Calendar

[DavidMac]

I finally got to see STRYPER in person for the first time and they were awesome.  Before I talk about STRYPER, I should mention the two opening acts.  The first band was called HAIR NATION and they are a covers band that played Metallica, Motely Crue, Skid Row, Aerosmith, Quiet Riot, and Dio.  They sounded great.  Up next was the Brady Bond Band.  I know all of the guys in the band, but I did not know that they were a band.  Brady is a local pastor and they performed all originals.  They were an alternative rock grunge punk band.  They were really good.  Brady cracked a joke by saying that one band was singing about "Shout at the Devil" and another band was singing "To Hell With The Devil."  He wasn't going to sing about the devil.

I'm not going to go through the set list, as that can be found on line, but they sang 17 songs and they were all rockers.  They hit the gas pedal right out of the gate with IN GOD WE TRUST and never let up.  They played all my favorite songs, FREE, MORE THAN A MAN, SURRENDER, SORRY and YAHWEH.  They closed with SOLDIERS and TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL.  We were in the second row up against the barrier in front of Michael.  Robert was the most entertaining member of the band.  He looked like he was going to fall out of his chair a couple of time.  He really pounds the drums.  It just looks like he is having a blast up there.  I managed to catch one of Perry's guitar picks on the fly.  My son managed to collect three of Oz's picks.  I had a Bible bounce off my hands. 

Apparently, they were travelling in two mini vans and only had their guitars with them and the rest of the equipment they rented.  My son's drum teacher, Jeff Plate of METAL CHURCH, SAVATAGE and TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA fame was there and he said that this was the best he had heard STRYPER ever play. 

Overall a fantastic show and I will definitely see them play again, when I get the opportunity.

(I was donning the DEAD TO SELF RADIO t-shirt)

[Tom Johns]

Awesome brother... Hope they come to Washington state again. Thanks for posting.

[rickyz]

Sounds like a great time! Hope I can see them again.                

[DavidMac]

I will post some pictures when I get a moment to resize them.