I was really looking forward to tonight’s show for a number of reasons. I’d never been in the downstairs room at the Factory, it’s a cool room that, given the right show, will have a great vibe.
I was never the world’s biggest Stryper fan growing up, but I’ve always admired how they stuck by their beliefs when it maybe might have been easier to downplay that element. In a lot of ways they were the most rebellious of those 80’s bands. And while some of their early tunes may not have dated so well, the stuff they’re doing now, is as good as anything that they’ve ever recorded. Additionally, with his solo stuff, Sweet & Lynch, and the upcoming Sunbomb with Tracii Guns, Michael Sweet has a lot going on, so I was keen to catch him in this setting.
Having seen them a few times now, I was really interested to see how Temtris fared tonight. Obviously, for a Metal band to doing the acoustic “thing”, it’s not just a case of rocking up with your Martin acoustic, and plowing through your normal set at half pace. But these guys did a great job, presenting their songs in a whole new light. Gen’s vocals really hitting the right balance between powerful and pretty, while Fox’s guitar playing kept the heavy groove without going over the top. Highlights were Mind Games, Carry you, Enter the Asylum, and a run through o f the W.A.S.P Classic (No, not that one) ‘Hold on to my heart.
All in all, Temtris didn’t just pull this off, they nailed it!
Michael Sweet comes out right after ‘Runnin’ with the Devil’ by Van Halen plays on the PA, which was a nice touch.
Right away you can tell this is going to be a good one. Michaels got an easygoing manner and we get some good-natured chat sometimes mid song. This feels like playing in someone’s living room. Opening with All for one, and into Sweet & Lynch’s Dying Rose, you’re reminded just what a great singer this guy is! Clearly, drinking Olive Oil is the magic potion! With an l intimate gig like this there is nowhere to hide, but he really delivered! He’s also a hell of a guitar player!
There was some comedy back and forth with the audience, “Choice As, Bro” leading into the crowd sing along ‘Always there for you”. ‘Soldiers under command’ was another highlight!
Michael revisits his time with Boston with ‘Peace of Mind’, and ‘Amanda’, before touting “the best song about prayer ever written”, paying a visit to Bon Jovi’s Tommy & Gina. Although, to be honest I think I would have been more interested in hearing him sing the 1976 country hit that his father wrote “I don’t want to have to marry you’. The inevitable ‘To Hell with the Devil’ closes the main set, before the Sing Along Song encore
This was a great show, Truth be told, I enjoyed it far more than I thought I might, and if, as promised, Stryper return soon, you can count me in.
Biggs
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Adam Sivewright
