Review & photos by Chad Alexander
July 29th 2014, Marquee Theater, Tempe AZ: Orange County glam/Christian metal veterans Stryper played an incredible gig at the Marquee Theater in Tempe AZ last Tuesday night. Just as the several times I’ve seen them since 1985, they didn’t disappoint. Touring on their latest full-length release “No More Hell To Pay” which was produced by Michael Sweet and released via Frontiers Records in 2013, Stryper played a set wherein the new material was well represented, along with older selections and some choice cover tunes. Stryper’s AZ fan base came out in large numbers to the Marquee to support the band and revel in a full 21-song headline set, which aptly began with ‘God’, the opening track from the album ‘Revelation’.
It’s truly amazing how strong and dynamic Michael Sweet’s voice still is. The range he hits and can sustain is truly inspiring compared to other singers in this genre. Stryper has carried the flag for the brand of the so-called “Christian” hard rock/metal for 30 years now. While others have come and gone, for example Barren Cross, White Cross, Bloodgood, and Holy Soldier. Not to say they were not good they just didn’t have the staying power that Stryper had and continues to have.
I don’t see them stopping anytime soon. Oz Fox on guitar is a top notch player, and hearing him switching leads and harmonizing together with Michael Sweet throughout the night was truly a pleasure. Bassist Tim Gaines returned to the band in 2010 after a 6-year absence, and it’s great to hear the strong bass runs and steady bottom end he delivers along with backing vocals that make the sound complete. And although visually elusive on stage, drummer Robert Sweet pounded the drums like an animal. These are the four men that are collectively Stryper.
Moving on through the set, all parts of thier career were touched, including the debut EP ‘The Yellow And Black Attack’ with the song “Loud & Clear”, and the title track of ‘Soldiers Under Command’, along with “To Hell With the Devil”, “Honestly” and “Calling on You”. They also touched on their 2011 all-covers album ‘The Covering’ with Kansas and KISS covers. Stryper has always tried to share thier message of God as part of the concert experience, including tossing bibles into the audience who go after them like baseball fans go after a foul ball. Closing out the night with “Legacy”, another incredibly strong musically and lyrically, they might have given the fans a reason to think that they covered thier own musical ‘legacy’ tonight with this set.
Overall an outstanding night, the crowd was definitely feeding off the energy the Sweet brothers, Fox and Gaines were giving out. On a side note, also in attendance was an incredibly talented singer in her own rite Veronica Freeman from Benedictum was enjoying the show from the crowd. Oz Fox mentioned that in 2015 they won’t be touring much because they will be in the studio recording a new album. I’ve heard at some point they will be recording a new DVD as well. Go support these guys, as they are extremely talented and underrated musicians who still put on a great show that will give you your money’s worth.
Check out a gallery of 14 Stryper photos from the show below, of view it here if you’re on a non-Flash device:
Stryper links: website | facebook | twitter
Set List:
01. God
02. Revelation
03. Loud & Clear
04. Reach Out
05. Calling On You
06. Free
07. More Than A Man
08. No More Hell To Pay
09. Marching Into Battle
10. Carry On My Wayward Son (Kansas cover)
11. Shout It Out Loud (KISS cover)
12. In God We Trust
13. Always There For You
14. All For One
15. Caught In The Middle
16. Honestly
17. The Way
18. Soldiers Under Command
Encore:
19. Abyss
20. To Hell With the Devil
21. Legacy
Remaining US Tour Dates:
7/31 – West Hollywood CA – Whisky-A-Go-Go
8/01 – Denver CO – Casselmans Bar & Venue
8/02 – Sheridian WY – Trails End Concert Park