Review by Val Tapia
Photos by Fred Kuhlman
Promoter: Lucky Man (https://www.luckymanonline.com/ )
Venue: Marquee Theater, Tempe, AZ (https://www.marqueetheatreaz.com/ )
Date: Saturday December 7th, 2024
Tour: Album One Alive
When word got out that L.A.-based veteran metal quartet W.A.S.P. was heading back out on tour in 2024 for its Album One Alive tour, both Death Angel and Unto Others were initially booked as the opening acts.
Long and short of it, both bands were dropped and eventually replaced with Armored Saint before the tour even commenced. As most fans reading this know, W.A.S.P. and Armored Saint go way back with their history— even before they were signed to a record label.
In some ways, this is an ideal concert bill for fifty-something “metalheads”, if you will. Both played here in Oct. 2022 as well, during W.A.S.P.’s 40 Years Live tour at a packed Marquee Theatre.
For the show this past Saturday (12/7), the Marquee wasn’t as crowded as the ’22 gig. But the response from longtime fans of these two bands together again was no less enthusiastic. There is indeed something to be said about a band’s rabid fan base, regardless of how many records they sell.
Taking the stage promptly at 8:00pm, Armored Saint opened its 50-minute set with End Of The Attention Span (from 2020’s Punching The Sky), followed by the title track of 1987’s Raising Fear.
It could be argued that Armored Saint is at the top of its game as a live act. Make no mistake, after 40 years, they still sound good onstage. Lead vocalist John Bush bounces around onstage (in his early 60s, mind you) like a boxer in the ring, not to mention his voice is still as strong as it ever was.
Of course, along with guitarists Phil Sandoval and Jeff Duncan, bassist Joey Vera, and drummer Gonzo Sandoval, I imagine Armored Saint is a tough act to follow for any headliner they play with.
I saw many grins in the audience for Last Train Home (from 1991’s Symbol of Salvation) and March Of The Saint. Another more recent song, Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants, showcased the band’s exceptional musicianship and undeniable chemistry within this long-running quintet.
Bush jokingly asked if the (roughly) 900 fans in attendance wanted to hear one (or five) more songs. Needless to say, they wouldn’t have minded “five more songs” one bit I’m sure.
With that, Armored Saint concluded their (10-song?) set with Can U Deliver and my personal favorite, Reign Of Fire.
At the very least, they indeed won the crowd over. And deservedly so I might add.
Speaking candidly, I thought to myself… “How is W.A.S.P. going to top that”? In short order, they had their work cut out for them, in this writer’s humble opinion.
With that in mind, about one minute before they took the stage at 9:30pm, I noticed two women were ejected from the venue— I presumed there was a fight. Security immediately intervened, and next thing I knew, they were gone.
With the lights out, snippets of various W.A.S.P. songs blared out of the PA before they opened their meager 80-minute set with I Wanna Be Somebody. On this tour, the band’s 1984 self-titled debut album is being performed in its entirety.
Another classic, L.O.V.E. Machine, followed. When they plow into fan-favorite The Flame, that’s when I saw countless fists in the air.
The current incarnation of W.A.S.P. consists of lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist (and sole original member) Blackie Lawless, lead guitarist Doug Blair, bassist Mike Duda, and drummer Aquiles Priester.
I’m sure many in the audience were thrilled to hear B.A.D. and School Daze for the first time live in decades. To their credit, the band stayed faithful to the original recordings by and large. Also, no guitar solo, no drum solo— thankfully.
I have to admit that I’m not sure it was really necessary for W.A.S.P. to play their first album in full. Yes, it’s a good album, but it’s definitely not “great” by any means.
However, I consider the album to be a cult classic though. Overall, it’s held up pretty well over time. That said, I contend that the “best” was yet to come for W.A.S.P.— artistically speaking anyway. More on that shortly.
I know there are some people who say W.A.S.P. is all “show”. Be that as it may, I applaud them for putting most of the focus on the music these days.
If we’re being honest, the “show” was pretty much relegated to a few new curtains (i.e. artwork from the first album), more curtains recycled from the last tour (circus-themed), and two video screens.
In retrospect, I contend that the band’s image hurt them more than helped throughout their four-decade career. Yet, they’ve still maintained a dedicated cult following after all these years. Not easy to do, particularly given the limited radio airplay they received in their “heyday”, if you will.
One song that went down a storm Saturday night was Sleeping (In The Fire). It was then that I remembered it will be exactly 40 years on Dec. 17 (1984) when W.A.S.P. played its first Phoenix date, opening for Krokus on The Blitz tour. By the way, Helix was third on the bill, in case you were wondering.
For the record, I didn’t see that show. I just remember seeing a couple of Krokus and W.A.S.P. t-shirts the next day at school. It would be another 14 months when I would see W.A.S.P. for the first time— opening for KISS on the Asylum tour (at the Coliseum) in February 1986. They were touring behind their second album, 1985’s The Last Command.
Anyway, with Tormentor and The Torture Never Stops concluding the first album, the band take a five-minute break or so before playing a whopping five–song “second set”— two of them in lame medley form. Yes… really.
However, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Forever Free, a song I’ve never seen them play live. Problem was, it was a condensed version (like I said, in medley form) along with the killer title track to W.A.S.P.’s strongest album to date, 1989’s The Headless Children.
Needless to say, that was a real letdown, hearing two of the band’s best songs chopped up as “one” song. Again, that’s just flat-out lame.
I won’t mince words: the days of the medley should be extinct on a concert stage— just like guitar and drum solos. But I digress.
Closing out the paltry 15-song set with Wild Child and Blind In Texas, W.A.S.P. prove its still a solid live band in 2024. However, on this night, I give the edge to Armored Saint.
The verdict for W.A.S.P’s Album One Alive tour? I’ll extend the courtesy and give it four out of five stars. As I alluded to in the headline— thanks to Armored Saint.
Who knows— perhaps this should’ve been a co-headline tour?
Hmmm… maybe next time.
W.A.S.P.
Photos © Fred Kuhlman 2024, All Rights Reserved
Armored Saint
Photos © Fred Kuhlman 2024, All Rights Reserved
