Scorpions & Queensrÿche A Perfect Match In Cleveland

Concert Review
Scorpions
Queensrÿche
Jacob’s Pavilion
Cleveland, OH
Wednesday September 23, 2015
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto

What do you get when you take Germany’s greatest export and Seattle’s finest? You get a fantastic rock and roll double bill. Cleveland, Ohio found out first hand Wednesday evening exactly how satisfying a Scorpions/Queensrÿche concert can be. The 5000-seat Jacobs Pavilion was the place to be as both bands not only played their hit songs from yesteryear but showed why they can still perform at an extremely high level with some newer material as well. The show marked the first Cleveland appearance for the Scorpions since 2010.

While in the past the Scorpions stated they would not tour again, after a successful string of dates in 2013, the band detracted from their initial statement and realized how much they still enjoyed playing for their fans. The band took some time to reflect on this idea and after recording their latest album, the recently released Return To Forever, they decided to go out and play for their fans again.

At 67 years of age, singer Klaus Meine showed everyone why this band is still out on the road. The man has not lost anything in the vocal department as he demonstrated on Scorpions classics “Make It Real” and “Dynamite”. Meine also recalled the band’s first ever trip to Cleveland when they played the World Series of Rock at the old Municipal Stadium back in 79’.

The band has remained the same since 2004 with the band’s founder and guitarist Rudolph Schenker, guitarist Mathias Jabs, bassist Paweł Mąciwoda and drummer James Kottak.

The band did a medley of songs from their 70s albums. You were really showing your age if you were seen singing along to “Speedy’s Coming” and “Catch Your Train.”

Perhaps the main highlight of the evening occurred during the band’s internationally known smash “Wind Of Change”. It is one of the best-selling singles in the history of music clocking in with over 14 million sales worldwide. If there ever was a song that could bring people of all nationalities together, this one is it.

When we last saw the band in Toronto in 2013, we were hoping it wouldn’t be for the final time. We felt extremely fortunate to be able to catch the band one more time and they did not disappoint. One thing is certain, the Scorpions won’t be able to tour forever, it’s a simple fact of life. While they still have their health and are enjoying touring at this time in their life, the fans get to enjoy a band that is still on top of their game doing what they love to do best, play for the greatest rock fans in the world.

Opening the evening was Queensrÿche who has been fronted by singer Todd La Torre since Geoff Tate’s departure in 2012. Sorry for using one of the biggest cliche’s but the band really hit on all cylinders. From drummer Scott Rockenfield to bassist Eddie Jackson down to the twin guitar duo of Parker Lundgren and “The Whip” Michael Wilton, the band finessed their way through a 45-minute set that reminded everyone just how powerful this band once was and how promising their future looks.

The band ended their all too brief set appropriately with “Queen Of The Reich” from their debut EP. Not only was it their first song it helped put them on the map. Wilton has been quoted as saying he feels the song is powerful today as it was when they first recorded it all those years ago.

Set Lists
Scorpions
Going Out with a Bang
Make It Real
The Zoo
Coast to Coast
Top of the Bill / Steamrock Fever / Speedy’s Coming / Catch Your Train
We Built This House
Delicate Dance (Instrumental)
Always Somewhere / Eye of the Storm / Send Me an Angel (acoustic medley)
Wind of Change
Rock ‘n’ Roll Band
Dynamite
In the Line of Fire (Instrumental)
Kottak Attack (Drum Solo)
Blackout
No One Like You
Big City Nights
Encore
Still Loving You
Rock You Like a Hurricane