Review by Val Tapia
Photos by Fred Kuhlman
Promoter: Live Nation (https://www.livenation.com/
Venue: The Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ (https://www.thevanburenphx.com )
Date: Tuesday December 16th, 2025
Tour: Volume and Vengeance Tour
It’s sometimes mind-blowing to me when I think of the many times that progressive hard rock quintet Queensrÿche have performed around the Phoenix area.
A brief history if I may. From the band’s first few Valley appearances opening for KISS (in February 1985) as well as AC/DC (in August 1986) and later Metallica (in December 1988), they clearly built the band from the ground up. As a result, their reputation as a live act slowly but surely grew as time went on.
By the way, I should add that the band’s original lineup consisted of guitarist Chris DeGarmo, bassist Eddie Jackson, drummer Scott Rockenfield, lead vocalist Geoff Tate and guitarist Michael Wilton.
When it comes to Queensrÿche playing in Phoenix, I’m inevitably reminded of the different venues that the various incarnations of the band have performed at as well.
We’re talking the Coliseum, Compton Terrace, multiple gigs at Celebrity Theatre as well as one show at Mesa Amphitheatre. That’s just for starters good readers.
Talk about playing anytime, anywhere and on anyone’s turf. On Halloween night 2010, a later incarnation of the band even played a radio-sponsored show in the parking lot of Buffalo Wild Wings in Mesa at the time. For the record, no, I’m not kidding about that either.
Which brings me to the present day. For the first time, the current incarnation of Queensrÿche played *The Van Buren on Tuesday December. 16th. As of 2021, the band has consisted of aforementioned original members Jackson and Wilton as well as longtime lead vocalist Todd La Torre, guitarist Mike Stone and drummer Casey Grillo.
It was pretty cool to hear Black Sabbath’s 1981 classic “Mob Rules” blaring from the speakers immediately before Queensrÿche took the stage at 8:20 p.m. Of course, perhaps predictably, they got things started with “Queen Of The Reich” followed by “Walk In The Shadows” (from the seminal 1986 album, Rage For Order).
Overall, the band is still in fine form. Word had gotten out that La Torre had come down with laryngitis last weekend in Texas. But on Tuesday afternoon, he assured fans via Facebook that he was feeling better and the remaining four shows of the tour would go on as scheduled.
Strictly going by songs like “Breaking The Silence” and “I Don’t Believe In Love”, I don’t think any of the fans in attendance would’ve guessed that he had been under the weather. He was in good spirits throughout the show, and happy to be onstage.
It was good to hear “Damaged” again for the first time in several years from arguably Queensrÿche‘s “lost classic” in the catalog, 1994’s Promised Land. Interestingly, it received a lukewarm response when La Torre introduced it. But there were certainly a few longtime fans who loved it, I’m sure.
Of course, many old timers’ fists went up in the air when the intro to “NM 156” (from 1984’s The Warning) started. Kudos to the band’s sound crew for a job well done. After four decades, the band remains a well-oiled machine when it comes to their live shows.
That being said, that doesn’t mean that they don’t have some “lighter” moments onstage. La Torre joked with the audience by a show of hands if they “cheated” and looked at the set list before showtime.
He went on to say that they like to play “not only the hits you want to hear, but also ones we like to play that we haven’t played for a while.” With that, another cut from Rage For Order emerged called “London”, one of La Torre’s “favorites” from that album.
Only one song was performed from the “La Torre era”, if you will. Be that as it may, “Behind The Walls” (from 2022’s Digital Noise Alliance) was pretty well received. Speaking of bringing back songs, it would’ve been cool to hear something like “Guardian” and “Where Dreams Go To Die”. The latter in particular has never been played in Phoenix— which is a shame.
Be that as it may, it’s probably fair to say that most of the fans Tuesday night came to hear the classics. Which brings us to “Take Hold Of The Flame”, the first song this writer ever heard from Queensrÿche in late 1984.
