Queensryche/John 5 – Ace Of Spades, Sacramento, CA 2/20
By Jeffrey Easton
Almost a decade ago Queensryche were at a crossroads, continue on the path that they were on which was seeing dwindling record sales and sluggish record sales or plug into what the fans wanted, a rejuvenation. Todd La Torre was the spark the band needed, the voice that was going to bring the true Ryche back to the fans that had been lost for so long. In the ensuing years, the fans have been given three powerful records of blistering metal that carry the stamp of the original Ryche for a modern generation.
The show really got off the ground when John 5 stepped onto the stage and brought is insane brand of guitar theater to the crowd. John 5 of course is well known for is axe work with Rob Zombie, helping him define his sound since 2005 with multiple studio albums and arena tours. John’s outlet from Robs’ monstrous world is his steady stream of solo albums that feature his diverse works and each time he hits the road it’s a different show and a different set that his fans never know what to expect. This time around he broke out some countrified picking with Hell Haw and Howdy and judging by the reaction by some, I am assuming some did not expect this from the likes of John 5. If you are a true fan of what he does, you understand that Mr. 5 is not bound by any genres and is a well rounded guitar player and this is why I love seeing him away from Zombie, to showcase his no borders talents. That is not to say that he did not bring out his demonic bent on stage as well. He did belt out Season Of The Witch, Crank It as well as his signature I Am John 5 which showcases his deft fingerstyle as he glides over the frets of his Fender. His set was not done until he played homage to some of the great songs to come before him in his covers melody. This time around it included a grip of Rush tracks as well as his normal output of KISS. John 5 is out supporting his latest release Invasion which I feel is well worth your cash as it just continues to show how he is continuing to grow as an artist.
Queensryche, what can you say about them that has yet to be said? They have released prolific albums with Empire and Mindcrime, broke new ground in the touring arena with indepth shows and releasing DVDs that gave you a peak into the creative genius that fueled their ride. From the early 80s until now, they have toured the world and unleashed albums that have sold millions and in the year 2020, they find themselves till finding new ground and bringing in fans in droves. Queensryche have dropped The Verdict and it continues to build on what Todd La Torre started building with the band almost a decade ago. Ace Of Spades was their home tonight and it was packed with the dedicated following waiting for the lights to fall. In the moment of darkness the guys descended the stage and the strains of Prophecy echoed through the venue and a roar of approval was rushed to the stage. Ryche have a rare luxury, a deep catalog that fans want to hear so to cull the right material for each tour can be painstaking, especially when the new material is as good as the classic stuff. That being said, you cannot tour without highlighting Operation Mindcrime and they did just that, 2 tracks in with the title cut from their legendary 1988 release. The cheers never grow dim for that and with Eyes Of A Stranger in the set, it was capped perfectly. 30 years ago this year their stroke of genius, Empire, was released on an unsuspecting public and further cemented their grip on the metal world with monster tracks like Silent Lucidity, Empire and Jet City Woman. All were singles that dented metal radio and all were included here tonight to ravenous applause. I would love to see them tour to celebrate 30 years of Empire by Playing the album first note to last. That album still resonates with me to this day. But all of the above is the past and Ryche are a band still pushing into the future and that being said The Verdict is an amazing piece of work that stands on its own against that past masters. As stated, Todd La Torre has given life back to Queensryche and with The Verdict that stake has grown. They littered the set with tracks that set the stage on fire with Man The Machine, Bent, Dark Reverie and Light Years. These represent how powerful this band still is and the fans ate it up as if it was the classic material. The interplay between Michael Wilton and Parker Lundgren was stellar, they are possibly the best duo since Degarmo was I the band and Eddie Jackson is always a solid rock on bass. This band may have bent before the arrival of La Torre but they never broke and this show was a testament to how they still have the fuel to carry the metal flag into the future.
