Geoff Tate at the RCA Club in Lisbon - 2025

It was a rainy Monday evening, not very inviting for a concert, Geoff Tate
toasted Lisbon's metal and rock fans with the The Big Rock Show Tour at the RCA Club -
stage at the end of the tour. Accompanied by a phenomenal band and oozing
charisma and stage presence, he promised a night of classics - and he delivered.
promise with mastery!

With a career spanning more than four decades, Geoff Tate has established himself as one of the
progressive metal's most iconic voice. Former lead singer of Queensrÿche, the band he helped
defining the genre in the 1980s and 1990s, he was acclaimed for his unique vocal technique and
intense interpretations. After leaving the group, Tate went on to have a successful career
and has also collaborated with bands such as Avantasia. Now, with The Big Rock Show
Tour, he revisited hymns that have marked generations, taking fans on a real journey
in time.

Josh Watts (Ivory Lake)

Before Geoff took to the stage, Josh Watts (Ivory Lake) had the challenging mission of
entertained an audience eager to hear the great hits of 80s metal. With their beautiful
voice and an acoustic guitar, he won over the audience with his undeniable talent.
Quando os membros da banda começaram a entrar no palco, tocando o icônico hit ‘Empire’,
from the Queensrÿche album of the same name (1990), it was clear to the audience that the night
got off to an impactful start. The sequence continued with three more tracks: "Desert Dance", "I
Am I" and "Sacred Ground". However, I have to confess that they didn't excite me that much, because in
In my opinion, these songs are far removed from what I consider the "golden age" of
Queensrÿche, formed by albums such as The Warning (1984), Rage for Order (1986),
Operation: Mindcrime (1988) and Empire (1990).

Geoff Tate

Soon after, Geoff appeared with his saxophone, getting the crowd even more excited
with what was to come. After a brief demonstration of this other talent, he announces the
song "The Thin Line", a ballad that interestingly blends progressive metal and
alternative rock, highlighting the vocalist's musical versatility.

The night began to heat up when the band went even further back in the time machine,
performing a triad of hits from the album Operation: Mindcrime (1988): "Operation:
Mindcrime", "Breaking the Silence" and "I Don't Believe in Love". In the latter, Geoff took advantage of
to rest his voice on the choruses, since the audience was able to help him very well. For me, it was
one of the most emotional moments of the show, not just because it's one of my favorite songs.
favorite of Queensrÿche, but also because the expression of emotion was clear and
Geoff's gratitude when he saw the audience singing along, demonstrating all their
recognition.

Next up were "NM 156" and "Screaming in Digital". In these two tracks,
especially in the first, it is possible to perceive the technological and futuristic influences that
marked the band of which Geoff was a member for decades. After these performances
artist gave a short speech, with a humorous tone, about his passion for these themes and
about living in such a connected world.

Também tivemos o equilíbrio perfeito entre o som intenso e pesado de ‘Walk in The
Shadows’, a vibe melódica e progressiva de “Another Rainy Night (Without You)” e a emotividade contagiante e energética de “Jet City Woman”, que trouxe uma atmosfera única
and engaging.

Afterwards, Geoff announced that he would start presenting some of the songs that he
considera mais especiais, iniciando justamente com a icônica ‘Silent Lucidity’, que
crossed generations. Geoff then took the opportunity to comment that several fans report that
this music has served as the soundtrack for important moments, such as weddings, funerals
and even conceived children - including two of his own.

Geoff Tate and his band also gave us a Pink Floyd cover. Both
Tate and the band's performance fit perfectly in the execution of
‘Welcome To The Machine’.
To round off the evening, we couldn't miss two great classics that have marked the
early years of Queensrÿche's career: "Take Hold of the Flame" and the song that
inspired the band's name, "Queen Of The Reich".

Finally, I can only say that show was incredible and memorablel. Despite being a person who
was born in the 1990s, I am a great admirer of Queensrÿche and of Geoff Tate in
all the projects in which he participates, and the impact of his songs is undeniable. A
energy of the metal of that time, with its deep lyrics and unique sound, continues to
resonate strongly. It is precisely this timelessness that makes shows such as
Geoff Tate become true landmarks, connecting generations and keeping the magic alive
of classic metal.

Artists: Geoff Tate