Keeping the momentum going following their recent acoustic tour, the legendary, long-running metal band Stryper is on the road again in support of their twelfth studio album When We Were Kings. And, we were lucky enough to catch a two-set showcase of music old and new last Tuesday evening in downtown Columbus, Ohio.
Stryper, who’s current line-up includes original members Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet, and Oz Fox, along with bassist Perry Richardson (formerly of Firehouse) took the stage around 8pm at the historic Athenaeum for an “evening with” showcase for fans who climbed up three flights of marble stairs to reach the TempleLive venue.
As we made our way to the stage, a line was forming down that staircase for Stryper merchandise for the anniversary tour, which is scheduled to conclude on November 16th in North Myrtle Beach, SC. (see full list of dates below). But, not to worry, those who didn’t have time to grab a shirt (or a drink at the concession stand) before the band took the stage were given another opportunity during a mid-show intermission which allowed for time for a black and gold outfit change.
Stryper was housed in an old-school theater with wooden seats along the parameter and ballroom cushioned chairs along the expansive floor seated area (though nobody was using them after the music started), as well as some beautifully adorned opera-style box seats that seemed to be just for show that night. The vibe mirrored TempleLive’s Cleveland location where we’d seen Tuff perform last year along with Billy Morris & The Sunset Strip as part of a tribute to Warrant’s Jani Lane and is known for housing banquets as well as shows.
This tour is a celebration of classic hits and new-era fan favorites, and frontman Michael Sweet applauded the crowd for sticking with them during the break and taking in the new music during their lengthy new show production (as if there was any question to the loyalty of their fanbase).
As I noted to the band after the show, this was really a treat for me personally to see them perform their own show on such a large theater stage, as the only Stryper shows I’ve seen outside of festivals have been at our local venue Jergels which has a much smaller club atmosphere. So if you are accustomed to catching the band on the Monsters of Rock Cruise or at M3 Rock Festival, this will be a treat for you as well.
As they performed classics like “In God We Trust” and “To Hell with the Devil,” the band brought out moving screens with chevron lights and black and gold stripes illuminating the show as well as camera views of the band and a movie screen mid-stage. The light show was awesome and so were their stage clothes, right down to their toes! As an added bonus, some new friends offered me their extra seat in the front row, allowing me to take it all in up close after snagging these photos. In appreciation, I promised to try to catch them a bible during the show (and I did!).
