One of the most anticipated tours of the winter featuring Queensryche and Don Dokken made a special appearance in Times Square at the Nokia Theatre on February 8th. The Nokia Theatre, in the heart of Times Square is an exciting new venue in New York that features a great sound system, huge TV screens on the second floor that let you watch the performance from wherever you want and a balcony on the second tier. The floor is general admission with 4 big chandeliers that hang from the ceiling giving the room a disco feel.
I was destined to return to the city that never sleeps it seems. I recently visited the area to see the Patriots play the New York Giants, as haunting memories of their recent loss surrounded me everywhere, including a huge video screen that sat on top of a huge skyscraper, as I looked out my hotel window sporting the Giants logo, and Champion sign.
The Queensryche/Don Dokken tour has been going very well with sold out shows up and down the coast, as fans new and old anxiously a waited for the two acts to take the stage tonight at the Nokia Theatre.
Opening the show at 8 P.M were three contestants that were vying for a chance to sing with Queensryche performing a song of their choice which included, ”Neon Knights”, and a song by the Police.
Hosting tonight’s event was VH-1's Eddie Trunk, as he introduced the bands. Amidst a aura of incense and lighted candles burning, 80's front man Don Dokken of the band Dokken took the stage at 8:15 P.M. in a quaint coffeehouse setting for a 40 -minute set. Accompanied by long time friend Kelly Keeling on guitar and backing vocal harmonies, the audience was in for a special treat of a new melodic flair to the old school Dokken songs. Don comments, "Geoff called me up a month ago and asked if I wanted to open for Queensryche doing an acoustic set. I said,” Yes", and hung up the phone. Then I thought to myself,” What I am doing"? It has been a blast so far. This tour is all about bringing the 80's back. At these shows, people want to have a good time at concerts. They don't want to listen to music that brings them down. The 80's genre was about having a good time. These songs represent that genre of music. I know if I go to a concert to see a band, I want to be entertained. I don't want to pay money to listen to some guy who hates his life."
Opening with the haunting,” Into The Fire", the stage was set for a very enjoyable evening of great story telling which gave special insight to the Dokken catalog. Don laughed as he said,”We are in New York the city that never sleeps and you die old.” As Don introduced,"Breakin The Chains", jokingly laughing,” This is a song I wrote with Mick in Germany in 1876 and I was 24". As the audience laughed, he said,” What you don't believe I am 27, Ok I am 31?" As Don strummed his six string Takamine, the audience enjoyed this song that started it all for the band. Don's set was very spontaneous, and he was in a great mood.
Bursting into,” Just Got Lucky", the party was just getting started. One of my favorite tunes was,"It's Not Love." The acoustic remake of the catchy Spartan acoustic lead riffs and sultry vocals of Don Dokken burned the stage. It is not easy to play acoustic to a huge rock audience that is use to hearing songs in the rock vein. Being an acoustic performer myself, I was really impressed with the melodic remakes of the Dokken hits that transpired with Don this evening. Don commented,” I took Kelly out on the road with my because I have learned that the Dokken hits need backing harmony." Kelly is no stranger working with Don, as he wrote a few songs on "Long Way Home". He also commented that "Lightning Strikes Again" would be out in May, with a Dokken World tour that will begin in June.
One of the most fun moments of Don's acoustic set was the impromptu sing along to "Alone Again". Don said,” I wrote these lyrics on a napkin on Venice Beach. Don broke into a beautiful acoustic intro "Alone Again", as the audience sang the chorus and led the ending into a full crescendo that was truly magical.
It was great to see how these songs were so well received and known, even to the younger fans here tonight in Times Square. Don commented,"Queensryche and Dokken came out the same time in 1981 before the metal scene took off. Geoff has an amazing voice and when I first heard Geoff Tate sing, I said to myself,” Where can I buy vocal chords like that"?
Ending the set with "In My Dreams", the harmonies of Don and Kelly filled the room opening a door to a whole new generation of fans at this very special all ages show. Also Don Dokken has released his second solo album,” Solitary", which is available at the shows and at www.dokkenstore.com
Don Unplugged
"Lightning Strikes Again" is slated for a Spring release with a Dokken Tour slated to begin in June. Stay tuned for details.
