WOW, what a great show last night. This was my fourth time seeing the 'Ryche, and they never seem to disappoint me. The setlist was similar to the Operation: Mindcrime show I saw last year, except for a few songs changed around in the first set.

My twin bro and I drove down from Raleigh, and chose to ate the House Of Blues because that had this cool deal going on. If we ate in their restaurant, we were able to get on a "special line," and be let in the show before the masses. This was very cool, we got in a bit early, and secured a spot dead center right in the front.

Onto the first set. The Whisper is a very strong opener for them, and QR had the crowd in their hands right from the get go. I listened in very close on Tate's performance on Take Hold Of The Flame, and he NAILED it....especially "the children of the LIIGGGGHHHHTTT" part. Unreal.

This leads me to another point. There are some fucking weird people at QR shows. During Take Hold Of The Flame, there was this HUGE lady who practically ran over my 6'2" 210 lb brother in her desperate attempt to get in front. She had a rose for Tate, and tears coming down her face because "omg I can't believe it's him!!" PULLLEESE. That made me want to puke. She tried to throw a fit when my bro tried to get his spot back next to me. Crazy bitch, my bro just basically told her to fuck off, and it was his spot until her fat ass tried to mow everyone down.

Anyways, back to the show. It was great seeing Sign Of The Times in the set, I hadn't expected that. The highlight of the first set for me was definitely Whip's solo in The Lady Wore Black. I hadn't really care for that song much in the past, but seeing it live again tonight....and it just clicked with me. WOW.

After that they took a 20-30 minute intermission, and prepared the stage for Mindcrime. The production of the show was similar to last year's performance, except for a few differences. There was no keyboard player on stage at this show, I guess they're just triggering samples live now, which makes sense.

Right before the set started, some guy from the local radio station came out and started talking to the crowd. Then all of a sudden the actor that plays Nikki comes out and yells a few things (I forgot what he said), and then proceeded to get mauled by a bunch of security people. Very cool and entertaining. Then, all of a sudden, the light go out and the "I Remember Now" recording plays with the video in the background. Hell yeah, MINDCRIME TIME! At this point, the House Of Blues in Myrtle Beach was ready to explode. We were packed in like sardines, and everybody was going NUTS. The crowd was definitely a lot more into it this time than last time when I seen them Winston-Salem. The band proceeded to plow through the Mindcrime material like nobody's business.

Spreading The Disease marked the appearance of Pamela Moore, who came out to sing background vocals. She still looks very young, not quite as good as on the Operation: Livecrime DVD, but still pretty damn good. And she can still wail. I was impressed.

The next tune, The Mission, was a letdown for me. I absolutely HATE the version that they've been playing live on this tour. They took one of the best QR tracks and reworked a few of the sections....bleh. That is one track that shouldn't be touched IMO. Others my like the "new and improved" version, but not me.

Thank God Suite Sister Mary was next. My favorite QR track, they did an excellent job with it last night. I got chills when Pamela Moore came out to sing Mary's part "I've no more want of any faith," and again during the "Mary, my lady of pain" parts. WOW.

The Needle Lies was definitely the most \m/\m/ song of the evening. During the part where the band stops, Eddie Jackson was directly in front of me and I could hear him yell out "COME ON YOU MOTHER FUCKERS!!!!" Fuck yeah.

After the track, Mary (Pamela Moore) comes out and answers the phone. Dr. X is on the other end and tells Mary to reach into the box, take out the gun, and blow her brains out. It's very cool how the band set this up, when she pulls the trigger, there is a loud band, and then blood splatters on the video screen directly behind her as she collapses on the stage. Awesome. Then Scott Rock kicks into the new version of Electric Requiem, which I really love. I read somewhere that this venue was set up with surround sound last night, and it was evident in this tune. The actor that plays Nikki came out walking around searching for Mary, while the vocal track played in the background going "Mary....MARY." It was coming from different directions; in the back, to the right, left, corners, the front......awesome effect. Nikki then takes a bottle of liquor/wine (not sure) and pours it all over Mary's body, and then sets her on "fire" with his lighter. I can't stress enough how incredible this stage production was. It adds so much more to the music and the show....incredible sight to see.

Waiting For 22 was another highlight for me. I was really impressed with Mike Stone on this one.....he absolutely NAILED the lead guitar part on here. He gets better and better each time I seem him with QR.

Eyes Of The Stranger closed out the evening, and featured Geoff Tate (playing Nikki) getting wrapped in a straight-jacket, and then getting pushed out in a wheelchair with this "crazy motherfucker" look in his eyes. The Anarchy-X Outro ended this kickass evening, and definitely one of the best shows I've ever been to.

When the band left the stage, the "Hostage"/Operation: Mindcrime II video came on and show a few clips and such. Interesting to note that the screen said it was going to be released Febuary 2006, and Hostage sounded a bit different from the version that I heard months ago. I'm not really sure though, it has been a while since I listened to that track....

All in all in was a great show, and I was impressed once again with Tate's vocal ability. Sure he's not as great as he was back in the day, but he was still DAMN good, and continues to be IMO one of the best singers in rock. Scott Rock and Eddie Jackson were very solid as always, and the Whip has never disappointed me. I have to give props to Mike Stone, he impressed me throughout the whole show, remained faithful to most of the original parts while adding in some stuff of his own.

I tried to bring my digital camera in to take pictures, but the guy at the gate made me take it back to my car. Oh well, I could've gotten some great shots where I was standing, and I wanted to make a little video of Mary's death scene. Bah.

Setlist:

Act I

The Whisper
Empire
Another Rainy Night (Without You)
Walk In The Shadows
Take Hold Of The Flame
Sign Of The Times
The Lady Wore Black
Jet City Woman
Last Time In Paris
Silent Lucidity

INTERMISSION

Act II - Operation: Mindcrime

I Remember Now
Anarchy-X
Revolution Calling
Operation: Mindcrime
Speak
Spreading The Disease
The Mission
Suite Sister Mary
The Needle Lies
Electric Requiem
Breaking The Silence
I Don't Believe In Love
Waiting For 22
My Empty Room
Eyes Of A Stranger w/Anarchy-X Outro

Outro Video - "Hostage"/Operation: Mindcrime II Trailer

If you have a chance to see this show, definitely check it out. You will not be disappointed.

10/14/2005 4:41:24 PM

I saw Queensryche in Atlanta with Dream Theater. They were pretty damn good .

10/14/2005 7:42:27 PM

well, I see what you've been doing all day, ktcosent2112

10/14/2005 8:24:00 PM