Away Team

Queensryche
30th Anniversary Tour
Tuesday 8NOV11
Lincoln Theatre
Raleigh, NC



I think I’ve said on here once or twice that I am a huge Queensryche fan. If not, here ya go. That being said, I have tried to like their newer albums. American Soldier actually was a good album, their best since Promised Land, but the rest just fall a little flat for me.

I have listened to Queensryche since I first heard the EP in 1984. I first saw them in 1988 when the opened for Metallica on the Damaged Justice Tour in San Francisco. Loved the music but thought they were lost on stage in an arena (I was really high that night too, so it could have just been me).

I wouldn’t have the chance to see them again until Building Empires Tour in 1992 where they blew me away by performing Mindcrime in its entirety! They filled the arena and performed like they deserved to be there too.

Many years have gone by and Queensryche has released several albums that the fans (me included) have debated whether they were Ryche worthy or not. But one thing Queensryche has always done well (at least since 92 for me) is perform well live.

They have made sure that they always have a reason for you to come see their show, whether it’s performing suites (large sections of albums) or albums in their entirety, they always give you a reason to see their next tour (besides being a tremendous live band now).

For their 30th Anniversary Tour they have actually reverted back to the old fashioned tour dogma of playing a little something from everything. And I do believe every album was represented (other than their recent covers album) in the set they performed here in Raleigh.

The band in their infinite wisdom didn’t just come out and perform ‘The Lady Wore Black’ and run through their hits chronologically, they mixed it up, Starting the set with the latest ‘Get Started’ and moved on to a brilliant version of ‘Damaged’. The sole representation of Promised Land was a real treat for me and live was great and no small feat to pull off in my opinion!

‘Desert Dance’ off of Tribe was actually a great tune live. And maybe that’s what their latest studio albums need to bring them to life or more favor to their fans, to be performed live. You can always tell the newer tunes (anything after Promised Land in my opinion is the ‘newer’ stuff) when they’re performed because they just seem to be a little less… connected maybe? It is very difficult for me to describe, but my girlfriend was with me at the show (her third Queensryche show thanks to me) and she would even turn to me during the newer stuff and remark that it must be a newer song because it was missing something. It wasn’t as ‘rich’ as the other tunes and this is from someone who only hears them when I play them and live she can even tell the difference between pre-Promised Land and post-Promised Land material.

The highlight of the night for me had to be ‘The Real World’. I have never seen it performed live and never thought I would considering it was a cast off from the soundtrack to Last Action Hero. And I wasn’t sure they could pull it live considering the heavy string arrangement by the late Michael Kamen (RIP Sir) but it sounded fantastic and had half the crowd shaking their head wondering where the song was from and the other half drooling over it.

Queensryche‘s run from NM 156 to Screaming In Digital was a stroke of brilliance and I’ve often wondered why they haven’t done it before. Geoff Tate’s voice hasn’t lost a step over the years, he may not be able to hold the higher notes as long as he used to, but he still puts on a hell of a show and sings his ass off and does himself and the band proud. In the age of all these 80’s bands trying to sing their old stuff after 30 years of vocal abuse and simple age and mangling their legacy doing so (see Joe Elliot of Def Leppard, Stephen Pearcy of Ratt, Joey Belladonna of Anthrax, etc, etc, etc) it is great to see someone able to still sing their material correctly and not just that, but very well done!

The Ryche may not be headlining arenas anymore but based on their live shows they should be. The theaters we’re seeing them in today makes for an intimate setting but the sound that the band generates should be filling arenas around the world. A live Queensryche show is always something to behold and they always come up with a new reason to go see them, and see them you should. The band has been around for 30 years for a reason, and their live show says everything you need to know about them. Michael Wilton is a great guitarist and Parker Lundgren holds his own with Michael and the band. Eddie Jackson has always been a beast at the bass and there may only be one or two people better on the drums that Scott Rockenfield. The man can certainly go step for step with Mike Portnoy and Neil Peart. And as I’ve already stated, the showmanship and vocals of Geoff Tate are nothing short of spectacular 30 years on!

For more QUEENSRYCHE click here.

Thursday, October 27, 2011 – Chameleon Club
Photos by Marcy J. Royce

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As we arrived at the Chameleon Club and searched for parking, I knew what was inside would be nothing short of a sellout. And I was right! Walking into the room I noticed the super crowded area at the back bar. Yes, damn near a sellout. People were packed into the slender but long facility, all charged up to see Queensryche. And I noticed the average age of the fans, 35+. As Queensryche garnished most of it’s fans from the old school metal/rock of the 80′s and early 90′s.

Making my way from the back bar to the front by the stage was going to be difficult. Everyone was sardined in place. After a generous offer from a trusted security guy, we made it to where we needed to be. As I looked over the crowd I saw just how pumped up they were. Took my place in the pit and felt the crowd energy as they became restless, chanting ‘Ryche, ‘Ryche, ‘Ryche. The frenzy was about to take off.

The last time I saw Queensryche was when they were an opener for Judas Priest in June 2005 at The Giant Center in Hershey, PA. Needless to say 6 years was a long time for me to see them again. But oh so well worth the wait. Get Started was a perfect opener. Luckily I was the only photog in the pit, during that song I was everywhere. Geoff was working off the crowd energy and he returned that energy. Once again, the best place to be to feel that electricity is where I was. I get off of that stuff, pumps me up, pushes me hard to capture as much of the energy through my camera as I can.  Next up was Damaged followed by I Don’t Believe In Love (which is one of my favorites). The fan frenzy for that song was iconic. I heard just as much sing along as I did Geoff through the PA system. Tingles ran down my spine. It’s a feeling like no other.

