Queensryche / The Verdict Tour … Ace of Spades, Sacramento

February 8, 2020

1952

The line outside? About four to six people thick and up and around the block 800 feet or longer. Yeah, it sold out tonight and although I’ve witnessed the QueensRyche phenomena many times before … And now my third time to cover them in a featured article. So in my humble opinion, it’s different seeing a band you love, to witness and enjoy the concert, as opposed to being there to review them. My senses change and come alive because now I’m writing about one of my favorite bands growing up. Here’s my experience:

I saw them three times before Todd, and now for the fourth time tonight with Todd since he was revealed to the public on April 28, 2014 when Queensrÿche officially announced La Torre as the new lead singer. Needless to say I was just as excited now, as I was all 7 times before.

The stage was set up meticulously with some of thought into minimalism which made a little more room to roam on the stage. As the anticipated performance started, patterns of their logo and scenes of Gothic images displayed on the four LED screen panels flanked on each side of drum riser and two more off to the sides. After the intro, they Opening up with “Prophecy ” from their previous hits, the band displays familiarity reminiscent and typical of QueensRyche fashion, a pleasant tone for my ears. La Torre’s soaring vocal range always seems to be a perfect fit and I was then jacked for the rest. Continuing with Operation Mindcrime off the same titled album brought the audience from a somewhat head thumping crowd, to the screaming loyalist they’re used to being. Ending it all with an encore of “Light-Years” off The Verdict album … Then “Empire” which was without a doubt one of my favs from back then, and sealed the deal with “Eyes of A Stranger” and will always have me coming back for more!!

Michael Wilton, Scott Rockenfield ( Casey Grillo filling in), Eddie Jackson and Parker Lundgren, the main core, maintained true to what they’ve always been. All in all at the end of the day the show was nothing short of amazing and Todd La Torre still ends up being a sweet asset to QueensRyche, proving he belongs, and probably for a long time to come!

https://www.queensrycheofficial.com

Setlist:

Intro

Prophecy

Operation Mindcrime

Walk in the Shadows

Resistance

Man The Machine

Take Hold of the Flame

No Sanctuary

Bent

Dark Reverie