Queensryche's annual Ryche and Roll visit scheduled for September
 

Queensryche's annual Ryche and Roll visit scheduled for September

With a new album looming next month, Queensryche have just announced a return to San Antonio that keeps alive their recent streak of annual visits. But for classic rock fans, the date they're coming presents a conundrum.

Queensryche will play the Majestic Theatre on Wednesday, Sept. 21. That's the same night Journey, Foreigner and Night Ranger team up at the AT&T Center. Ticket info has yet to be announced for Queensryche; complete tour dates can be found here. Tickets for the latter trio can be purchased here.

In addition to their 1983 self-titled debut EP and various live albums, Queensryche will release their 11th all-original, full-length studio album Dedicated to Chaos on June 28. Samples from each song can be heard here. The veterans from Seattle will celebrate their 30th anniversary in a venue they played in 2006, when they performed Operation: Mindcrime and Operation: Mindcrime II in their entirety as part of a production with actors carrying out the albums' conceptual themes.

Queensryche (singer Geoff Tate, guitarists Michael Wilton and Parker Lundgren, bassist Eddie Jackson and drummer Scott Rockenfield) performed at Sunken Garden Theater last Aug. 7, in a cabaret-style performance featuring dancers and contortionists that met with mixed reviews from San Antonians.

Some locals appreciated the band's effort to do something different and unique (see review link below, along with the SAMME's exclusive interview with Tate). However, a majority of fans were upset many of their favorite songs were omitted -- including nary a single offering from Operation: Mindcrime. A couple of fans even kicked over chairs set up in the general admission area on their way out of the venue. About an hour after that show, Queensryche met with fan-club members, posing for pictures and engaging in conversation. Band members frequently asked those fans what they thought of the performance.
Advertisement

Prior to that concert, Queensryche co-headlined the first two South Texas Rock Fests in 2008 and 2009. The 2009 show at Sunken Gardens featured songs from three albums: 1986's Rage For Order, 2009's American Soldier and 1990 smash Empire. In 2007, they played Sunken Gardens with a varied setlist from several of their recordings.

In 2005, Queensryche opened for Judas Priest at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, playing mostly songs from Rage For Order. That concert took place on the same night the Spurs celebrated their third NBA championship with their traditional parade on the River Walk. Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford came out for the encore wearing a Tim Duncan jersey, and the circa 20,000 fans went ballistic. Queensryche will spend part of July opening for Judas Priest in Europe on Priest's Epitaph tour before their upcoming visit to the Alamo City.

Tate took part in a metal album tribute to Frank Sinatra that was released in March, entitled Sin-atra, by singing on "Summerwind." Don't expect Queensryche to sing that one live in September.

Then again, the cabaret tour proved that in the world of Ryche and Roll, Queensryche is a band that doesn't settle for predictability.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Queensryche's annual Ryche and Roll visit scheduled for September - San Antonio Metal Music | Examiner.com Queensryche's annual Ryche and Roll visit scheduled for September - San Antonio Metal Music | Examiner.com