Heavy metal bands Queensrÿche and Lynch Mob rock Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe on May 6
From a press release:
It was announced today that multi-platinum-selling progressive metal band Queensrÿche will perform at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe with special guests Lynch Mob, which features former Dokken guitarist George Lynch, on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 8 p.m.
Tickets, which are $29 in advance or $34 the day of the show, go on sale next Friday, Nov. 24 at 10 a.m. at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Penn’s Peak box office (325 Maury Rd., Jim Thorpe), and Roadies Restaurant and Bar (325 Maury Rd., Jim Thorpe). Penn’s Peak box office and Roadies Restaurant ticket sales are walk-up only; no phone orders.
Against the formidable obstacles of an ever-changing cultural landscape, the rise and fall of various musical trends, and the near collapse of the record industry itself, Queensrÿche secured a triumphant legacy as one of hard rock’s most respected and celebrated acts, selling 30 million albums around the world across an over 30-year career.
The band’s name is uttered in the same breath as many of the groups they looked to as influences and others who arose as peers. Queensrÿche built a dedicated legion of fans traveling the globe on tour with fellow rock giants like Iron Maiden, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Judas Priest, and Def Leppard. In recent years, they’ve consistently delivered high-octane live shows, combining the hungry fire of a new band with the tempered experience of master showmen. Even with 11 gold and platinum plaques and a several Top 10 hard rock anthems woven into the very fiber of the genre, Queensrÿche won’t relent. In fact, they’re in the throes of a jaw-dropping creative resurgence.
Their latest album, “Condition Hüman,” tracks like “Guardian,” “Hellfire,” and “Bulletproof” are destined to take their place among Queensrÿche’s most beloved songs. Produced by Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Hatebreed, Sanctuary) in the band’s native Washington, “Condition Hüman” is a new mountain towering over many of the peaks and valleys of the hard rock landscape.
Among the great strengths of Queensrÿche is the band’s diversity, from the classic metal majesty of early demo banger “Queen of the Reich” to the soaring and orchestral-backed balladry of No. 1 smash “Silent Lucidity.” 2015’s “Condition Hüman” is the massive, densely layered, unflinchingly driving and consistently memorable Queensrÿche album the world demanded. Co-founders Michael Wilton (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass), and Scott Rockenfield (drums) with Todd La Torre (vocals) and Parker Lundgren (guitar) draw power from stunning collective synergy, a renewed sense of urgency, and an overall life-affirming optimism. Reverent to the band’s iconic past while forging fearlessly into the future, “Condition Hüman” is a definitive statement of purpose from a hard rock institution.
The seminal bursts of the “Queensrÿche” EP, stone cold classic debut full-length “The Warning,” and badass monster “Rage for Order” reignited the flames of heavy, progressive, melodic hard rock and metal. “Operation: Mindcrime” single-handedly redefined the concept album and charged into the Top 40 with timeless Queensrÿche anthems “I Don’t Believe in Love” and “Eyes of a Stranger.” A precision collection of near-perfect songs pushed landmark masterpiece “Empire” to triple platinum. “Silent Lucidity” earned the band their second and third Grammy nominations, plus five nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards, where Queensrÿche picked up the Viewer’s Choice Award and cemented their status as a true band of the people. The signature sound defined in this era wove its way into the hearts and minds of millions.
Queensrÿche’s dominance at rock radio continued into the ‘90s with a string of hits, including “Jet City Woman,” “Another Rainy Night (Without You),” “Real World,” “I Am I,” “Bridge,” and “Sign of the Times.” Promised Land entered the charts at No. 3 and became another platinum seller. Even with the advent of grunge, shrinking radio formats, MTV’s new reliance on reality television, and the bankruptcy of their longtime major label, the band continued to craft impressive collections and remained a mainstay on the charts. The richly exploratory “Hear in the Now Frontier,” “Q2K,” and “Tribe” precipitated the release of “Operation: Mindcrime II,” which boasted guest vocals from the late Ronnie James Dio.
Unmistakably powerful, hypnotic, and melodic, the definitive sound established by the first five Queensrÿche releases found new life with La Torre, whose mastery of the classic material, inspired enthusiasm, and introduction of traditional metal grit invigorated hardcore fans around the world. Standout track “Don’t Look Back” set the stage for the new era. Queensrÿche established that they would honor the band’s legacy but never surrender to pure nostalgia.
True to this promise, “Condition Hüman” injects the immediacy of right now into a potent distillation of what’s come before. “Guardian” boasts perhaps the most anthemic chorus of the band’s career. “Hellfire” is balls-to-the-wall and in the pocket, a la “The Mission,” with a dirty groove. “Bulletproof” is a power ballad bigger than anything of the contemporary era while “Just Us” has an almost ‘70s era singer/songwriter vibe. At over seven minutes, the epic title track that closes the album is both visceral gut punch and passionate journey, like “Roads to Madness” meets “Suite Sister Mary.”
Dark, melodic, dynamic, diverse, instantly memorable, with an intellectual slant to the songwriting and lyrics that are always inviting on the surface while rewarding deeper listening, Queensrÿche continuously replenishes themselves more than three decades into their body of work. Brave, adventurous, and never less than authentic, Queensrÿche captured the rare lightning-in-a-bottle status of being both legendary and contemporary.
George Lynch came to fame in the 1980s through his work as the lead guitarist in the band Dokken. Dokken had a string of successful platinum albums, including “Under Lock and Key” and “Back for the Attack,” both of which featured Lynch’s inventive and intricate guitar work, including his signature instrumental track “Mr. Scary.”
Lynch Mob was formed in 1989 from the ashes of Dokken. The band’s original lineup also featured Dokken’s drummer, Mick Brown. The first Lynch Mob album was released in 1990, titled “Wicked Sensation,” peaking at No. 46 on the U.S. Charts. Subsequent releases included “Lynch Mob” (1992), “Smoke This” (1999), “REvolution” (2003), and “Smoke and Mirrors” (2009).
In 2012, Lynch Mob released “Sound Mountain Sessions,” which included original Lynch Mob vocalist Oni Logan as well as bassist Robbie Crane (Ratt, Vince Neil, Black Star Riders) and drummer Scot Coogan (Ace Frehley, Brides of Destruction, Lita Ford).
In 2013, Lynch Mob released “Unplugged: Live from Sugar Hill Studios” (Rat Pak Records), an all‐acoustic performance of their classic hits. That same year, the band hit No. 6 on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart with the critically acclaimed album “Sun Red Sun” (Rat Pak Records). “Sun Red Sun” was their 11th release and was written and recorded with the same lineup as the “Sound Mountain Sessions” EP. It once again highlights the unique pairing of Oni Logan and George Lynch and showcases their ever-evolving songwriting abilities.
Nominated for a Grammy Award, George Lynch has been voted “Best Rock Guitar Player” countless times, has a signature line of guitars and amps with ESP and Randall, had video hits on MTV with “Wicked Sensation” and “Burning Like a Flame,” played a featured guitar solo on Hear ‘n Aid song “Stars” with Ronnie James Dio, and performed on the soundtrack for “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.”
