Geoff Tate-Lincoln-3.25.25

Geoff Tate at The Bourbon Theatre in Lincoln, Nebraska on March 25, 2025.

Photos and Review by The Pit Magazine Contributor, Bob DeHart Photography

It was December, 26^th 1984 the first time I was able to see Geoff Tate. Queensryche was the opening act for KISS on their Animalize Tour. I had just started to listen to Queensryche and was loving seeing the “Take Hold of the Flame” video on MTV. It was a great night seeing my all-time favorite band and then getting to see this new band that was starting to get some attention nationally. Sad to say…that was the last time I’d get to see Geoff Tate…until last night. When the opportunity came to be able to shoot and cover this show, I jumped at the chance. And I’m glad I did. Geoff and his band did not disappoint.

Currently on the Operation:Mindcrime The Final Chapter Tour, it was quite the extensive set list. Playing the Operation: Mindcrime album in its entirety and then a few from the second Mindcrime album. Then throw in a few big hits from the Empire album and finishing with the song that started it all for me, Take Hold of the Flame. Geoff Tate’s voice is still very strong and he can hit those high notes that have become his trademark over the years.

And his band is top notch. The band consists of Dario Parente (guitar), Amaury Altmayer (guitar), James Brown (guitar), Jack Ross (bass guitar), Robert Baker (drums), and Clodagh McCarthy (keyboards and vocals). I didn’t make a mistake, you read that right, three guitarists. They more the merrier as far as I’m concerned. It did the song justice having those extra fills that you might lose out on at times with live performances. The band not only was playing well but they obviously love their jobs. Lots of smiles and interacting with the crowd throughout the show.

It was a great night to relive some of the songs that I grew up listening to from the voice that sang them originally. The crowd was eating it up the whole night and when those classic song intro started, the crowd made the Bourbon Theater as loud as I’ve ever heard it. Check this show out if you get the chance!