In a recent conversation with The Keyboard Chronicles, Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess shared insights on how fans have been reacting to the band’s latest studio release, Parasomnia, which arrived this past February.
Reflecting on the album’s reception, Rudess explained: “Live, we’ve only played two of the songs, “Night Terror” and “Midnight Messiah”. And they’re really, really fun to play live. You don’t know until you do it, but they have a lot of power. There’s a lot of energy in those songs, and you can feel it. It’s very tangible. So that’s what I’ve experienced live as far as feedback from people. Other than that, the album has been very well received, which is so exciting.” (as transcribed by Blabbermouth.net)
During the interview, Rudess also touched on the band’s milestone year. Dream Theater recently wrapped up a sold-out North American tour earlier in 2025, which included a notable stop at Radio City Music Hall in New York City to mark their 40th anniversary.
Commenting on this achievement, he said: “It’s really a great time for Dream Theater, and it’s really unusual because, think about it: we were just out there celebrating the 40-year anniversary — I’ve been with [the band] for 26 [years] — but [it’s been] 40 years since the [some of the other Dream Theater] guys met at Berklee [College of Music], basically; this celebrates the day they met, I think, in the Berklee halls, that kind of thing. But it’s been incredible, after 40 years, to have one of the best [runs], if not the best run, or the best year of our career. So we’re just doing it, enjoying it and kind of trying to take it in at the same point.”
Building on that momentum, Dream Theater will soon return to the road with an extensive U.S. tour titled An Evening With Dream Theater. The band will be spotlighting Parasomnia, performing the album in full alongside a selection of fan favorites and classic tracks. This 30-city tour kicks off on September 5 in Reading, Pennsylvania, and wraps up on October 25 in Long Island, New York. Along the way, the band will visit cities including Orlando, Florida; Detroit, Michigan; Kansas City, Missouri; and Providence, Rhode Island, among others.
Parasomnia, was released on February 7, 2025, via InsideOut Music, holds particular significance as it marks Dream Theater’s first album with drummer Mike Portnoy since their 2009 release Black Clouds & Silver Linings. The album was produced by guitarist John Petrucci, engineered by James “Jimmy T” Meslin, and mixed by Andy Sneap. The album’s visual design was once again crafted by Hugh Syme, who returned to create the cover art.
