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Queensryche Live Wednesday, June 14, 2006 Gagarin 205, Athens Queensryche European tour is a rather "strange" story. The announcement was made kinda late, comparing with past tours, just two dates in the UK and then the others started to add and then, suddenly, bam! There is also Greece on the board, only a month before the band plays in our country. Originally setting the concert at Terra Vibe, however, the venue has changed just a few days before kick-off... Not the best of aeons, right? Let's go to the other side now... Operation : Mindcrime II". The comparisons and the arguments, the contradictions and the antithesis, the "other" views, the "just say no" motivation, the tendency to confuse "I don't like it" with "it's not good", the aphorism and the rejection. You know wot? Life's too short and sweet to step down to that level. Let's have a look at what really happened that Wed night. Gagarin is packed. Audience is waiting, anticipating, stretching both ears. Frankie Goes to Hollywood "Warriors of the wasteland" is splashed from the speakers, the time has come. We've found out that by listening to that at the previous Ryche concerts abroad, the band hits the stage after that track. Lights go dim... "Rats in a cage"! Mike Stone is out first, playing the well-known theme before "Revolution calling". Scott Rockenfield enters next. Michael Wilton follows, whilst Eddie Jackson steps out as well. A lil' before first verse... here comes Geoff Tate. The audience is amazing. Singing with the band, almost covering Tate. Ryche feel it, they have a big smile on, from time to time they are just browsing. During "Operation : Mindcrime", the singer is entering the stage with a GiftGuest. Pamela Moore. Sweet Mary drives the peeps mad. It's not only that she is breathtaking, a mannequin came to life, the very definition of freshness, she sings like a billion. But then again... we all know that. The two Mindcrimes' theatricality is being held on stage with Tate/Nikki talking to/colliding with/gets haunted by Moore/Sister Mary, reaching its peak over "Murderer?", when Nikki executes Dr.X. on stage! Overwhelming! "Eyes of a stranger" is the last song of the main set and the venue is purely lava and cosmic sand. A few min pass, then the band is on stage again, playing "Jet City Woman" and "Empire". And then... it's goodbye. The frantic audience wants more, the fans scream for more. No can do. The band has played a full set, even a bit more than in the other European countries a few days ago. Apart from the sound, which was powerful and Ryche's performance, which was magnificent, a huge Bravo to the "legendary Greek audience" (quoting GT) is in order. We stood proud. Again. Costas Koulis Photos : Dimitris Kazantzis SetList Revolution calling, Operation : Mindcrime, Spreading the disease, Suite Sister Mary, The needle lies, Breaking the silence, I don't believe in love, I'm American, One foot in Hell, Hostage, The hands, Signs say go, Murderer?, If I could change it all/Int. Confrontation, Eyes of a stranger, Jet city woman, Empire |