In case any of you are wondering, I heard it via nationally-syndicated radio show Metalshop at the ripe-old age of 14. Good times indeed for any young rock fan at the time.
One of Queensrÿche‘s all-time best, “Speak”, still holds up in 2025. It’s every bit as viable and relevant as it was in 1988— maybe even more so today. Make no mistake: social commentary has been a staple of popular music for decades. Artistically speaking, that’s when Queensrÿche is at its strongest— be it past or current lineup.
Of the original lineup’s songs, the one that La Torre pulls off the best vocally is “Screaming In Digital”. Really, it’s quintessential Queensrÿche, and one that the band has a blast playing. It also goes down a storm with the audience— every night they play it.
One could say the same about “Empire”. In a worst-case scenario, if the energy level dips in the audience, all it takes is bringing that timeless classic out. Works every time.
Pretty hard to argue that “Eyes Of A Stranger” is the perfect song to close the main set, especially with “Anarchy X-tra” added at the end. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. However, there was a nice surprise for the encore regarding the latter track. Hang on a second.
In a jaw-dropping moment, the band returned and tore into “Neue Regel”, a shocking surprise for the audience. For another nice change of pace, spoken word piece “I Remember Now”, followed by “Anarchy-X” and “Revolution Calling” concluded the show. Kind of weird seeing all three played as the encore, yet it worked brilliantly.
Despite the paltry 90-minute set Queensrÿche continue to stick to, at least they got a bit closer to twenty songs. Which should be the bare minimum for any live act with a sizable catalog on the touring circuit today. Or a two-hour set, whichever comes first. Anything less than that in 2025 is absolutely unacceptable… from every conceivable angle.
On paper, Accept opening the show was a good move. They played a 10-song set I believe that kicked off with “The Reckoning” from 2024’s Humanoid. Like Queensrÿche, it’s great they still like to create new music, regardless of sales.
Funny thing, lead vocalist Mark Tornillo reminded me of an American Brian Johnson (of AC/DC fame of course). Classics like “Metal Heart” and “Restless and Wild” were there, as well as another newbie “Straight Up Jack”. With “Fast As A Shark” and set closer “Balls To The Wall”, I think it’s safe to say that Accept won over the crowd pretty well.
The final verdict? Yes, pardon the pun good readers. I say four out of five stars— some nice surprises in the set for longtime Queensrÿche fans. You’ll like it, I think.
Queensrÿche
Photos © Fred Kuhlman 2025, All Rights Reserved
Accept
Photos © Fred Kuhlman 2025, All Rights Reserved
Queensrÿche set list: (Album)
Queen Of The Reich (Queensrÿche EP)
Walk In The Shadows (Rage for Order)
Breaking The Silence (Operation: Mindcrime)
I Don’t Believe In Love (Operation: Mindcrime)
Damaged (Promised Land)
NM 156 (The Warning)
London (Rage for Order)
Behind The Walls (Digital Noise Alliance)
Take Hold Of The Flame (The Warning)
Speak (Operation: Mindcrime)
Screaming In Digital (Rage for Order)
Jet City Woman (Empire)
Empire (Empire)
My Empty Room (Operation: Mindcrime)
Eyes Of A Stranger (Operation: Mindcrime)
Encore:
Neue Regel (Rage for Order)
I Remember Now (Operation: Mindcrime)
Anarchy-X (Operation: Mindcrime)
Revolution Calling (Operation: Mindcrime)
Accept Setlist: (Album)
The Reckoning (Humanoid)
Restless and Wild (Restless and Wild)
Midnight Mover (Metal Heart)
Straight Up Jack (Humanoid)
Breaker (Breaker)
Metal Heart (Metal Heart)
Teutonic Terror (Blood of the Nations)
Fast as a Shark (Restless and Wild)
Pandemic (Blood of the Nations)
Balls to the Wall (Balls to the Wall)
