JUDAS PRIEST w/Queensryche March 9, 2022 Everett, WA
JUDAS PRIEST
Queensryche
Angel Of The Winds Arena
Everett, WA
Wednesday March 9, 2022
Everett, WA was oh so ready for a night of heavy metal from Judas Priest. Touring to celebrate their 50 Year Anniversary (which had been sidelined due to the pandemic), the tour started strong but then went on a break due to the well publicized health of guitarist Richie Faulkner.
With Richie thankfully back on the mend, the band resumed the tour and roared into Angel Of The Winds Arena on March 9th (from the original October 2, 2021 date).
Original support act Sabaton was replaced with local heroes Queensryche for this leg of the tour.
Opening with “Queen Of The Ryche”, the five piece band was welcomed with open arms by their hometown fans. As vocalist Todd La Torre said - they were sticking with a set of classics. Earlier in the tour they aired one Todd era tune per set list but now it was nothing but songs from 1990 or earlier.
While I’ve covered the band several times since Todd joined in 2012, I have not seen them for a long time in an arena setting until tonight. Todd and drummer Casey Grillo always bring the energy. It was even more apparent at this show than ever before. Returning guitarist Mike Stone kept things tight as original members Eddie Jackson and Michael "Whip" Wilton did their best to match the energy.
The band sounded fantastic and their set list kept things heavy which was a smart choice. My only gripe is that their last studio album is a killer with plenty of heavy material. I think they made a mistake by dropping the one Todd era tune for the shows going forward. Please reconsider and put a song back in from any of the Todd era albums.
WIth the defenders of the faith cross symbol descending from the rafters as “Battle Hymn” played over the PA, the crowd roared and Ritchie then launched into set opener, “One Shot At Glory”.
The band was in fine form, dare I say pissed off form. Having covered them in 2018 and 2019, this Judas Priest had more of an edge to them and I think the pandemic had a lot to do with that. The near-capacity crowd was also giving the energy back to the band so things were electric all night.
One area that the band has really excelled at recently is keeping the set list fresh. I’m guessing Richie might have something to do with the deep cuts that have been aired over the last four or five years. I mean when they returned in 2019, they changed the entire set save for three songs from the 2018 tour (even though it was the same tour). That’s just incredible and the diehard fans really appreciate those kinds of gestures.
This tour went as far back as the first album with, “Rocka Rolla” being aired - a song I’ve wanted to hear live for years. They made pit stops along the way for most of their discography, which is vast.
The Metal God - Rob Halford - was still singing and screaming his ass off. He is a legend and rightfully so in the metal community and he really deserves to be acknowledged as a legend in the music industry, period.
Kudos also to Andy Sneap. I’m glad the band or management or both came to their senses and kept Andy in the band for the tour. He has absolutely grown into the role and you can tell he has more confidence with the material and he is playing even more of the leads now. Well deserved respect, Mr. Sneap.
Just like in 2019, longtime fan favorite, “Victim Of Changes” is back in the set. This song never disappoints live as it is the quintessential Judas Priest song. It has everything they’re known for and it sounded amazing on Wednesday night.
Of course there were encores. No Priest show is complete without the Harley Davidson rolling out on the stage before they launch into, “Hell Bent For Leather”.
The show ended with, “Living After Midnight”. The band took their bows, waved to the audience, threw picks and drumsticks into the audience, and then triumphantly walked off the stage.
I overheard many in attendance say that this was their first metal show back since the pandemic. There was a lot of pent up emotion at this concert and it absolutely spilled over into the energy throughout the arena.
Judas Priest are legends of the genre. On Wednesday night in Everett, WA - they left no doubt that they are the defenders of the heavy metal faith.
Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts
Connect with Eclectic Arts: Social Media Links Here
(All Photos by Mark Sugiyama for Eclectic Arts (c) 2022)
Queensryche
Angel Of The Winds Arena
Everett, WA
Wednesday March 9, 2022
(All Photos by Mark Sugiyama for Eclectic Arts (c) 2022)
Everett, WA was oh so ready for a night of heavy metal from Judas Priest. Touring to celebrate their 50 Year Anniversary (which had been sidelined due to the pandemic), the tour started strong but then went on a break due to the well publicized health of guitarist Richie Faulkner.
With Richie thankfully back on the mend, the band resumed the tour and roared into Angel Of The Winds Arena on March 9th (from the original October 2, 2021 date).
Original support act Sabaton was replaced with local heroes Queensryche for this leg of the tour.
Opening with “Queen Of The Ryche”, the five piece band was welcomed with open arms by their hometown fans. As vocalist Todd La Torre said - they were sticking with a set of classics. Earlier in the tour they aired one Todd era tune per set list but now it was nothing but songs from 1990 or earlier.
While I’ve covered the band several times since Todd joined in 2012, I have not seen them for a long time in an arena setting until tonight. Todd and drummer Casey Grillo always bring the energy. It was even more apparent at this show than ever before. Returning guitarist Mike Stone kept things tight as original members Eddie Jackson and Michael "Whip" Wilton did their best to match the energy.
The band sounded fantastic and their set list kept things heavy which was a smart choice. My only gripe is that their last studio album is a killer with plenty of heavy material. I think they made a mistake by dropping the one Todd era tune for the shows going forward. Please reconsider and put a song back in from any of the Todd era albums.
WIth the defenders of the faith cross symbol descending from the rafters as “Battle Hymn” played over the PA, the crowd roared and Ritchie then launched into set opener, “One Shot At Glory”.
The band was in fine form, dare I say pissed off form. Having covered them in 2018 and 2019, this Judas Priest had more of an edge to them and I think the pandemic had a lot to do with that. The near-capacity crowd was also giving the energy back to the band so things were electric all night.
One area that the band has really excelled at recently is keeping the set list fresh. I’m guessing Richie might have something to do with the deep cuts that have been aired over the last four or five years. I mean when they returned in 2019, they changed the entire set save for three songs from the 2018 tour (even though it was the same tour). That’s just incredible and the diehard fans really appreciate those kinds of gestures.
This tour went as far back as the first album with, “Rocka Rolla” being aired - a song I’ve wanted to hear live for years. They made pit stops along the way for most of their discography, which is vast.
The Metal God - Rob Halford - was still singing and screaming his ass off. He is a legend and rightfully so in the metal community and he really deserves to be acknowledged as a legend in the music industry, period.
Kudos also to Andy Sneap. I’m glad the band or management or both came to their senses and kept Andy in the band for the tour. He has absolutely grown into the role and you can tell he has more confidence with the material and he is playing even more of the leads now. Well deserved respect, Mr. Sneap.
Just like in 2019, longtime fan favorite, “Victim Of Changes” is back in the set. This song never disappoints live as it is the quintessential Judas Priest song. It has everything they’re known for and it sounded amazing on Wednesday night.
Of course there were encores. No Priest show is complete without the Harley Davidson rolling out on the stage before they launch into, “Hell Bent For Leather”.
The show ended with, “Living After Midnight”. The band took their bows, waved to the audience, threw picks and drumsticks into the audience, and then triumphantly walked off the stage.
I overheard many in attendance say that this was their first metal show back since the pandemic. There was a lot of pent up emotion at this concert and it absolutely spilled over into the energy throughout the arena.
Judas Priest are legends of the genre. On Wednesday night in Everett, WA - they left no doubt that they are the defenders of the heavy metal faith.
Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts
Connect with Eclectic Arts: Social Media Links Here
(All Photos by Mark Sugiyama for Eclectic Arts (c) 2022)
Queensryche
awesome review and pictures hope to cath them in the netherlands soon again
ReplyDeleteThanks! It was great finally being back at two metal gigs in the same week! \m/
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