One of the most anticipated tours of the winter featuring Queensryche and Don Dokken made a special appearance at the historic Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie, New York on February 6th. The Chance Theater is an historic landmark in Poughkeepsie, as it is over a hundred years old, and possibly one of the best venues to see a band in an up close and personal setting.
The Queensryche/Don Dokken tour has been going very well with sold out shows up and down the coast, as fans new and old anxiously awaited for the two acts to take the stage.
Amidst a aura of incense and lighted candles burning, 80's front man Don Dokken of the band Dokken took the stage at 8:15 P.M. in a quaint coffeehouse setting for a 40 -minute set. Accompanied by long time friend Kelly Keeling on guitar and backing vocal harmonies, the audience was in for a special treat of a new melodic flair to the old school Dokken songs. Don comments, "Geoff called me up a month ago and asked if I wanted to open for Queensryche doing an acoustic set. I said,” Yes", and hung up the phone. Then I thought to myself,” What I am doing"? It has been a blast so far. This tour is all about bringing the 80's back. At these shows. People want to have a good time at concerts. They don't want to listen to music that brings them down. The 80's genre was about having a good time. These songs represent that genre of music. I know if I go to a concert to see a band, I want to be entertained. I don't want to pay money to listen to some guy who hates his life."
Opening with the haunting,” Into The Fire", the stage was set for a very enjoyable evening of great story telling which gave special insight to the Dokken catalog. As Don introduced,"Breakin The Chains", jokingly laughing,” This is a song I wrote with Mick in Germany in 1876 and I was 24". As the audience laughed, he said,” What you don't believe I am 27, Ok I am 31?" As Don strummed his six string Takamine, the audience enjoyed this song that started it all for the band.
Bursting into,” Just Got Lucky", the party was just getting started. One of my favorite tunes was,"It's Not Love." The acoustic remake of the catchy Spartan acoustic lead riffs and sultry vocals of Don Dokken burned the stage. It is not easy to play acoustic to a huge rock audience that is use to hearing songs in the rock vein. Being an acoustic performer myself, I was really impressed with the melodic remakes of the Dokken hits that transpired with Don this evening. Don commented,” I took Kelly out on the road with my because I have learned that the Dokken hits need backing harmony." Kelly is no stranger working with Don, as he wrote a few songs on "Long Way Home".
One of the most fun moments of Don's acoustic set was the impromptu sing along to "Alone Again". Don said,” I wrote these lyrics on a napkin on Venice Beach. Don broke into a beautiful acoustic intro "Alone Again", as the audience sang the chorus and led the ending into a full crescendo that was truly magical.
Don commented,"Queensryche and Dokken came out the same time in 1981 before the metal scene took off. Geoff has an amazing voice and when I first heard Geoff Tate sing, I said to myself,” Where can I buy vocal chords like that"?
Ending the set with "In My Dreams", the harmonies of Don and Kelly filled the room opening a door to a whole new generation of fans at this very special all ages show. Also Don Dokken has released his second solo album,” Solitary", which is available at the shows and the Dokken store for paid download via mp3.
"Lightning Strikes Again" is slated for a Spring release with a Dokken Tour slated to begin in June. Stay tuned for details. Don Dokken comments on,” Lightning Strikes Again", Our new album is going to be better than ever, very old school Dokken. You just have to write what you feel. I don't want to write the same record over and over again. These days are much harder to get promotion. Everybody downloads, and it is a whole new world. Record companies don't work like they used to. Now the Internet is taking control."
Don Dokken Set List
Into The Fire
Breakin The Chains
Just Got Lucky
It's Not Love
Alone Again
In My Dreams
Hot off the heels of a sold out tour opening for Heaven and Hell and Alice Cooper, Queensryche took the stage with a vengeance. I was looking forward to hearing the band perform a longer set than on their recent Heaven and Hell tour. Geoff recently informed me was going to dig deep into the classic Queensyrche catalog. He was right on the money.
Queensryche took the stage at 9:15 P.M. for a 90-minute set with a stage setting that reminded me of a old time movie setting complete with Red curtains and massive drum set that mounted the stage featuring one of the best drummers in rock, Scott Rockenfield. Opening with,” Burning Man", Geoff Tate captivated the crowd with his charismatic stage presence. Dressed all in black and a black beanie cap, one of the most talented singers to emerge out of the 80's genre, Geoff Tate took center stage and full command of the audience with his mesmerizing performance. Geoff informed us that he was suffering from a cold but his voice still sounded amazing. As the singer jokingly laughed,” Someone tested me today and asked me if I remember playing here at The Chance" I replied,” Yes, I do it was in 1983 with Twisted Sister. For some reason for the past 20 years our paths have been crossing."
Queensryche recently put out a covers album,” Take Covers", as the band performed one of the songs from the new CD, the Pink Floyd classic,” Welcome To The Machine'. Geoff played saxophone on this song, giving the song new dynamics with the band's flawless performance.
Next up, Queensryche performed,” Hostage", and The Hands" from their long awaited "Operation: Mindcrime ll release. Queensryche has long been known as a people's band, and not afraid to speak their mind concerning politics and the State of our Nation. Tonight’s performance was no exception. As Geoff asked,” Has everybody been watching the primary’s? Geoff stated,” I have been glued to the TV. I am proud to be an American; these are exciting times, as the band burst into,” I’m American".
One of the of highlights of the evening also included the performance of the song the "Bridge" in which guitarist Michael Wilton pulled out the acoustic, as Geoff talked about a recent trip that he had taken his family on for 3 weeks, and survived all the chaotic adventures of being a Father. Soon to follow the catchy,” Another Rainey Night" followed from the "Empire" album leading the way to,"Gotta Get Close To You".
The band sounded tight, as the guitarist work of Michael Wilton and Mike Stone cranked out the classic Queensryche hits. My favorite Queensryche album has to be,” Operation Mindcrime". It was great to hear "I Don't Believe In Love", and the ever so haunting,” Eyes Of A Stranger” again. When I asked Geoff recently, how if felt to have completed the sequel to Operation"Mindcrime, he responded, "As a song writer you kind of go where your inspiration takes you. The Mindcrime sequel was originally slated to follow The Empire album in 1993 or so. We had gone off on some sort of musical direction at that point. We honestly couldn't wrap our heads around coming up with a sequel at that time. In retrospect, I am kind of glad that it took so long to come out because I think we all needed a little bit of life experience in order to conclude the story. I think too, the record coming out this time also kind of fits the circumstances of where the country is right now. Where our leadership is. It is very similar now to what it was back in the late 80's when that album was written. It is a very similar time. It is kind of strange. The kind of parallel each other along the way."
Queensryche ended the set with their mega hit,” Empire". I highly recommend coming out to see this tour. It was so refreshing hearing the classics hits, plus some of the obscure songs that haven't been performed live for many years. For more information on the tour go to
www.queensryche.com www.myspace.com/queensryche Queensryche Set list
l. Burning Man
2. Damage
3.. Welcome to the Machine
4. I'm American
5. Hostage
6. The Hands
7. Bridge
8. Another Rainy Night
9. Got to Get Close To You
10. I Don't Believe in Love
11. Jet City Woman
12. Eyes of a Stranger
13. Empire
