Saw Queensryche live last night.

...and I just have to share. :D

There's a small town about 1/2-hour from us with a cool old art-deco theater. The owners complete refurbished it and have been getting some really cool acts in. It's only a 400-seat venue, and there's nothing separating the audience from the stage. This was actually my 2nd show there(I'd seen Candlebox last fall), and it's like having the band in your living room.

If that isn't cool enough, the parking is directly behind the theater, and there's no waiting in line. We left right as they hit the last chord of Empire, and as we turned the corner met the keyboardist walking out the back door. I'm sure we could have met the rest of the group too, but my wife has a bad leg so standing/walking is difficult.

Obligatory pics:

Rudy Sarzo on bass - the man is flawless in his playing & showmanship. Not necessarily my favorite bassist, but he certainly has a legacy in metal.

Anyone on the Chicago south side, central IL, or NW Indiana should keep an eye on the schedule for any shows that interest you. It's really a pretty awesome venue. WatsekaTheatre.com

i can't hear a standard telephone ring without saying "mindcrime"

One of my favorite bands, you live near watseka? I held it down in kankakee for about ten years.

Wow! Those guys are still alive?

AngryCorvair wrote: i can't hear a standard telephone ring without saying "mindcrime"

"Sweet dreams, you bastard..."

I was pleasantly surprised at how solid one of their most recent efforts was. Those guys stuck to their guns while everyone else was scrambling to change their sound.

Props.

My first concert was 1986 Orlando FL in the Navy, Ozzy with some guys I'd never heard of called Queensryche. Awesome show, quickly bought the current and previous tapes (Rage for Order and first one, who's name escapes me. Warning?).

Saw them again in VA around 1990 or so, they were pimping Empire if I remember, but 1/2 way through they stopped and said this was the last tour they were doing Mindcrime all the way through. Did the entire album with slideshow behind them, then continued on with the rest of the show including Warning stuff. Best, possibly longest, show ever... (I also wore out two Mindcrime tapes in the Navy before I bought a CD)

So right now are there not two iterations of Queensryche performing? Tate doing one, the rest of the band doing the other? (Heard this before I dropped satellite radio last year)

1988RedT2 wrote: Wow! Those guys are still alive?

And still touring? damn...

Grtechguy wrote:

1988RedT2 wrote: Wow! Those guys are still alive?

And still touring? damn...

Not only are they still touring, there are TWO versions of Queensryche: one led by Geoff Tate which he started after being kicked out, and a second version led by the remaining members with a new singer.

From wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensr%C3%BFche

Two Queensrÿches (2012–present)

The 2012 split resulted in two bands using the name and brand of Queensrÿche simultaneously. They are identified by their frontman:

The version led by new singer Todd La Torre, with original members Rockenfield, Wilton and Jackson, as well as guitarist Lundgren (2009–present).

The version led by original singer Geoff Tate, with former guitarist Gray (1998–2002, 2012–present), Randy Gane, Rudy and Robert Sarzo, and Simon Wright.

Correct on the split-ryche…so to speak. I believe the court date is sometime in April to determine who gets to keep the name. I held off buying tickets because I was concerned this might be something of a half-assed effort. I was wholly, completely(and fortunately) wrong!

chandlerGTi wrote: One of my favorite bands, you live near watseka? I held it down in kankakee for about ten years.

I'm 30-miles straight south of Watseka. A guy I used to jam with is the house sound guy for the theater, and I've done some technical work for them. He actually called me to come help Candlebox because they couldn't connect their iPad to the sound console(it turned out the network card on the console, which was part of the main control board, had gone out). Since then I've done several other jobs there too. They're good people and are really trying hard to get the word out on their venue - and it really is awesome, even if they sold out all 400-seats you still wouldn't feel crammed in like sardines compared to a comparable sized club(for example, the Metro in Chicago which is about the same size but has a capacity of ~1300).

Here in Eugene, we have a similar venue: the McDonald Theater.Seen a few shows there, 3 Doors Down being possibly the biggest act.

To compare it to a large venue, I came up with the following: Its like watching an F1 race on an indoor kart track.

I was guessing that was the Tate-ryche tour. I saw them on the Empire and Promised Land tours. Enjoyed both shows. They lost me with Hear in the Now Frontier. Only liked one track on that one, and it was the last one.

Didn't know Candelbox was still around. Saw them open for Rush on the Counterparts tour. Candelbox put on a good show too.

In reply to Rob_Mopar:

I wish Candlebox put on a good show when I saw them, but unfortunately the singer was so stoned he forgot the lyrics to their 3rd song, and made the band stop and play it a second time. Iirc it was "Simple Lessons". I was embarrassed for his band mates.

However, their opening act, Open Air Stereo, rocked the place and were truly a bunch of nice, down to earth kids. I think they'll likely make it big soon.