Queensryche, John 5, Eve to Adam
February 12, 2020
20 Monroe Live, Grand Rapids, Michigan

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It was a cold February evening in Grand Rapids, and two concerts were taking place downtown. At the arena, they were hosting pop star Post Malone. Across the street at the 20 Monroe Live theater was the show of my choice: Queensryche!

Opening the evening was a band called “Eve to Adam”. Wikipedia says they have been around since the late 90s, with lead singer Taki Sassaris being the founding member of the group. They played about 5 songs to about a half full crowd. The music was sort of a melodic metal. Nothing bad about it, but nothing memorable either.

Next up with guitar master John 5. John is touring his latest solo release “Invasion”, and his is backed up by a couple guys he calls “The Creatures” (just bass and drums). John has been around for years, having played with Marilyn Manson, David Lee Roth, etc. He is currently the guitar player for Rob Zombie, but has been slowly building his own show. John 5 uses many of the same props you’d find at a Rob Zombie show – a bunch of Halloween inflatables, and some LED screens showing clips of monster movies. John is a very talented guitarist, and covers a variety of styles in his instrumental music – metal, rock, country, jazz, ambient, etc. He also knows how to perform for the crowd and include them in the fun. He had a variety of guitars including one with LED lights in the body of the guitar. He ended his set with a medley of well known rock riffs including songs from Rush, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Van Halen, Motley Crue, etc. In my opinion, John 5 is a great guitarist and is learning how to entertain the crowd as well. I’d see him again.

The headliner for the night was the legendary Queensryche. The band originally featured vocalist Geoff Tate, but Geoff was fired about 10 years ago. I have seen them 3 times before with Geoff, and enjoyed the shows, but they appeared to be getting stale over the years. Now the singer is Todd LaTorre. Todd is a great replacement for Geoff, as well as a talented drummer (Todd played drums on the band’s latest release, but the have a new touring drummer – original drummer Scott Rockenfield has retired reportedly due to health issues). Founding members Michael Wilton and Eddie Jackson are here, along with second guitarist Parker Lundgren.

For this tour, the band is using LED video screens, as well as LED screens on the bass drums. The tour was for the latest release “The verdict”. The show opened with a dark stage and a ghostly figure appearing slowly in each screen – a nice effect. Once the band took stage, they opened with “Prophecy” from their debut EP (from 1983). They moved to the title track from their “Operation Mindcrime” release, then introducing songs from the latest release. The evening continued to be a mix of songs from throughout the band’s career, with everything sounded as good as ever. In my opinion, the band sounds re-energized and is doing a good job of embracing the past while moving forward.

Guitarists Wilton and Lundgren do a great job of capturing duel lead solos, while each also holding down their own roles for the songs. Jackson is a solid foundation on the bass, and he also provides backing vocals on many tracks. Todd is a great lead vocalist, as well as knowing when to step back and let the band shine (something Tate was not great at). Touring drummer Casey Grillo does a fine job of keeping things moving, while not drawing attention to the fact he is not an “official band member”.

What was most apparent about the band is they all appear to be enjoying themselves, and the audience. Gone are the days of the band performing “Operation Mindcrime” in its entirety, but now we get a chance to enjoy the wide range of other tracks the band has made famous. Queensryche as sounding better than ever, and both band and audience are happier.

Setlist for Queensryche (courtesy of setlist.fm):

Launder the Conscience
Prophecy
Operation: Mindcrime
Walk in the Shadows
Resistance
Man the Machine
Take Hold of the Flame
No Sanctuary
Bent
Dark Reverie
Breaking the Silence
Silent Lucidity
Jet City Woman
Screaming in Digital
Queen of the Reich

Encore:
Light-years
Empire
Eyes of a Stranger (with “Anarchy-X” outro)

John 5 Setlist (courtesy of setlist.fm):

Robot Invasion Warning
Crank It – Living With Ghosts
Six Hundred and Sixty Six Pickers in Hell, CA
Zoinks
Hell Haw I.G.R.
Howdy
Season of the Witch
First Victim
The Black Grass Plague
I Am John 5
Cactus Flower
Limelight / Fly by Night / Thunder Kiss ’65 / The Beautiful People / Spoonman / Dr. Feelgood / Unchained / I’m Broken / Walk