I made my way to my spot that I occupied for the rest of the night, just off stage left. I had a somewhat obstructed view because of the architecture of the Chameleon, but I bobbed and weaved to see what I needed. The great part about this spot is the long stretch of 1 foot high mirrors on the oppposite side of the room. This way I could see how packed the fans were, right up to the railings, on both the second and third levels. Arms were waving and the voltage meter rised with every song. This spot was also much better for me to take in all that is Scott Rockenfield. I love drummers and their craft. I take in everything that I can. Scott was quiet impressive with his kit setup and use of everything. One woman directly in front of me kept taking photos of Scott and Parker, she was so enamored with them both. She would look back at me and giggle. I laughed as I knew I shared that same sentiment for Scott. Parker and Michael were both tearing up the stage. Riffs and solos screaming with metal goodness. I did notice when Parker changed guitars to start using the Gretsch, that poor guy looked so small. But boy did he make that thing sing.

The night went so fast. Lots of good choices for the setlist. And I was heavily anticipating the encore. I just knew Jet City Woman and Empire HAD to be in there. Two staples of the good ole earlier days of ‘Ryche. But I was sadly disappointed. One encore song was played, Eyes Of A Stranger. Not sure why they nixed those other two songs, it was on the setlist to perform. Maybe someone wasn’t feeling well, and I can understand that. But nonetheless, I as an old fan was left wanting them. Guess that means I’ll have to catch them again soon. Which I hope to do!

For all that is Queensryche, go to http://www.queensryche.com/

Special thanks to Jeff Albright for making this happen for myself and Away-Team. It was a pleasure sir!

Eagle Rock Entertainment is proud to announce the October 18 release of Queensrÿche: Mindcrime At The Moore — the first Queensrÿche Blu-Ray ever.

Filmed in front of the band’s hometown crowd in Seattle over three nights in 2006, the story of Nikki, as originally told on two albums—1988’s Operation: Mindcrime and 2006’s Operation: Mindcrime II —is the story of one of the most enigmatic characters in the history of Progressive Rock. Nikki’s a junkie, a political revolutionary and an assassin. His relationships with Sister Mary and the manipulative Dr. X form the backbone of a complex tale that is told at the Moore Theater with actors, staging and film.

Three hours long, recorded in DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Digital 5.1, with three bonus extras—a tour documentary, a version of “The Chase” from Los Angeles with Ronnie James Dio as Dr. X, and “Queensrÿche Rock’n’Ride” (a documentary on the band’s charity motorcycle event)—Mindcrime At The Moore is a high-definition knock-out of a disc that fully presents this mammoth stage production the way it was meant to be told. The band—vocalist Geoff Tate, drummer Scott Rockenfield, bassist Eddie Jackson and guitarists Michael Wilton/Mike Stone—are augmented by Pamela Moore as Sister Mary and the aforementioned Dio who only performed as Dr. X that one time and was shown on film for the rest of the tour.

The 32-song concert ends with an additional two-song encore of fan favorites “Jet City Woman” and “Walk In The Shadows.” The two critically acclaimed Mindcrime albums have sold over two million copies in North America alone.

TRACK LISTING
OPERATION: MINDCRIME PART I
I Remember Now
Anarchy-X
Revolution Calling
Operation: Mindcrime
Speak
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

OPERATION: MINDCRIME PART II
Freiheit Ouverture
Convict
I’m American
One Foot In Hell
Hostage
The Hands
Speed Of Light
Signs Say Go
Re-Arrange You
The Chase
Murderer?
Circles
If I Could Change It All
An Intentional Confrontation
A Junkie’s Blues
Fear City Slide
All The Promises

ENCORE
Walk In The Shadows
Jet City Woman














To purchase Queensryche: Mindcrime At The Moore click here.

Michael Wilton of QUEENSRŸCHE is set to tentatively release WRATCHET HEAD in October 2010 via Rat Pak Records.

The first single, ‘Coming for You‘, will be featured on an upcoming commercial for Erik Buell Racing.

According to a press release, this new offering will in no way mirror any of Michael’s recent work. From its musical conceptions to its presentation, Wratchet Head will be an entirely new interpretation of exactly what you would hope and expect to hear from an artist whose roots run deep in the hard rock/heavy metal genres.

“There were no unwanted ‘hands in the mix’ guiding or dictating the album’s direction, thus making the creative process wide open for Michael and the band,” says RPR President Joe O’Brien.

With renowned West Coast vocalist Rane Stone, heavy-handed drummer Adam Clark, guitarist Jesse Paul, bassist Steve Jackson, and a couple of TBA guest surprises, Wratchet Head will quickly establish itself as a force to be reckoned with.

Featured track titles include: ‘Coming for You‘, ‘Doomsday‘, ‘Your Confession‘, ‘All For You‘, ‘Only Human‘, ‘Broken‘, ‘Black And Cold‘, ‘Defy‘ and more.

For More information on MICHAEL WILTON’s WRATCHET HEAD visit the website here.