Watching the Queensryche show at the Warehouse in support of the new album Q2K, made me think of how far away it was from the last time I saw them, at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1991. And how appropriate the distance (literal and metaphorical) was. Their gig at the Warehouse was stripped down in magnitude and size from the Gardens show, but not in energy and intent.
Back in the day, they were touring in support of their wildly successful Empirealbum, which marked the peak of their commercial popularity. It was a big stage at a big venue, and the show matched the size, including the only full-length live rendition of their 1989 concept album/rock-opera-done-the-right-way Operation: Mindcrime.After Empirethey released Promised Land, an album with a despairing intensity that matches Radiohead's OK Computer. They never regained their mainstream popularity but maintained a steady devout fan base. Another album was hamstrung by the demise of their label EMI, then one of the main songwriters left and they almost called it quits.
After all that, the Queensryche that came to the Warehouse was much different from the one that played the Gardens. But both of them were very, very good. Queensryche didn't behave like an outdated band trying to recapture its former glory. During Mindcrimeand Empire,the band's political stance, worldview and image was one that needed an arena. The Queensryche of Q2Kworks better in a smaller venue Ñ it's a closer and more personal band now, with a different mindset. The show reflected that, with singer Geoff Tate engaging in witty banter with the audience and bandmates, and Christmas lights on the drumset. Tate's vocals cut through the acoustic miasma of the Warehouse; they all worked well together, including new guitarist Kelly Gray, who fit right in.
The band also knew what they were there for: play to the long-time fans, and try to pull some new ones off the fence. To accomplish this they focused on Q2K, Operation: Mindcrimeand Empire; the latter were designed as a frame of reference for the new album. They opened with "Revolution Calling" and then "Falling Down," the latest single; their blistering renditions of "I Don't Believe In Love" and "Jet City Woman" set a precedent for the newer "Sacred Ground" and "Liquid Sky." And they pulled it off very well. There was also a long rendition of U2's "Bullet The Blue Sky." Old fans were kept happy, and it looked like some new ones were added to the Queensryche Campaign.
A tour promotes the album, and Queensryche accomplished that with energy and style. They also showed that they still have what it takes to put on a great show.
