Review and Photos by Fred Kuhlman
Promoter: Lucky Man (https://www.luckymanonline.com/ )
Venue: Marquee Theater, Tempe, AZ (https://www.marqueetheatreaz.com/ )
Date: October 4th, 2021
Tour: Empire 30th Anniversary Tour
Tonight’s show for me was the major comeback of a great singer and front man, Geoff Tate. It was also the introduction of Kurt Deimer and his band. They were joined tonight by 3 really good local Phoenix, AZ rock & roll bands, Empire of Dezire, Spiritual Suicide and Killing Sunday. We have a number of other really good local bands in the greater Phoenix, AZ area. You can check out these local bands at different venues around the valley.
Geoff Tate
Back in the 80s, one of my all-time favorite albums was created by Queensrÿche, Operation Mindcrime. To this day, I my opinion, it is only surpassed by the Who’s Tommy and Quadrophenia as one of the greatest rock operas every created. Queensrÿche went on and created 2 additional iconic albums, Rage For Order and Empire. On April 2012 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Geoff Tate and the band had a very public dust-up. This led to Geoff leaving (or being kicked out of) the band and a very messy lawsuit. Both parties wanted to use the name Queensrÿche, but finally an agreement was reached that the remainder of the band would retain the name and Geoff Tate would get the exclusive rights to Operation Mindcrime name and album. Queensrÿche could play parts of Operation Mindcrime, but only Geoff could perform it in its entirety.
Initially I was skeptical of Geoff outside of Queensrÿche. A lot of people that split from bands have a very hard time and usually don’t make it. Could he pull it off by himself with a new band? Geoff’s first album after the split was less than stellar. A lot of people panned it and Geoff had a lot of rebuilding to do to bring the fans back. His last 2 albums with Sweet Oblivion, Relentless and Sweet Oblivion are very good and I would recommend you listen to them.
Geoff Tate has always had an amazing voice and tonight he proved that he still has it. Tonight’s show was a celebration of 2 outstanding albums by Queensrÿche when Geoff Tate was lead singer. The show was broken into 2 sets. The first set was all of the songs from Rage For Order. After a short intermission, they came back to play Empire in its entirety. They ended the night with an encore of two great songs, “Last Time in Paris” and “Take Hold of the Flame”.
So did Geoff and his new band pull it off, YES. The audience (including myself) loved the show. Geoff seemed to enjoy playing and the band was amazing. From the reaction of the audience, Geoff is back. I could go into the different songs they performed, but which ones to pick, they were all exceptional well done. The dual guitar playing was superb. Both the drummer and bass player performed fabulously. Add in Geoff’s tremendous voice and you have one hell of a performance.
I can’t wait to see Geoff again. It would be nice to see Geoff perform some of his newer songs, especially from the last 2 albums. I understand that he has such a great selection of hits from his time in Queensrÿche and the fans really want to hear those songs, but I believe that if he mixed them with his newer stuff, the fans would be ok with it.
I have seen both Queensrÿche with Todd and now Geoff Tate with his new band and I would recommend both bands. If you get a chance to see Geoff Tate on this celebration tour, I very highly recommend it. His performance is sensational and the band is magnificent.
Geoff has pulled together a great set of musicians for his new band. This includes guitarist Kieran Robertson and Alex “Leksi” Hart, bass player Jack Ross and drummer Danny Laverde. You can check out Geoff Tate on either his website or Facebook page for his upcoming tour dates and album information.
Website: https://www.geofftate.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GeoffTateOfficial
Photos by Fred Kuhlman, All Rights Reserved
Geoff Tate Setlist: (Album)
Set 1: (Rage For Order)
Walk in the Shadows
I Dream in Infrared
The Whisper
Gonna Get Close to You
The Killing Words
Surgical Strike
Neue Regel
Chemical Youth (We Are Rebellion)
London
Screaming in Digital
I Will Remember
Set 2: (Empire)
Best I Can
The Thin Line
Jet City Woman
Della Brown
Another Rainy Night (Without You)
Empire
Resistance
Silent Lucidity
Hand on Heart
One and Only
Anybody Listening?
