Scorpions and Queensryche at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre in Toronto on a beautiful September evening was classic rockers dream. I couldn’t ask for a better way to spend a Friday night. Queensryche, a band not without their trials and tribulations, have seem to over come these problems on the other side bigger and better than ever with Todd LaTorre at the helm. He fits the bill perfectly.
I recently saw Queensryche as a headliner in Buffalo for the first time and was pleasantly surprised and tonight just reiterated the fact that Queensryche is back and here to stay. I would like to publicly thank Todd for embarrassing me at the Buffalo show by pointing me out and telling me to smile. This time around I made sure I was smiling the whole time and I didn’t have a problem doing this. They of course played all their hits, Empire, Silent Lucidity, and Jet City Woman. The subsonic backup vocals of the chorus of Empire rumbled your body to the core. Queensryche fit the bill perfectly with Scorpions, if you have a chance to see them I highly recommend it.
The crowd jumped to their feet as the Scorpions curtain came down. The fans cheered but you couldn’t hear it over the screaming guitars. I think this is a first for me, as normally the fans over take the audio. But not tonight. The Scorpions started their set with “Going Out With A Bang” and then went right into “Make It Real”without missing a beat.
Scorpions entertained us with new and old songs, Wind of Change and No One Like You but they made us wait a long time to hear “Rock You Like A Hurricane” which is probably their most notable song. They did play “We Built This House” a newer song of theirs celebrating 50 years of rock. Just before they kicked into this song Klaus Meine stated “Long journey highs and lows ups and downs… Because we built this house on a rock.” This newer song sounds exactly what you would expect from Scorpions. I do love the fact that the Scorpions had a cat walk. It definitely brings the band closer to their fans.
We were entertained with a fairly long guitar solo half way thru the Scorpions performance which the crowd loved. Well, I am assuming they loved I only heard their cheers afterwards not during due to the sheer volume of the guitars.
They did mellow out the show a bit and performed “Eye Of The Storm” and “Send Me An Angel” The whole band came out on to the catwalk and their fans just soaked it all in. I do have to say that Winds of Change was I think, the most responsive song the audience sang their hearts out.
Drummer James Kottak was raised to the rafters for all to see and entertained us with a drum solo and started with Led Zepplin’s “Rock N Roll”. Then Kottack stood on both kick drums turned around with his back to the audience to show us the back of his shirt. Low and behold he took of his shirt which said Rock and Roll forever to reveal a huge back piece which said the same.
For guys in their late 60’s they can still entertain a crowd and put on an incredible show. To my surprise, there was no pyro or fire and really I didn’t miss it. Mind you, if it was there it would have been great but they put on a great performance. So I guess it just isn’t needed when you have a band like the Scorpions gracing the stage. They of course ended the night with “Rock You Like A Hurricane”
If you want loud and fun rock and roll, go check out a Scorpions show. You won’t be disappointed.
Once again I have to give thanks to the crew because without them there is no show!
Thanks to Live Nation Ontario for media access.
