Queensryche always rise to the occasion.
Beset with challenges, they showed up for work on March 14 and rocked the Marquee Theater crowd. One of the issues for this particular evening was beyond anyone’s control: Queensryche had cancelled the three previous shows due to singer, Todd LaTorre’s lost voice. This date was in question until about 24 hours before, when the band announced that they would resume the tour ontime in Tempe, AZ.
Other than his frequent water bottle hits and a little rasp in his speaking voice, you’d never know that Todd LaTorre was getting over an illness. He absolutely delivered vocally. This is one of the most vital and electric frontmen in Metal today. For those worried about Scott Rockenfeld’s replacement on drums, Casey Grillo brings a level of Metal and power to the material. He is fully capable. Chris DeGarmo, the band’s other co-founding guitarist, has been retired from professional music for decades, but it feels as though Mike Stone and his cowboy hat have been a part of things for just as long. Led by the ageless Wilton and Jackson, Queensryche in 2023 is a cohesive, tight unit, every bit as great now as they were 40 years ago. They are among the elite of the Metal veterans who are still active today.
The other trial Queensryche face on this tour is of their own making: the setlist. Aside from “Eyes of a Stranger” and “Jet City Woman,” almost everything was either from the new, less-ingrained era, or a deep cut from the cellar. Other than those two, none of the usual crowd-pleasers or easy hits. No casual fans allowed! I’ve seen bands challenge themselves and the audience in this fashion before - - and it usually falls flat. Credit to Queensryche: they pulled it off. The lesser-known songs absolutely banged live, and it was a thrill to witness them. Is it the setlist I would have drafted for them? Absolutely not. It stung to go the entire night without anything from the debut EP or “Rage For Order.” I do applaud the guys for trotting out some of the best of the LaTorre era. It’s excellent, relevant, and it deserves attention. I hope “Within the Walls” remains a live staple for them. But I also hope we get more love for the “Rage For Order” album in the future.
With apologies to Trauma, Show n’ Tell, and Spiritual Suicide, I was only able to catch Marty Friedman, of the opening acts. Marty played a set of instrumentals with his touring band, with only a snippet of “Tornado of Souls” from his most well-known former gig with Megadeth. His band are all from his adopted home of Japan, but he jokingly said they were from different local Arizona towns when introducing them. They were an eclectic bunch, but their joy for performing was infectious. As for Marty Friedman himself - - talk about ageless! He is every bit the guitar player he was during his Cacophony and Megadeth days - - and more. Great poses, great melodies. His instrumental set was incredible. If he does this as a solo US tour, I’m there.
Marty Friedman setlist
Stigmata Addiction
Devil Take Tomorrow
Amagigoe
Tornado of Souls
(Megadeth song) (Partial)
Paradise Express
Dragon Mistress
Kaze Ga Fuiteiru
Queensryche Setlist:
Spreading the Disease
Child of Fire
En Force
Behind the Walls
Don't Look Back
Light-Years
Sicdeth
Forest
Jet City Woman
Inner Unrest
Empire
In Extremis
Deliverance
My Empty Room
Eyes of a Stranger
(No Encore)
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