Rock Out With My Shot Out: Geoff Tate & Operation Mindcrime

Geoff Tate's 30th Anniversary tour of the album "Operation Mindcrime" made a stop at the Starland Ballroom in NJ. The band "Till Death Do Us Part" was the opener.

Quennsryche's "Operation Mindcrime" has to be one of the best hard rock albums to come out the 80's. Released in 1988, I remember listening to it from beginning to end, over and over again. It really had to be listened to that way since it was a concept album telling a story. I always liked Queensryches music because the songs and subject matter had more substance then the other bands from their era. To think its been 30 years since it came out is pretty crazy.

Geoff's voice was one of the highlights of the show and is as strong as ever. Hearing him go through all the Mindcrime songs was very reminiscent for me. He was one of my favorite rock & metal singers growing up. There were really no low points to the show as Tate plowed through the "Mindcrime" album in its entirety and went into 4 songs from the "Empire" album for the encore.

Geoff had a really great band behind him and 3 of the guys pulled double duty playing in the band opening for Geoff. "Till Death Do Us Part" is actually fronted by Geoff's daughter Emily Tate. She also came back during the song "Suite Sister Mary" from "Operation Mindcrime" to sing the female parts. I guess great voices run in the family.

The turnout for the show was great and the packed house was very loud and vocal to hearing this classic album performed. If you want to hear the entire "Operation Mindcrime" album live, this is the only way you are going to get it. Geoff and his band put on a great show!