Tour Title: Q2k Tour
|
Tour Title: Q2k Tour |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
|
2 | |
|
3 | |
|
3 | |
| Go to Reader Reviews |
Abyss's Review (12/2/99, Beacon Theatre, New York, NY):
Where Have All the Children Gone?
Queensryche, at one point long ago, in what seems like a galaxy far, far away, was one of my favorite bands. Their albums leading up to and including Operation: Mindcrime were worn out in my CD player. But unfortunately, around the release of the aforementioned concept album, the mainstream sunk their claws into this talented band. Although Empire wasn't without merit, it was an obvious step down toward commercialism and mediocrity, and thus my interest in this band began to wane. For these reasons, when I got my ticket to see this band for the first time since '92, I wasn't all that excited.
Unfortunately, when I first got to the show I was confronted by a few songs from their newer albums, and my mood didn't immediately change. I was expecting to write a review consisting of the tired fact that while they sounded good and polished, they failed to excite me. In all honesty, most of my entertainment in the early goings came from the crowd that had gathered to see them.
"Apparently, Q2k hasn't been a big hit among the kiddies." First of all, there was no one, I mean no one, in the crowd younger than 26 years old. Apparently, Q2k hasn't been a big hit among the kiddies. Of the males there, there appeared to be two types. The first wore predominantly leather clothing, and tried their best to imitate the look the band sported on the insert of the Rage for Order album (sure the music was awesome, but I don't even think the band wants to be reminded of some of the fashion mistakes that were made, and besides, how many accessories should a man really be wearing?). The second were fat 30-somethings donning sweatshirts and backward baseball caps who had an affinity for playing air guitar. It was just like an 80s rock show, only older. But as I was making these observations (which, by the way, are all good natured; if they weren't, I'd talk about fat, poorly aged women who were probably attractive in high school, and seem to love to dance the same way no matter how heavy the song is), the Rychemen humored me by tearing into an older song (according to this evening's setlist "older" basically means Mindcrime) and I was reminded of what made me love this band so much in my youth.
Mr. Tate's vocals were dead on, and he did his best to bring drama to the songs, by flailing his arms and rolling on the ground. This was either passionate or cheesy depending on your personal take. The absence of DeGarmo hasn't seemed to phase this band in the live arena, with all of the axework sounding dead on. The rhythm section was equally up to the task at hand as these fellows proved what it meant to be a veteran live band. My personal highlight was them going "way back" for "Walk in the Shadows," the only pre-Mindcrime track that was played. And of course, most of that concept album was played, showing the band knows what the crowd wants to hear. Unfortunately, I found myself bored during the newer material, which just doesn't have enough bite to interest me. The older material, however, easily showcases this band's talent, and makes it worthwhile for the dispossessed Queensryche fans to shell out some bucks to see a great, if dated, show. Knocked off a skull because if you are going to do a cover, don't choose one by U2 ("Bullet the Blue Sky"), and if you do, don't play the extended version.
"The older material makes it worthwhile for the dispossessed Queensryche fans to shell out some bucks to see a great, if dated, show."
Death's Review (12/2/99, Beacon Theatre, New York, NY):
Having read the reports of this tour's earlier west coast swing, I knew not to expect to hear "Roads to Madness," "The Lady Wore Black," or "Screaming in Digital."" As angry as that made me, the prospect of this show taking place at New York's most prestigious of rock showcases, The Beacon Theatre, partially made up for my otherwise diminished enthusiasm.
Our last minute decision to subject this show to Judgment Committee scrutiny actually made me kind of nervous. Along with Metallica, Queensryche was my favorite band in high school. Hands down, flatout. The caption underneath my senior yearbook picture reads "Take Hold of the Flame." You get the idea. Anyway, what if they sucked now? This cold December evening suddenly held the prospect of not only a disappointing revelation, but now also my having to play the role of County Coroner. Would I have to pronounce to the Internet the time of death as someplace on the near side of the millennium? Not a pleasant thought.
"The caption underneath my senior yearbook picture reads "Take Hold of the Flame." I'm happy to report that while it isn't exactly what you would've imagined in 1986, 21st Century Queensryche's still got a pulse. Yes, the nostalgia factor runs high. Even we, after a couple of beers, were so engrossed in Queensryche trivia and conversation ("What's your favorite song off of Mindcrime?" "Is Rage or Warning their best album?" "Don't you think Promised Land is incredibly underrated?") that we lost track of time and showed up at the venue late. However, nostalgia does not reign. Queensryche's New York appearance was marked by a sold-out crowd full of enthusiastic and knowledgable fans in a beautiful setting, and the band was up to the task. They sounded great.
Yes, we arrived late. Late, but in great spirits and totally primed to see the once-great 'Ryche preach to the faithful for perhaps the final time. Knowing that this concert would mostly consist of their late nineties selections, I just set out to see if there was any fun to be had watching Queensryche anymore. There was. I had a blast.
"I set out to see if there was any fun to be had watching Queensryche anymore. There was. I had a blast." People were really into it. Enthusiastic audiences are at least 33% of the formula for a good concert, in my opinion. A theater full of people celebrating the majesty of Queensryche? I can't imagine I'd ever end up being the lone dissenter.
