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Fans give Queensryche a royal welcome home
Wednesday, November 3, 1999
By GENE STOUT
Queensryche was lord of its universe Monday night at the Paramount Theatre.
Boisterous fans snapped up nearly every seat in the house for the Seattle rock group's first hometown show in many years.
With new guitarist Kelly Gray, who replaced Chris DeGarmo, the five-member group was in top form. But save for an interesting nod to Irish supergroup U2, there were few surprises.
The nearly two-hour set focused heavily on Queensryche's new album, "Q2K," its first for Atlantic Records. Released in September, the album represents something of a comeback for the band, which suffered a series of setbacks in the '90s, including DeGarmo's departure and the demise of the band's former label, EMI Records.
The first leg of the group's current tour supporting "Q2K" opened Friday at The Joint in Las Vegas. The tour will continue through early December.
The band was clearly eager to entertain its Seattle fans. Lead singer Geoff Tate, dressed entirely in black and wearing sunglasses, was especially animated. Tate soared through his vocals with power and precision. In addition to Gray, he was backed by longtime band members Michael Wilton (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums).
Queensryche opened with the powerful "Revolution Calling," one of its classic songs, followed by "Speak." Both tunes are from "Operation: Mindcrime," the group's groundbreaking 1988 concept album about mind control, social decay and revolution.
Queensryche (with Dinsdale). Rock concert Monday night at the Paramount Theatre.
Such new songs as "Falling Down," "Liquid Sky" and "When the Rain Comes" blended smoothly with the band's earlier songs, among them "Empire" and "Jet City Woman."
Lighting was unusually impressive. Band members often performed under cones of multicolored light. A backdrop featured depictions of the "Tri-ryche," a distinctive logo resembling a medieval battle-ax.
Concertgoers on the main floor stood for most of the show, playing "air" guitar and pumping their fists to the thunderous and sometimes thought-provoking music. Queensryche, which formed on the Eastside in 1981, has long been a brainy, hard-rock band with a working-man's following.
Following "Wot Kinda Man," "Sacred Ground," "Breakdown" and other new songs, Queensryche closed its show with a stunning and unexpective version of U2's "Bullet the Blue Sky." The encore included old favorites "Eyes of the Stranger" (one of the show's best songs) and "Silent Lucidity."
Opening band was Seattle's Dinsdale, a foursome featuring former members of Dr. Unknown. Among them was guitarist Matt Fox, a political activist who has run two city council campaigns for Charlie Chong.
P-I pop music critic Gene Stout
can be reached at 206-448-8383
or genestout@seattle-pi.com
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