-=RNS Robot=-

STRYPER
w/Manic Drive and Flight Patterns
The Red Room on Richards
Vancouver, BC
November 21, 2009

Let’s get the disclaimer out of the way up front: I am not now, nor will ever claim to be, a die-hard Stryper fan. Were I not friends with a group of guys who grew up listening to Christian metal, I probably never would have listened to them at all.

But I do have a soft spot for 80s hair & glam rock/metal. “More Than a Man” is a KILLER song. And Stryper brought their 25th Anniversary Tour to Vancouver, BC. Didn’t even have to make a border hop to catch the gig…

Speaking of friends, three of ‘em left Northern Alberta, would be leaving at 2:30 am, driving through the night for 12 and a half hours for this one gig.

Such is the power of the Yellow & Black Attack.

The 400+ crowd that filled the Red Room on Richards had to be one of the weirdest groups I’ve ever seen at a concert. Mostly folks 35-50, some dressed for the night, some dressed like they were going golfing… clear metal-heads up front, drunk cougars, a couple of the most glorious mullets I’d ever seen, lots of people drinking Heineken (?), a mix of younger people there to be ironic/be obnoxious frat boys/be there, genuinely, to see Stryper.

Don’t forget to add in me, wearin’ yellow & black suspenders, three rednecks running on no sleep, and my buddy Rob, a middle-aged rocker in vinyl pants just coming off two brain surgeries.

So… yeah.

Weird crowd.

Whatever our motives, we were all there to see STRYPER. Man, did they bring it. They were tight. They were captivating. Michael Sweet commanded the eager (if reserved) crowd. Robert Sweet played drums like a human version of The Muppet Show’s Animal (that is a HUGE compliment). Oz Fox oozed sexiness and solos. Tim Gaines’ bass playing was flawless – and intense.

Here’s the deal, kids: Stryper are one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen. They were truly pros, owning every moment of that set.

Much of the crowd was clearly mostly familiar with Stryper’s biggest tunes, coming unglued for the band’s ripping rendition of “Soldiers Under Command” but quieting down for the next couple songs, both the very new (“Murder by Pride”) and very old (“Loud & Clear”). Sweet never let that get to him, egging the crowd on. “More Than a Man” launched the crowd into another frenzy. Sweet’s banter was awesome, and holy crap the dude is JACKED. Hell, every member of Stryper looks to be in killer shape for a group of guys pushing fifty. It’s hard to believe that fact, based on how into the performance each member was, nailing the solos and riffs, Robert Sweet flailing like a maniac (again, ANIMAL) without missing a beat (or any of his countless cymbals).

The band hit a few songs from their most recent release, Murder by Pride, and the tracks really felt like they belonged – live did them more justice than the album production, frankly. “Open Your Eyes,” the solo track from the 2005 album Reborn, didn’t quite mesh as well with the classic Stryper sound. “Honestly” was cheesy but glorious, with Oz Fox finding the nearest cel phone to wave, lighter-style as Michael crooned. The main set closed with a kick-ass rendition of “The Way,” Michael Sweet just NAILING the high notes and classic operatic metal howls to finish it off.

The group would only play one song for encore, but nobody was upset when they tore into “To Hell With The Devil.”

Maybe the band would have played more, but everybody had to clear out so the club could hold its 11pm Saturday rave night. …Sure?

Openers Manic Drive brought a dance/hard rock sound, energetic & unique show. They could have benefited from a live bass player to add to the stage presence. The only band I could really compare them to is Family Force 5, but Manic Drive are much better, less cheesy, and more manly. Take that however you will. The aforementioned weird crowd didn’t really warm up to them, despite the lead singer’s best efforts – it was clearly the night of old people reliving their younger years. Flight Patterns took the middle spot on the gig, a pop/rock band that has potential but doesn’t yet have the songs or live chops – they sounded like an amateur band sandwiched between two pro groups. Of course, Flight Patterns is Michael Sweet’s son’s group, so you see why how they got their spot. Hopefully the big tour experience is valuable in their development.

Sometimes it is more difficult than others to accurately capture what a concert was like in mere words. Stryper was memorable for me, because of their amazing performance… because it was a unique opportunity… because of the bizarre crowd… because of my buddy Nathanael completely marking out when they lit into “Soldiers Under Command”… because he and I head-banged in sync, hair flying, to “To Hell With The Devil”…

Because seriously, STRYPER.

METALLLLLLL!

(and sideways drum kit!)

SETLIST
Soldiers Under Command
Murder By Pride
Loud & Clear
Rock That Makes Me Roll
Reach Out
Calling On You
Free
More Than A Man
Breaking The Law (Judas Priest cover)
Peace of Mind (Boston cover)
4 Leaf Clover
Honestly
Open Your Eyes
My Love (I’ll Always Show)
The Way

Abyss
To Hell With The Devil

Tags: Flight Patterns, Manic Drive, Red Room on Richards, Stryper, Vancouver

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