Geoff Tate's best line of the evening (paraphrased):
"We've toured all around the world for many years. Everywhere we go, the people we meet keeping tell us the same thing. It seems there is one universal truth: everybody loves Operation: Mindcrime"Mindcrime is only my fourth favorite 'Ryche album (Warning, Rage, and Promised Land come before it). But that record got the full treatment this night. "Spreading the Disease," "Breaking the Silence," "The Needle Lies," "I Don't Believe in Love," "Electric Requiem," and a brilliant "Eyes of a Stranger" were all here, and I'm told we missed a couple more at the beginning of the set. Rage For Order showed it still existed by the inclusion of a killer version of "Walk in the Shadows" in the set. But nothing older than that made an appearance.
Even 1994's Promised Land got screwed: we only saw "Damaged," cool, but not one of that album's best tunes ("I am I," "Promised Land," or "Someone Else?" would have made my night). The version of "Empire" was also a highlight. Add in "Silent Lucidity," and everything else we caught was from Q2k. "The Right Side of My Mind," that album's best track, stands out just as equally in the live setting. "Sacred Ground" and "Burning Man" also sounded good. The cover of U2's "Bullet the Blue Sky" was unnecessary given the ommission of so many of their own classics.
"This tour took a lot of shit in the metal community, but I for one had a great time. A decent show, from a band showing there really will be a Q2k after all." Michael Wilton is a really cool guitar player. His trademark dual-guitar harmony leads were just as at the forefront with Kelly Grey as they ever were with the recently departed Chris DeGarmo (interestingly, fifteen-plus years into their history, the band's first lineup change). Scott Rockenfield is an awesome drummer, and is all over the kit, even on the new stuff. Eddie Jackson is solid and mellow, and Geoff Tate is at the clear forefront. Geoff's veteran stage presence and charismatic rapport with the audience assures that the Rychean ship is expertly navigated throughout the performance. Geoff still hits a lot of the high notes, perhaps even deciding on the fly which one's to tackle and which to avoid. But it always sounds good, and all is still classic Tate.
Be patient folks. I think Queensryche has another great album in them. This tour took a lot of shit in the metal community, but I for one had a great time. They can come run through a few favorties in my town any time they please. A decent show, from a band showing there really will be a Q2k after all.
Hel's Review (12/2/99, Beacon Theatre, New York, NY):
The Beacon Theatre is the most amazing venue I've ever seen. I'm sure if you have bad seats (about a mile up in the air) the band would look so tiny, but you would be able to see them. The venue is intimate and with three balconies, tall. It's also ornately beautiful and has nice acoustics.
I was psyched when I stepped inside and saw the place. I've been a Queensryche fan for a long time. Granted, the past few of albums have been getting farther and farther from being metal. Q2K can hardly be called metal at all. Unless, of course, you have a very liberal defination of the term, like, electric guitar.
"I basically got exactly what I'd anticipated. A lot of material from the new release. Many songs from Mindcrime." Regardless, they have yet to put out an album that is a total slap in the face, like some other bands no longer worth mentioning. There is still quality and technical proficiency in songs complicated enough to be interesting. And, they have always been a great live band. So I looked forward to what they had to show me.
I basically got exactly what I'd anticipated. A lot of material from the new release. Many songs from Mindcrime. Geoff said himself that night, the world over, Mindcrime is a favorite. They totally neglected their oldest albums with the exception of "Walk in the Shadows."
Unsurprising, since I'd already been tipped off to the lack of old favorites, I knew what their obvious choice would be from the pre-Mindcrime era. What did surprise me was Tate's extended introduction to "Walk in the Shadows." It might have been longer than the song itself.
What truly caught me off-guard was the glaring gap made by DeGarmo's absence. His replacement was certainly adequate. But I never really noticed how integral he was to the live performance. Not just his stage presence was missed, his backing vocal strength was woefully absent. I hope Jerry Cantrell is treating him well.
The crowd was mostly old fans. Very few people younger than mid to late 20s. This speaks volumes about Queensryche's place in the world of music. Even more than the music itself, the majority of the fans are an indication of how irrelevent Queensryche is in the world of metal today. These are the people that are still Metallica and, dare I say it, Van Halen fans. These are the people for whom metal has not evolved in at LEAST 10 years.
"The majority of the fans are the people that are still Metallica and, dare I say it, Van Halen fans. These are the people for whom metal has not evolved in at LEAST 10 years." Those fans think it's perfectly fine that the music's not heavy these days, they're getting old anyway. Yes, I'm sitting there too, but I'm wondering how the hell this happened.
I know that they're all kidding themselves. The fans go craziest for the oldest songs, the heaviest songs. And yet, somehow, Queensryche (and numerous other bands), and their aforementioned fans, are in denial. Or maybe they just ignore it. And the fans I keep mentioning do the same.
Despite my misgivinge, they are still an extremely good live band, especially when they play my favorite songs. The tour is basically over now, but for future reference, if you are able to see the merit in the new material, you will enjoy the show. If you just can't stand the wussy crap, you're probably better off saving your cash and staying home.
[- Metal Judgment Home -] [- Email Metal Judgment -]
©1999 Metal Judgment. All rights reserved.