I had the old quote "it feels like deja vu all over again" attributed to Yankees great Yogi Berra last Sunday night on my way back to Northern Lights Casino in Walker, MN en route to a Queensryche concert. I had just been to the same casino the week before for an awesome concert by Staind and Rev Theory. I stayed at the same hotel, and window-shopped at Reed's Sporting Goods store in downtown Walker again before the show, too. I kind of had that feeling of deja vu, but that was OK, because I really enjoyed this concert too!
I figured that there would be a lot of dedicated fans going to the show, which i first realized as I stopped at a red light next to the casino. Pulling behind me at the light was a car with a vanity plate that read "Q RYCHE." When I got into the casino, I saw a lot more people wearing Queensryche t-shirts, including one guy who was carrying an LP of the band's first album.
Queensryche has been known for concepts, like their concept albums Operation Mindcrime I &II, and their new CD American Soldier. The concert was also a concept of sorts, as it was announced that the band would be performing "suites" of music from their 1986 album Rage for Order, the new album American Soldier, and the 1990 classic Empire.
Shortly after 7 pm, the band erupted into their first of seven songs from Rage for Order. I wasn't too familiar with this album, but I enjoyed hearing classic songs like "Walk In The Shadows" and "I Will Remember," as well as rockers like "Neue Regel" and "I Dream In Digital" during the first set of music.
Shortly after "I Will Remember," guest vocalist A.J. Fratto jumped on the stage, encouraging the crowd to get on their feet during the intro to the song "Sliver," the first of seven more songs from the American Soldier set. It was cool watching the video screen as the band played and getting to listen to true stories of war from American soldiers during the set. Although most of the songs were heavy in tone and emotion, the band did mellow out a bit, as lead singer Geoff Tate's youngest daughter Emily joined him onstage for duet vocals during the song "Home Again."
After a few more minutes, the band returned to the stage to crank out "Best I Can," the leadoff track from the classic album Empire. I got to hear some of my Queensryche favorites like "Jet City Woman," "Anybody Listening?" and "Silent Lucidity" during this set, as well as deeper album cuts like "Hand On Heart" and "One and Only." After a brief rest and a little bit of crowd love for drummer Scott Rockenfield, the band performed Empire's title cut as a one-song encore to a grateful audience who were witness to a truly amazing concert experience!
I had a lot of fun at the show. I enjoyed the music, got to meet some new friends and die-hard Queensryche fans, and even ran into an old friend from high school at the casino gift shop as we waited for the arena doors to open before the show. I was also glad after talking to a friend who had attended the Queensryche show the night before at the Myth in Maplewood, MN that the set lists for both nights were different in terms of song order and selection. Too bad there's not another show at Northern Lights this weekend - then I'd really feel like deja vu all over again!
I figured that there would be a lot of dedicated fans going to the show, which i first realized as I stopped at a red light next to the casino. Pulling behind me at the light was a car with a vanity plate that read "Q RYCHE." When I got into the casino, I saw a lot more people wearing Queensryche t-shirts, including one guy who was carrying an LP of the band's first album.
Queensryche has been known for concepts, like their concept albums Operation Mindcrime I &II, and their new CD American Soldier. The concert was also a concept of sorts, as it was announced that the band would be performing "suites" of music from their 1986 album Rage for Order, the new album American Soldier, and the 1990 classic Empire.
Shortly after 7 pm, the band erupted into their first of seven songs from Rage for Order. I wasn't too familiar with this album, but I enjoyed hearing classic songs like "Walk In The Shadows" and "I Will Remember," as well as rockers like "Neue Regel" and "I Dream In Digital" during the first set of music.
Shortly after "I Will Remember," guest vocalist A.J. Fratto jumped on the stage, encouraging the crowd to get on their feet during the intro to the song "Sliver," the first of seven more songs from the American Soldier set. It was cool watching the video screen as the band played and getting to listen to true stories of war from American soldiers during the set. Although most of the songs were heavy in tone and emotion, the band did mellow out a bit, as lead singer Geoff Tate's youngest daughter Emily joined him onstage for duet vocals during the song "Home Again."
After a few more minutes, the band returned to the stage to crank out "Best I Can," the leadoff track from the classic album Empire. I got to hear some of my Queensryche favorites like "Jet City Woman," "Anybody Listening?" and "Silent Lucidity" during this set, as well as deeper album cuts like "Hand On Heart" and "One and Only." After a brief rest and a little bit of crowd love for drummer Scott Rockenfield, the band performed Empire's title cut as a one-song encore to a grateful audience who were witness to a truly amazing concert experience!
I had a lot of fun at the show. I enjoyed the music, got to meet some new friends and die-hard Queensryche fans, and even ran into an old friend from high school at the casino gift shop as we waited for the arena doors to open before the show. I was also glad after talking to a friend who had attended the Queensryche show the night before at the Myth in Maplewood, MN that the set lists for both nights were different in terms of song order and selection. Too bad there's not another show at Northern Lights this weekend - then I'd really feel like deja vu all over again!
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