CINCINNATI, OH- Geoff Tate, the original voice of Queensrÿche, has been zigzagging across the globe for a few years now. He spends much of his time on the road, and at 65 years old, he shows no signs of slowing down. His voice remains as powerful and distinctive as it was in his heyday. Unlike many of his contemporaries who resort to key changes, Tate stands apart as a formidable vocalist.
I must admit, I was a latecomer to Queensrÿche. My introduction came by chance in 1988 at a rehearsal studio in San Dimas after meeting Tom Araya and his girlfriend. Operation: Mindcrime was perched atop a pile of records during a break with my band. The owner and I were discussing bands, music, and singers when he mentioned Tate’s vocal prowess. Although my tastes leaned towards punk, post-punk, new wave, and pop, my interest was piqued further when Araya endorsed the band’s excellence. I obtained a copy of the album and was instantly captivated. I delved into their discography, starting from the beginning and saw them live on the Operation: Mindcrime tour with Metallica, their headlining shows, and the Empire tour. And again in 2023, when Tate celebrated the anniversaries of “Rage for Order” and “Empire”. Hearing Geoff Tate sing live has always been exceptional.
On this tour, Geoff and his band are primarily performing from the first five albums, including a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Welcome to the Machine.” They opened with “Empire,” instantly engaging the audience, and incorporated “Desert Dance” from 2003’s “Tribe” and “I Am I” from 1994’s “Promised Land.”
With an extensive discography to draw from, the band played all the classics and more. Favorites like “Thin Line”, “Another Rainy Night”, and “Jet City Woman” from “Empire”; “NM156”, “Screaming in Digital”, and “Walk in the Shadows” from “Rage for Order”; and the eponymous “Operation: Mindcrime”, “Breaking the Silence”, and my personal favorite, “I Don’t Believe in Love” represented the “Mindcrime” album. Tate shared that he spent only 20 days at home in Seattle last year. He feels more at home on the road, engaging with audiences. He recounted an interaction with a fan who was moved by “Silent Lucidity”, Queensrÿche’s biggest hit, which Tate continues to sing with tenderness and fervor.
The band returned to the stage after a brief intermission for the encore. Geoff introduced his international bandmates: Irish guitarist James Brown, French guitarist Amaury Altmayer, Italian guitarist Dario Parenter, Cincinnati’s own drummer Danny Laverde, and Scottish bassist Jack Ross. Geoff expressed his curiosity about hearing the songs with a fourth guitarist, Irishman Cillian Plummer. They performed an extended version of “Welcome to the Machine”, with all four guitarists exchanging solos and visibly enjoying themselves. Their camaraderie suggested that being in this band was a genuine adventure.
Geoff then inquired if we were interested in some vintage tunes, which elicited a rousing response. Brown commenced with the iconic guitar introduction of “Take Hold of the Flame”, and indeed, Geoff hit those soaring notes. He also paid homage to the past with a potent rendition of “Queen of the Reich”, hitting every challenging note. It was an incredible evening that showcased not just his music but also his enduring vocal passion. The tour is nearing its end on the west coast this month before Geoff returns to Europe and the UK for the remainder of the year. We wish Mr. Tate safe travels and look forward to his return stateside.
Fire and Water, the opening band from Ireland, graced the stage with their acoustic trio featuring Tomás McCarthy, Clódagh Kearney, and Stephen Manning on two acoustic guitars and a saxophone. Their harmonies and vocals were impeccable. Regrettably, I missed most of their performance, but what I heard was impressive.
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LIVE CLIPS
