After starting out 18 years ago in California, each of the five men who take the stage are true masters of their instuments. They might not know style, some sporting shaven heads and white trainers with leather trousers, but it's the music matters, and this lot can really play.

The show opens with a flashback short film covering each of Dream Theater's numerous studio and live albums, and the fans are openly rabid in their appreciation of each offering from their heroes.

As the band takes to the stage, the Apollo is shaken to its foundations by the roar of the crowd who are gagging for the aural fix. Tearing into As I Am, the opening track from latest release Train Of Thought, one of two reactions ensue: i) frenzied moshing; or ii) open-mouthed adoration from observing fellow musicians, whom all have the same "how does he do that?" look upon their faces, which lasts for most of the next three hours.

There is no band I have ever witnessed who could keep my undivided attention for more than seven or eight minutes in a single song, yet Dream Theater manage it on several occasions, with more than one song lasting longer than 20 minutes.

After some flawless, immense renditions of songs like Endless Sacrifice and The Great Debate, there's the musical equivalent of what people do to win the Nobel prize. Mike Portnoy's drum solo, which lasts for multiple minutes, shows a man more in control of his 40+ piece kit than the world has ever seen (incidentally, who uses three bass drums?!). As every straining ear in the place can hear, there is not a single sound made that isn't intended in whatever time signature he chooses. This unbelievable display is matched by subsequent guitar and piano solos, courtesy of John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess, which are dispersed throughout the evening and played with perfect precision.

After well over an hour, the band retires for an intermission, returning with the brilliant Another Day from 1992's Images And Words. They follow this with In The Name Of God which includes a synchronised guitar and keyboard solo and which has to be seen to believed - if there's a DVD buy it just to witness this!

With two encores, including a treat for admiring bassists who get to see and hear John Myung's other-worldly tapping, slapping and abuse of his six-string bass, and a three-hour set, the experience of Dream Theater live re-defines value for money.

As the evening ends, the band take several bows before their adoring fans and promise to return before 2004 is out. If you missed them this time, don't make the same mistake again.

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Mercury Prize 2009 nominees