Stryper

Stryper Says To Hell With The Amps in Buffalo, NY

Stryper decided to pitch the {majority of their} amps and head out on the road in support of their newly released acoustic album, To Hell With The Amps. What better way to support an unplugged album than by performing an 80 minute set – unplugged, for the most part. Vocalist, Michael Sweet, admitted to the crowd at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo, NY that they had, in fact, the help of a few amps.

***Michael & Robert Sweet – Stryper – Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY***

Founding members {and brothers} vocalist Michael and drummer Robert Sweet were joined on stage by bassist Perry Richardson, and the band brought along keyboardist Will Doughty. Doughty was filling in for guitarist Oz Fox, who unfortunately had to miss the tour due to yet another necessary brain tumor related surgery. Speaking of surgeries, this tour comes on the heals of Michael Sweet’s own thyroidectomy just a few months earlier. It seems he has made a tremendous recovery, as his vocals this evening were praiseworthy as always.

Stryper were sure to accommodate the fans that turned out for this unique execution of some of their favorite songs. They played all the Mtv hits as to be expected such as Honestly and Calling on You and Always There For You. They also granted the crowd a refreshing version of Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer, which according to Michael “is the best song ever written about prayer”. We also got to witness their outstanding cover of Amazing Grace off their latest release.

Typically at an unplugged set you would expect to see the band members just sitting in stools strumming along without much energy. However, this evening, it seemed even Michael was not just content sitting still and would often jump up, guitar in hand, and walk around the stage, interacting with the crowd. At one point he bantered about buying a cassette off of an eager fan holding it up. Sweet mentioned they planned on being back on the road later this fall when they embark on their 40th Anniversary tour.

There were only two letdowns, that being said neither are major nor the band’s fault. I simply wish they had a bigger turn out, the Town Ballroom is one of Buffalo’s best venues yet I fear some people were turned off by the thought of having to stand during an acoustic show. Secondly, it was mentioned that Chris Jericho was in the venue and the crowd understandably had hoped for a duet from the Fozzy singer…alas that did not come to fruition; maybe in the future we will get a pairing of two.

Known mainly to be a band with a deep connection to their faith, so much so they still continue to throw bibles into the crowds, after all these years. Nevertheless, you do not have to be a devote Christian to admit these guys rock and put on one hell of a show and I look forward to seeing them again in the {near} future.