for about half the time then he plugged one in and blew everybody's mind. Then a few weeks later I saw Peter Gabriel with Tony Levin( He brought out a Chapman Stick). What a show. Mr. Chapman continued to perform. He passed away couple years ago. RIP Mr. Chapman. He has a few videos on YT playing and explaining the instrument.

[@norair1010]

​@The_Doug_Helvering- Replying to your reply.

[@tmapache]

Did you know that HELL YEA is an anagram of HEY'ALL? 22:29