You can tell the crowd is anxious during set-up; they tire of waiting and start chanting “STRYPER! STRYPER! STRYPER!” The set lights up in a yellowish-orange glow, and Stryper finally gets on stage. Someone screams ”I love you!” and Stryper lays into “Soldiers Under Command”; immediately fists are in air and you know it’s going to be a good show. It’s legendary Stryper’s 25th Anniversary Tour, and it’s the last show of the US leg, which is here in Portland at the Aladdin Theater.
There’s no spandex and not as much glam these days, but all you need is your ears to tell you that Stryper is in full swing and then some with their screaming guitars and Michael Sweet’s incredible voice. The end of the first song is nearing and Sweet saddles up to the drum kit with his back to the crowd, his legs are in a wide stance, his back is arched, holding on to his axe. His long and luscious hair cloaks his back like a hug from God as the song comes to an end. It’s beautiful . . . .
Watching Stryper play is a guitar lover’s fantasy. The talent and musicianship—demonstrated over and over by their melodic harmonies, dual guitar solos, and killer riffs—is phenomenal. The question in the air that night (for me anyway) was: “Can Sweet still hit those sustained high-pitched notes?” Without a doubt, the answer is yes. The man can sing. Sweet’s vocals were nothing less than astounding; every note was pitch perfect, hitting even the highest notes like only Mariah Carey can. Oz Fox ripped it up with several axe changes throughout the night. The drummer, Robert Sweet, looked like Animal from the Muppets with his arms and hair flailing about, and bassist Tim Gaines held down the fort, playing it cool and solid for the entire show.
Stryper’s set was full of songs spanning their career, ranging from their debut Yellow and Black Attack through their most recently released album, Murder by Pride. They blew through classics like “Honestly,” “Loud and Clear” (one of my favorites), and “Free.” They also played a portion of Judas Priest’s “Breaking the Law,” paying tribute to their influences.
One thing that strikes me about this band is their infinite love for and dedication to their fans. This band has so much heart and appreciation for their fans you can feel it. They speak to the crowd with so much gratitude and sincerity you feel like their message is just for you.
Stryper closed their set with “Abyss (To Hell with the Devil),” which pounded my ears like thunder, and a face-melting version of “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” (weird and kind of rad). They played so loud and hard I left the venue that night partially deaf, and my ears were ringing for days. I feel lucky I was able to catch one the dates on their tour; it was truly a memorable night. Once a guilty pleasure, seeing this band live has made me into an official fan.
