Concert Review: Queensryche – January 11, 2014 – Atlanta, GA

Img_7400Queensryche
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Atlanta, GA – Center Stage Theater

Lately it seems that the name Queensryche has two meanings.  Well, not so much two meanings as two bands.  For over a year or so Queensryche has been a band divided.  Geoff Tate’s Queensryche and what has now been come to be called the “Todd LaTorre Fronted Queensryche.”  Maybe that sounds better than “Eddie Jackson’s Queensryche” but I’ll digress.  Along with this divided band it seems that the band’s fan base has also become a fan base divided.  Some fans have chosen to go strictly anti-Tate and align with LaTorre and company while some have chosen to go with Tate’s Queensryche.  As a huge fan myself, I chose to not subscribe to the asinine concept of choosing an alliance.  I’m a Queensryche fan and I’m a Geoff Tate fan but at the end of the day, I’m going to let the music and the performance do the talking.

When Geoff Tate’s Queensryche made its way to Atlanta I was equal parts excited and nervous.  I truly wanted this show to live up to my expectations and to remind me just why I am both a Geoff Tate fan and a Queensryche fan.  As “Anarchy X” filled the room of the nearly capacity Center Stage Theater I got goose bumps and a knot in my throat.  The band sounded absolutely amazing and as the opening chords to “Revolution Calling” rang out, the audience roared as Tate entered the stage looking confident, prepared for anything, and sounding fantastic.  I’ve heard many people slamming Tate’s voice.  Tate might not be hitting all the insane notes that he did in his 20s but let’s be honest here.  This isn’t 1995 Queensryche.  This is an older, refined, and more worn version of Queensyche.  30+ years into the game, look at some of the other greats such as Halford, Dickinson, and even Dio (RIP).  While all amazing fucking singers to this day, their voices have grown and have been a tad worn over the years.  Tate is no exception and in my mind I thought he sounded and looked fantastic.

As for the band, this all-star lineup was off the charts.  The band itself on paper is a top notch roster of musicians.  Having two legends in the band, drummer Simon Img_7377Wright (AC/DC, Dio, UFO) and bassist Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot) made this band an unstoppable entity while guitarists Kelly Gray and Robert Sarzo (Hurricane) and longtime Queensryche keyboardist Randy Gane completed one hell of a facemelting lineup.  Tate and his new band seemed to be making a serious connection on stage and there was a strong sense of respect and admiration among them which was a really refreshing thing to see.   These guys were more than capable of pulling off the complexities of this material and it left me wanting to see these guys go even deeper into some of the other material from past albums.

Performing Operation: Mindcrime wasn’t the most exciting thing for me to think of but there’s a reason this album is held in such high regard.  Tate and Co. took this brought this classic album to life and hearing it live in its entirety for the first time since 1990’s Building Empires tour was truly a gift.  Tate really takes on a role of sorts when performing and for this show he was completely invested in this performance.  You could tell he was really connected with the songs and with the audience.  The audience sang along with every song and there wasn’t a person in the room that I could see that wasn’t loving every note being played.    Looking around me, the nearly sold out theater seemed to truly love the show this night.  I didn’t hear anyone screaming unpleasantries.  I didn’t see people leaving.  What I saw was nearly 1000 people smiling ear to hear as Tate and company made their way through one of the most definitive metal albums of all time.

When the band returned to the stage for a suite of songs from Emprie as the encore, Geoff took a moment to introduce the band.  One by one he introduced the band and everyone just seemed to be so connected and there was a true sense of mutual admiration among these guys.  Geoff also went on to thank everyone for coming out and stated what an emotional time it had been for him.  There were no stabs taken at his former bandmates.  Tate was a class act and seemed truly moved and appreciative of the supportive crowd that came out to show their love for Queensryche.  Guitarist Robert Sarzo began to play the intro to “Silent Lucidity” and by the time this song was over I had tears in my eyes.  It was a truly moving performance and as the band closed things out with “Empire”, the venue roared with approval as the band took their final bow and exited the stage.

Img_7370Geoff Tate’s Queensryche put on a performance that left my face completely melted and left me remembering why Operation: Mindcrime is such an important album.  I would love nothing more than to see Tate continue on with this line up and really grow with them to take Queensryche in a bold, new, and adventurous direction.  I’d like to think that no matter how this all pans out that Geoff Tate will continue to bring these songs to the fans and continue to move forward whether under the Queensryche moniker or just as Geoff Tate.  Either way Geoff has a lifelong fan and supporter in me.

Setlist

Anarchy X, Revolution Calling, Operation: Mindcrime, Speak, Drum Solo, Spreading the Disease, The Mission, Suite Sister Mary, The Needle Lies, Electric Requiem, Breaking the Silence, I Don’t Believe in Love, Waiting for 22, My Empty Room, Eyes of a Stranger

Encore: Empire Suite
Silent Lucidity, Best I Can, Jet City Woman, Empire

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