Don Dokken comments on,” Lightning Strikes Again", Our new album is going to be better than ever, very old school Dokken. You just have to write what you feel. I don't want to write the same record over and over again. These days are much harder to get promotion. Everybody downloads, and it is a whole new world. Record companies don't work like they used to. Now the Internet is taking control."
Don Dokken Set List:
Into The Fire
Breakin The Chains
Just Got Lucky
It's Not Love
Alone Again
In My Dreams
Don Dokken - Breaking the Chains acoustic
Queensryche took the stage with a vengeance, as front man Geoff Tate dressed ina classy black suit prowled the stage with much enthusiam. I recently saw the band perform at The Chance 2 nights before, and it was great to see that he had recovered from bronchitis. I was looking forward to hearing the band perform a longer set than on their recent Heaven and Hell tour. Geoff recently informed me was going to dig deep into the classic Queensyrche catalog. He was right on the money.
Queensryche took the stage at 9:15 P.M. for a 90-minute set with a stage setting that reminded me of a old time movie setting complete with Red curtains and massive drum set that mounted the stage featuring one of the best drummers in rock, Scott Rockenfield. If you have ever been to The Nokia, the acoustics are perfect there. Opening with,” Burning Man", Geoff Tate took full command of the crowd with his charismatic stage presence. Dressed all in black, one of the most talented singers to emerge out of the 80's genre,.Geoff tate's vocals were strong and ever so haunting. You could tell the band was excited to be performing in the city of bright light that never sleeps.
Queensryche recently put out a covers album,” Take Covers", as the band performed one of the songs from the new CD, the Pink Floyd classic,” Welcome To The Machine'. Geoff played saxophone on this song, giving the song new dynamics with the band's flawless performance.
Next up, Queensryche performed "The Hands" from their long awaited "Operation: Mindcrime ll release. Queensryche has long been know as a people's band, and not afraid to speak their mind concerning politics and the State of our Nation. Tonight’s performance was no exception. As Geoff asked,” Has everybody been watching the primary’s? Geoff stated,” I have been glued to the TV. I am proud to be an American; these are exciting times, as the band burst into,” I’m American".
One of the of highlights of the evening also included the performance of the song the "Bridge. "Michael Wilton pulled out the acoustic, and weaved his finger picking guitar riffs around Geoff's melodic voice. I enjoyed the storytelling part of the set as, Geoff talked about a recent vacation that he had taken his family on for 3 weeks, and survived all the chaotic adventures of being a Father.
One of my favorite Queensryche albums is "Operaiton:Mindcrime". It was a special treat to hear the classic and ever so haunting,"I Don't Believe In Love" and "Eyes Of A Stranger". The dueling gutiar work of Micheal Wilton and Mike Stone filled the stage. When I asked Geoff recently, how if felt to have completed the sequel to Operation"Mindcrime, he responded, "As a song writer you kind of go where your inspiration takes you. The Mindcrime sequel was originally slated to follow The Empire album in 1993 or so. We had gone off on some sort of musical direction at that point. We honestly couldn't wrap our heads around coming up with a sequel at that time. In retrospect, I am kind of glad that it took so long to come out because I think we all needed a little bit of life experience in order to conclude the story. I think too, the record coming out this time also kind of fits the circumstances of where the country is right now. Where our leadership is. It is very similar now to what it was back in the late 80's when that album was written. It is a very similar time. It is kind of strange. They kind of parallel each other along the way."
Also the band soared on "Jet City Woman". It was clear to see, that one of the most inspiring bands to emerge out of the 80's genre in concert, performing a huge catalog of songs that have stood the test of Time. Queensryche ended the 90 minute show with "Empire".
Queensryche set was energetic, as front man Geoff Tate and company took the audience back in time, when lyrics and guitar riffs ruled the metal scene, and singalongs were prevalent.
Be sure to check out Queensryche and Don Dokken on tour through March 1.
l. Burning Man
2. NM 156
3. Screaming in Digital
4.Welcome To The Machine
5. I'm American
6. The Hands
7. Bridge
8. The Killing Words
9. Gonna to Get Close To You
10. Anybody Listening
11. I Don't Believe in Love
12.. Jet City Woman
.13. Eyes of a Stranger
Encore
14. Empire
