The set was divided into three parts. The first was devoted to
newer material like the opener "Tribe" from their latest disc
and "Hit the Black" from The Promised Land. After about seven
songs or so, the set eased in an acoustic mode. Given the band’s
performance on MTV’s Unplugged, it wasn’t surprising. What was,
though, was putting "Silent Lucidity" at the end of the three
song acoustic set. The crowd gave it's biggest reaction of the
night, so far, to this mega-hit. Not even the fan favorite
"Roads to Madness", which preceded it, drew more applause. The
acoustic treatment of "Roads" was amazing. The epic gained
emotional punch and clarity with the transformation of the
tones and melodies when those amps were turned off. The stage
lights went down and the dual screens came to life with the
animated intro to "Operation:Mindcrime". The crowd roared it's
approval for the second time. Cranking the amps on overdrive,
Queensryche blasted out the opening strands of "I Remember Now".
This was a rousing beginning to the third and final part of
the set. Consummate with the change in mood, lead vocalist
Geoff Tate changed from his feel-good attire and donned the
universal symbol of malcontent: the black leather motorcycle
jacket. He worked the crowd like he owned Landsdown Street.
His voice sounded the best it has in years. There was a new
found conviction brought to the material. I believe it’s due
to the fact a concept album from 1988 about ultra-rightwing
conservatism and government conspiracy rings just as true now
as it did back then. During the interlude monologue of
"Spreading The Disease" Tate stops short of name dropping the
"Iraq Occupation/War on Terror" but gave the audience that
I-know-what’s-going-on look. The band was tight and with Pamela
Moore reprising her role as Sister Mary, as well as doing back
up vocals, the "Mindcrime" suite had extra sonic punch. [It was
slightly unnerving, however, to be at a general admission show
and not have to dodge crowd surfers and moshers.] Man, that
woman IS fierce! Wow, was all I could say. Pamela Moore rocked
and you should make the effort to catch her opening set. The
night ended with 'Empire", a great song to end a great show.
A short rant in A-Major about Boston clubs: What the fuck is
with this rock shows are early because of the dance night that
begins at 11? And, I might add, a bar bill that was the gross
national product of Bolivia? Granted, I was soused, but I could
have bought enough Jager to fill a swimming pool with what you
charged for a shot. (Yes, Jager, and the hangover fairy really
smacked me for that one. You would think that with its medicinal
taste, Jager would do more that completely shut down all common
sense. Ya know?) Basically, get tanked early, hit the club when
the sun’s still up and don’t order anything from the bar. Save
the cash for your favorite dive were you’re sure to 'get more
for your dollar'. (Major props to anyone who gets the tag line!!)
Queensryche
Queensryche hit the stage
at the Avalon with all the force and emotion fitting an arena
rock band. They tore into the set with a ferocity that the new
garage bands, who are saving rock according to some, could only
aspire to. The mission was simple: have a goodtime, play huge
and put to rest any ideas that Queensryche was bland retread of
glory days gone by. (Read: some band with four letters and
make-up…..) This was a band that was completely into the music
and performing, devoid of any of that hipster smarminess. It
was a pure joy to watch a group absorbed by their music and not
their aura of coolness.
Reviewed by: lux_interior13