By: Robert Cavuoto
When Rob Halford of Judas Priest thanked the crowd at the Izod Center in East Rutherford for allowing the band to make metal music for the last 40 years, he forgot one word; “GREAT.”
Throughout the past four decades, Judas Priest has continually produced GREAT metal songs that will live on well past the band’s career.
With no real number-one songs to mention, the band has managed to influence almost every metal band around the world and inspired countless people to pick up an instrument.
With so many great songs in their armamentarium they would need to put on an 8-hour concert to capture most of them and still people would be upset that something was left off.
Apparently, picking the set list is no easy task Halford told me, “When you have the good fortune to have a long life in rock n’ roll, your material is backing up behind you. You have to get the right balance of songs each night and there are always a handful of songs that you gotta play. Every song is given its moment with its smoke, video, lighting, and costume changes.”
The 90-minute set list was right on tonight and focused heavily on the newest CD, Redeemer of Souls and their 1984 CD, Defenders of the Faith. With great songs like “Dragonaut,” “Halls of Valhalla,” “March of the Dammed,” “Redeemer of Souls,” “Jaw Breaker,” “Love Bites,” and “Defenders of the Faith” how can they go wrong?
Right from their opening song “Dragonaut,” the band had the crowd eating out of their hands. The 63-year-old Halford still his vocal chops and steel belted scream.
I can’t help but think that guitarist Richie Faulkner has ignited a fire in the band that may have been missing in past years from Halford hunched over the microphone stand center stage for most of the show, to now standing tall and jumping around like a boxer warming up for a fight.
On the song “Metal God” he even performed his infamous “Metal Robot Dance.” Perhaps his recovery from back issues was invigorating him in some way, but regardless, stage commaradary and energy is at an all time high.
Guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner also have great on stage chemistry, playing off each other flawless and trading solos. Highlights included the dueling intro lead on “Victim of Changes” and Faulkner’s slick solo at the end of “You Got Another Thing Coming”.
Bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis laid down the unflinching freight train back beat for the band to unleash their metal vengeance.
Staple songs that brought down the house were; “Breaking the Law,” “Living After Midnight,” and “Hell Bent for Leather” as Halford rode his Harley Davidson motorcycle onto stage.
The anthems where rampant, one after another, with a large video screen showing deadly and cryptic images to visually enhance the songs. Unfortunately, the screens never captured the band’s performances, which might had been disheartening to fans at the back of the venue.
Openers Steel Panther provided their zany comedic antics joined killer riff latent songs like “Pussywhipped,” “Just Like Tiger Woods,” and my favorite “Gloryhole”. Whether you view them as a parody or rock act, they are 100% pure entertainment. These guys truly know how to rock out to great songs while getting a laugh!
Tonight, Judas Priest delivered the goods and Steel Panther partied like there’s no tomorrow; both are carrying the torch for hard rock and heavy metal.
GALLERY
Ed Taggart (9 years ago)
This concert was awesome I was at the 7th row.
They still kick a** after all these years since I seen them in the late 70s 80s
My main 3 bands back than. Iron maiden, Judas priest and ozzy ;)
robert cavuoto (9 years ago)
Priest are one of the best!