Encore:
Last Time in Paris (Revolution Calling)
Take Hold of the Flame (The Warning)
Kurt Deimer
Per Kurt’s website: “Kurt Deimer, aka “Bald Man,” is a serial entrepreneur, businessman, actor, and singer- songwriter. As the lead vocalist and front man for the emerging rock group Bald Man”.
When I first heard Kurt sing tonight, all I could think was, this man has smoked way too much. His voice was very raspy and deep. You could understand him and his singing was very good. Kurt and his band played a very heavy form of Rock and Roll. Kurt had Geoff Tate sing on his newest song, “Burn Together”. Unfortunately, Geoff did not join Kurt on stage to sing it tonight. The two highlights of his performance were when they played “Have a Cigar” and “Burn Together”. Kurt has video’s of both of these songs on his website and Facebook page.
Kurt was joined on stage by Michale Vassos on guitar and vocals, PhilX as lead guitarist, Dango Cellan on drums, and Christian Sturba as bass player.
Website: https://kurtdeimer.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KurtDeimerMusic/
Photos by Fred Kuhlman, All Rights Reserved
Kurt Deimer Setlist: (Album/Cover)
Better Let It Be
Flattery
Back
Not Easy To Believe
Only Time
Now Talk To Me
Have a Cigar (Pink Floyd)
Doom
Don’t Care For Me
Big Toe
Sayin’
Burn Together
Naive
Empire of Dezire
Empire of Dezire have been around for over 30 years. The husband and wife dual, guitarist Ken Howey and front person and lead singer Tulin Howey are the driving force behind the band. They are joined by guitarists Freddy Robinson and Jeremy Dasher, bass player Neal Harris, keyboardist Norman House and drummer Duncan Campbell. It is very unusual to see 3 guitarists in a local band, but Empire of Dezire does an amazing job. When you see Tulin, she is this small lady, but once she gets on stage and starts singing, it is truly an amazing sight. Her voice is powerful and blends well with the band.
If you want to get a flavor of their performance, I created a video of their first 2 songs from tonight’s performance and gave it to Tulin. I believe she has put it on YouTube and they have a link on their Facebook page to it.
Photos by Fred Kuhlman, All Rights Reserved
Empire of Dezire Setlist:
The Storm
Love Stops Time
Forever Avalon
Highest Power
The Veil
Starve the Beast
A.I.
Spiritual Suicide
This was the first time to see and hear Spiritual Suicide. They are a local rock & roll band from the Phoenix area. It takes a little searching on the internet to find them since there are other bands with the same name. I have provided links to where I located their information below.
Spiritual Suicide consists of Adon Fanionon guitar and vocals, Zach Kasmer on guitar, bass player Alexis Hernandez and drummer Jonny Kady.
Website: https://www.adonfanion.com/epk/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3mq5TAZAjRnaHgQvK3lscA
Photos by Fred Kuhlman, All Rights Reserved
Spiritual Suicide Setlist:
Spiritual Suicide
The Day That Love Escapes Me
Four Pillars
Alone I Die
N.P.C.
Burn It Down
Killing Sunday
This was the first time seeing Killing Sunday. I almost did not get to photograph and review them. There was a mix-up getting into the Marquee Theatre and Killing Sunday got on stage just a few minutes after the gates were opened. The nice people at the Marquee saw me and allowed me to jump the line and get in so I could photograph Killing Sunday. They started with a cover of the Beatles classic song, “Come Together”.
Killing Sunday consists of guitarist and lead singer Frank Bell, bass player Jamison McQueen and drummer Jesse Ortiz. If you would like to get a flavor of Killing Sunday, I create a couple of videos from tonight’s performance and provided them to Frank. If the band likes them, I hope he puts them on YouTube and provides a link on their Facebook page.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KillingSunday
YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eekgx3SyfUI
Photos by Fred Kuhlman, All Rights Reserved
Killing Sunday Setlist: (Album/Cover)
Come Together (The Beatles)
Hash Miner
Letters Not Sent
Dancing With The Devil
General Lee
T.C.B.
Riding On
Mad World
Alabaster Sky
Love Thang
The Get Down
