Geoff Tate concluded his five-date Irish run on Sunday night (29th September 2024), with an intimate gig at Galway's celebrated music and comedy venue, Róisín Dubh. Billed as his 'Greatest Hits' tour, the former Queensrÿche man played most of the songs that made his name, delivered a number of deeper cuts, and shocked by omitting one of the band's most beloved songs.
Following on from dates in Belfast, Dublin, Derry, and Limerick, Tate's final show on this run saw him play to an intimate, but enraptured Sunday night crowd in the Galway City establishment that has hosted the likes of Ed Sheeran, Ray Manzarek of the Doors, Led Zeppelin man John Paul Jones, and Steve Earle during its storied history.
Tonight, it was the turn of the Queensrÿche founder, making his first ever live appearance in the Munster city. A regular to visitor to Ireland since his former band first made their way here as special guests to Dio in 1984, the singer has a deep passion for the country. "I’ve been to Ireland many times and travelled all over the country, and I am so impressed by the love of music that the Irish have", he told us in 2016; "it’s everywhere you go; it’s just prevalent, much more than any country I’ve ever visited, and the players in Ireland are fantastic. Maybe it’s because it’s part of the culture, but almost anybody can sing a song that you meet, and people are always in the pubs singing and playing music all the time. It’s just a whole different atmosphere than any place I’ve ever been, and I love that about the country".
And there was an abundance of singing as Tate, backed by a band of international musicians took to the stage with 'Empire', the title track from Queensrÿche's 1990 triple-platinum selling album. Sounding tight and energised, Tate and his four-piece band delivered a note-perfect rendition of the monster song, with guitarists Amaury Altmayer and Dario Parente - as they would do for the rest of the night - nailing the tone, feel, and vibe of the original recording.
With the night consisting exclusively of Queensrÿche-era material, this was a set that would live up to its 'Greatest Hits' billing. However before that came relative deep cut - and the youngest song on the set - 'Desert Dance', from 2003's 'Tribe'. With its sandy vibes, it was followed by the colossal 'I Am I', delivering, not for the first time tonight, a perfect pairing.
Following with another deep dive in 'Q2K' cut 'Sacred Ground', from then on it was a trawl through the songs built the Queensrÿche empire.
With a knowing grin, the singer greeted the crowd saying; "it's great to see you tonight. I'm going to play them all, but I've a feeling you're all about 'Operation: Mindcrime'..." And he wasn't wrong, with the front rows losing it as the title track ominously arrived. Following with 'Breaking the Silence' and 'I Don't Believe in Love', the trio of tracks form the 1988 masterwork proved among the highlights of the evening.
With Tate's voice soaring throughout, the early days pairing of 'NM156' and 'Screaming in Digital' gave way to an anthemic 'Walk in the Shadows', before a return to 'Empire' in a glorious 'Another Rainy Night (Without You)', rapturous 'Jet City Woman', and widescreen set closer 'Silent Lucidity'.
A surprising - or not-so-surprising if you have a copy of 2007's 'Take Cover' album - cover of Pink Floyd's 'Welcome to the Machine' kicked off the encores, before a celebratory 'The Lady Wore Black' and a rip-roaring 'Queen of the Reich' brought the evening to an end.
Although treated to some of the finest hard rock tracks of a generation, with no 'Eyes of a Stranger', there was no doubt that the crowd was left wanting more, however Geoff Tate delivered on every level, with a voice that is as commanding and powerful as it ever was.
Geoff Tate brings his 'Greatest Hits 2024' tour to the UK from 3td October 2024. For a full list of dates and ticketing, click here.
Tonight, it was the turn of the Queensrÿche founder, making his first ever live appearance in the Munster city. A regular to visitor to Ireland since his former band first made their way here as special guests to Dio in 1984, the singer has a deep passion for the country. "I’ve been to Ireland many times and travelled all over the country, and I am so impressed by the love of music that the Irish have", he told us in 2016; "it’s everywhere you go; it’s just prevalent, much more than any country I’ve ever visited, and the players in Ireland are fantastic. Maybe it’s because it’s part of the culture, but almost anybody can sing a song that you meet, and people are always in the pubs singing and playing music all the time. It’s just a whole different atmosphere than any place I’ve ever been, and I love that about the country".
And there was an abundance of singing as Tate, backed by a band of international musicians took to the stage with 'Empire', the title track from Queensrÿche's 1990 triple-platinum selling album. Sounding tight and energised, Tate and his four-piece band delivered a note-perfect rendition of the monster song, with guitarists Amaury Altmayer and Dario Parente - as they would do for the rest of the night - nailing the tone, feel, and vibe of the original recording.
With the night consisting exclusively of Queensrÿche-era material, this was a set that would live up to its 'Greatest Hits' billing. However before that came relative deep cut - and the youngest song on the set - 'Desert Dance', from 2003's 'Tribe'. With its sandy vibes, it was followed by the colossal 'I Am I', delivering, not for the first time tonight, a perfect pairing.
Following with another deep dive in 'Q2K' cut 'Sacred Ground', from then on it was a trawl through the songs built the Queensrÿche empire.
With a knowing grin, the singer greeted the crowd saying; "it's great to see you tonight. I'm going to play them all, but I've a feeling you're all about 'Operation: Mindcrime'..." And he wasn't wrong, with the front rows losing it as the title track ominously arrived. Following with 'Breaking the Silence' and 'I Don't Believe in Love', the trio of tracks form the 1988 masterwork proved among the highlights of the evening.
With Tate's voice soaring throughout, the early days pairing of 'NM156' and 'Screaming in Digital' gave way to an anthemic 'Walk in the Shadows', before a return to 'Empire' in a glorious 'Another Rainy Night (Without You)', rapturous 'Jet City Woman', and widescreen set closer 'Silent Lucidity'.
A surprising - or not-so-surprising if you have a copy of 2007's 'Take Cover' album - cover of Pink Floyd's 'Welcome to the Machine' kicked off the encores, before a celebratory 'The Lady Wore Black' and a rip-roaring 'Queen of the Reich' brought the evening to an end.
Although treated to some of the finest hard rock tracks of a generation, with no 'Eyes of a Stranger', there was no doubt that the crowd was left wanting more, however Geoff Tate delivered on every level, with a voice that is as commanding and powerful as it ever was.
Geoff Tate brings his 'Greatest Hits 2024' tour to the UK from 3td October 2024. For a full list of dates and ticketing, click here.