Official Queensryche Site
Buy The Verdict
Buy the Verdict on Vinyl
Official John 5 Site
Buy Invasion
By Jeffrey Easton
Almost a decade ago Queensryche were at a crossroads, continue on the path that they were on which was seeing dwindling record sales and sluggish record sales or plug into what the fans wanted, a rejuvenation. Todd La Torre was the spark the band needed, the voice that was going to bring the true Ryche back to the fans that had been lost for so long. In the ensuing years, the fans have been given three powerful records of blistering metal that carry the stamp of the original Ryche for a modern generation.
The show really got off the ground when John 5 stepped onto the stage and brought is insane brand of guitar theater to the crowd. John 5 of course is well known for is axe work with Rob Zombie, helping him define his sound since 2005 with multiple studio albums and arena tours. John’s outlet from Robs’ monstrous world is his steady stream of solo albums that feature his diverse works and each time he hits the road it’s a different show and a different set that his fans never know what to expect. This time around he broke out some countrified picking with Hell Haw and Howdy and judging by the reaction by some, I am assuming some did not expect this from the likes of John 5. If you are a true fan of what he does, you understand that Mr. 5 is not bound by any genres and is a well rounded guitar player and this is why I love seeing him away from Zombie, to showcase his no borders talents. That is not to say that he did not bring out his demonic bent on stage as well. He did belt out Season Of The Witch, Crank It as well as his signature I Am John 5 which showcases his deft fingerstyle as he glides over the frets of his Fender. His set was not done until he played homage to some of the great songs to come before him in his covers melody. This time around it included a grip of Rush tracks as well as his normal output of KISS. John 5 is out supporting his latest release Invasion which I feel is well worth your cash as it just continues to show how he is continuing to grow as an artist.
Queensryche, what can you say about them that has yet to be said? They have released prolific albums with Empire and Mindcrime, broke new ground in the touring arena with indepth shows and releasing DVDs that gave you a peak into the creative genius that fueled their ride. From the early 80s until now, they have toured the world and unleashed albums that have sold millions and in the year 2020, they find themselves till finding new ground and bringing in fans in droves. Queensryche have dropped The Verdict and it continues to build on what Todd La Torre started building with the band almost a decade ago. Ace Of Spades was their home tonight and it was packed with the dedicated following waiting for the lights to fall. In the moment of darkness the guys descended the stage and the strains of Prophecy echoed through the venue and a roar of approval was rushed to the stage. Ryche have a rare luxury, a deep catalog that fans want to hear so to cull the right material for each tour can be painstaking, especially when the new material is as good as the classic stuff. That being said, you cannot tour without highlighting Operation Mindcrime and they did just that, 2 tracks in with the title cut from their legendary 1988 release. The cheers never grow dim for that and with Eyes Of A Stranger in the set, it was capped perfectly. 30 years ago this year their stroke of genius, Empire, was released on an unsuspecting public and further cemented their grip on the metal world with monster tracks like Silent Lucidity, Empire and Jet City Woman. All were singles that dented metal radio and all were included here tonight to ravenous applause. I would love to see them tour to celebrate 30 years of Empire by Playing the album first note to last. That album still resonates with me to this day. But all of the above is the past and Ryche are a band still pushing into the future and that being said The Verdict is an amazing piece of work that stands on its own against that past masters. As stated, Todd La Torre has given life back to Queensryche and with The Verdict that stake has grown. They littered the set with tracks that set the stage on fire with Man The Machine, Bent, Dark Reverie and Light Years. These represent how powerful this band still is and the fans ate it up as if it was the classic material. The interplay between Michael Wilton and Parker Lundgren was stellar, they are possibly the best duo since Degarmo was I the band and Eddie Jackson is always a solid rock on bass. This band may have bent before the arrival of La Torre but they never broke and this show was a testament to how they still have the fuel to carry the metal flag into the future.
Official Queensryche Site
Buy The Verdict
Buy the Verdict on Vinyl
Official John 5 Site
Buy Invasion
