Geoff Tate at The Bourbon Theatre in Lincoln, Nebraska on May 5, 2026.
Photos and Review by The Pit Magazine Contributor, Bob DeHart Photography
It was an exciting night at the Bourbon Theatre as Geoff Tate brought his Operation Mindcrime tour back through Lincoln again. I had been looking forward to this show for awhile, I had caught it last year, and knew that it was going to be a great night. Geoff still sounds amazing after all these years. He can still those high notes that helped him become known as one of the best vocalist of the 80’s. It’s nostalgic for me to get to see him perform. The first time I saw him was in 1984 with Queensryche opening up for KISS. They were on tour for the album “The Warning” and had just broke through with the single “Take Hold of the Flame”. That is the song that got me hooked on them.
This night started with songs Geoff and his band playing the Operation Mindcrime in it’s entirety. Which in itself, would have been an amazing show. There are so many great songs on that album. To this day still considered by many to be Queensryche’s best album. The crowd ate it up, singing the lyrics back to Geoff and the band as the tore through the album. Geoff had a surprise for the Lincoln audience and played a new song for the first time anywhere. It was off his newest release, Operation Mindcrime III. The song was “The Answer”.
I’m always a little skeptical when classic artists play new tracks but I can honestly say that I was pleasantly surprised. It was a great song! After that came a few more classic Queensryche tunes, Empire, Jet City Woman, and Walk in the Shadows among them. The band then left and came back for to encore performances Silent Lucidity and Queen of the Reich. The latter had the Bourbon Theater up and rocking to end the night.
I’ve heard that this could be Mr. Tate’s last run. If that’s true, I tip my hat to him on an amazing career. It’s unfortunate he’s not with the band that he helped become great, but that’s how life is sometimes. Things don’t always go the way you want them to. You should do yourself a favor and catch this tour if you can. Whether it’s his last or not, you are guaranteed a great rock and roll show. He has and amazing band supporting him and still has the chops. You can’t ask for anything more.
Photos by The Pit Magazine photographer, Bob DeHart Photography in York, Nebraska. ©2026.
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