Show live Ben Hansen Contributing Writer Year after year loyal fans have attended shows with the fantasy of hearing some of the older more obscure material from the bands early days With 12 studio albums 20 million albums sold and almost 30 years behind them the chances seemed remote What the band delivered at the Depot club this week was beyond any fans fan's wildest expectations The 2009 American Soldier tour saw the band starting early and a I lon r nn set i n n r g g 0 ou three separate segments Each segment dedicated itself to a phase of the bands band's career It was a given that the new album would be one of these three phases but what was in store for forthe forthe forthe the rest of the night It took little time for forthe forthe forthe the crowd to recognize guitarist Michael Whip Wilton strumming the first few acoustical notes of Neue Regel from the bands band's breakthrough Rage for Order album to realize that this was going to be bethe bethe bethe the night they had hoped for from the band With the entire first segment dedicated specifically to the Rage for Order album lead singer Geoff Tate howled crooned and bellowed the band through each track from the often performed Walk in the Shadows to the infrequently heard Surgical Strike and I Will Remember True to form Tate took few shortcuts delivering an ample load of pow powerful high notes mixed with his coveted haunting lows t The band switched gears quickly following the Rage for Order segment rolling directly into the opening track Sliver off the new album and next segment American Solider A drill sergeant brought the audience to attention shouting out the opening lyrics Get on Your Feet The sergeant continued to bark orders throughout the track while Tate sang in tandem Video monitors behind the stage provided imagery of our armed forces serving and served as an emotional that accompanied each of the songs Eras of servicemen were seamlessly blended into one focal theme as we watched and listened to the tracks If I Were King The Killer and A Dead DeadMan's DeadMans DeadMans DeadMan's DeadMans DeadMan's Mans Man's Words Tate himself s 31 d t t b t 1 1 1 H up up u es as U le offered to the audience Everything in the world is happening so quickly look at this buy this that we lose track of what is real of what is really important our family our friends our relationships and the people who allow us to live the way we live As the band moved into Home Again Geoff and his daughter Emily combined on a father daughter duet while pictures of service people leaving their children to protect our freedoms streamed across the monitors It was hard not to get teary-eyed teary realizing the sacrifices that so many have made to give us our freedom In the recording of the new American Soldier concept album released earlier this year had reverted back to its 4 original members Geoff Whip bassist Ed Jackson and drummer Scott Rockenfeld while y jl bi bidding 9 a fond fon adieu to to guitarist Mike Stone The album 1 but with the live responsibilities of varying guitar parts this put the band in a quandary Enter new guitarist Parker Lundgren and guitarist Jason Ames who both held down the touring duties admirably For the final segment the guys dipped into a slew of tracks from the bands band's highest-grossing highest effort Empire The first track Best I Can was the perfect transitional piece between the segments with Scotts Scott's drums driving hard and pumping excitement into the crowd Lesser- Lesser played tracks The Thin Line One and Only and Hand on Heart were met with excitement from the crowd who erupted almost uncontrollably when the first few notes of the bands band's mega-hit mega Silent Lucidity were picked by Whip r G ff fr n. n t f. f l 1 d d U eo i ayren l e r e ea a lullaby to beat all other lullabies ending soothingly by whispering lowly Ill be there watching out for over you forever could have easily ended the show here but continued the Empire set as bassist Ed began the bass chugging intro to the radio hit Jet City Woman The final segment ended with another surprise Anybody Listening the final track from the album After a solid two hours of playing an encore was not a given but once again the guys delivered deliver d offering up the title track from Empire This show proved once again that is a live act worthy of seeing Although it is easy to cite the brilliance of Tate the other guys in the band give an exceptional performance night after night Regardless of how many shows and how many tours you have seen them always provide something ing new to cater to even cven the most diehard fan while still providing enough to satisfy any newcomer After seeing them for the sixth time I can honestly say that I wont won't hesitate to see them again the next time they roll through town |