Geoff Tate's Operation: Mindcrime –
Nightrain, Bradford, Tuesday 20th June, 2023
Back in the UK after a successful solo tour a few years a back, Geoff and his band are celebrating 35 years of the concept album by his former band, Queensryche: Operation Mindcrime. Nightrain may be small in comparison to venues Tate is used to bit tonight it’s packed to the hilt with all ages rammed in like rock hungry Sardines.
A distant rumble and it behind the three guitarists are front and centre of the stage, a foot on the barrier, shapes posed they are Guitarists, James Brown and Amaury Altmayer, Bassist, Jack Ross and leading from the back, Cincinnati, Ohio Drummer, Danny Laverde.
The sound is large and clear so is the man himself, Geoff Tate as he strides out, shaven head and sunglasses, a mysterious presence to suit the opening track 'Anarchy X'. So we’re off into the mysterious world of Dr X, Geoff Tate becomes the characters of the opus, twisting and screaming the words living every moment of the play being portrayed in the lyrics; his voice strong as ever.
'Revolution Calling' follows and the chorus is suitably shouted out by the embracing crowd, fine lead guitar work by Brown and Altameyer echoing the classic line up of all them years ago.
There’s little chat between songs and it’s one classic after another, eventually arriving at the rousing 'Suite Sister Mary', a young woman enters from the wings identified as “my angel..” by Tate for the duet. It was his Daughter Emily who portrayed the Nun, herself a great singer.
On and on with classics until 'I Don’t Believe In love'. Again, the crowd are invited to sing the chorus into Tate’s outstretched mic, a personal favourite of mine from the album.
For a man in his early 60's, Geoff Tate shows no sign of any loss in his unique voice, note after note hit perfectly. Does a concept album show work in a small venue with none of the theatrics of an arena? It seems getting up close to the band and seeing their faces is all you need tonight.
Finishing off the album set was 'Eyes Of A Stranger', where the sunglasses came off and Geoff’s piecing gaze was upon us, although why it was chosen not to play it as it was recorded, instead as some odd remix I don’t know, as it ruined the song.
When you think maybe that was the end Tate asks, “Shall we continue?”, the crowd’s roar was enough to confirm his decision, slowing down after 50 minutes of mayhem for 'Silent Lucidity' and then a double dose from 'Empire' album with the title track and then a brilliant 'Jet City Woman'.
Geoff wipes the sweat from his head and again proposes a question “How far back shall we go?” the answer from the masses in front “the beginning!”. I'm thinking surely not 'Queen of the Reich'? Can he still hit that opening scream? Will he cut it?
I need not have worried as he did and he did, the piercing falsetto opener was on par, Tate doubled over squeezing ever last note from his lungs. What a way to bring the night to a close!
Maybe an Empire tour next time?
10/10
Review By Mark Bedford
Photographs by John Mather