Concert Review
Geoff Tate
Operation: Mindcrime The Final Chapter Tour
Wednesday November 4, 2026
West Herr Riviera Theatre
North Tonawanda, NY
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
Geoff Tate brought his Operation: Mindcrime tour back to the Riviera Theatre for an encore performance Wednesday evening. He had played the venue last October as he called the tour the Final Chapter. This time he was supposed to add a new wrinkle by offering a string ensemble and a laser light show but the show resembled last years show. There was a change in personnel as Kelli McCloud took over the role of female vocalist from last year. One of her highlights from the Mindcrime set in “Suite Sister Mary”. The other change was going down to a two guitar attack as opposed to the blistering three guitarist setup last year.
The show began with the band playing all of Operation: Mindcrime. Nothing gets the crowd going like the one-two power punch of “Revolution Calling” and the title track. Other standouts included “The Needle Lies”, “Breaking the Silence” and the closing song that completed the play of the album “Eyes of A Stranger”. Although there was one less guitar in the mix the sound was perfect as guitarists Dario Parente and James Brown soldiered on with no issues. The rhythm section of bassist Jack Ross (who was celebrating a birthday) and Robert Baker on drums were locked in holding down the groove. Keyboardist Bruno Sa and the aforementioned vocalist McCloud rounded out the lineup.
Like last year Tate included some of his old band’s best known songs such as “Empire”, “Take Hold of the Flame” and of course the band’s highest charting song “Silent Lucidity”. This time around with the new album Operation: Mindcrime III now released he gave the crowd a taste that included “The Answer” and “Do You Still Believe?”. Both songs went over well and showcased the new album as the Mindcrime saga comes to a close.
The Riviera Theatre dates all the way back to 1926 and is the gem of North Tonawanda, NY. The venue provided a perfect setting for Tate not only in its rich acoustics but also its historic feel. The crowd, like last year was pumped for this show. Many fans that I spoke to prior to the show were there last year. One gentlemen sang along to every word like he has since the first time he saw the band play nearby Buffalo way back in 1984 when Queensrÿche opened for Kiss at the Memorial Auditorium.
With Tate calling this the final chapter and now having been to town twice in one year’s time it does make you wonder what’s next? Back in 2020 he brought the Rage For Order/Empire show where he played both albums completely from front to back. That to me was extra special as many of those songs seldom get played in the live setting. Perhaps we may see him return to that once more. Whatever Tate chooses to do next you can expect it will be something special just like these past two visits to the Riviera.
Photo Gallery
Set List
Operation: Mindcrime (Entirely)
Anarchy-X
Revolution Calling
Operation: Mindcrime
Speak
Spreading the Disease
The Mission
Suite Sister Mary
The Needle Lies
Electric Requiem
Breaking the Silence
I Don’t Believe In Love
Waiting for 22
My Empty Room
Eyes of A Stranger
The Answer
Empire
Jet City Woman
Take Hold of the Flame
Encore
Do You Still Believe?
Silent Lucidity
Queen of the Reich
