Chris Robinson, Geoff Tate, Scott Stapp all play Long Island
Geoff Tate performs at Mulcahy's in Wantagh Saturday, Nov. 19. Credit: Renee Silverman
For three nights, lead singers from three bands popular in the ’90s will bring three different styles of music to Long Island. Here’s who they are and where they will be:
1. CHRIS ROBINSON
KNOWN FROM The Black Crowes
NOW WITH The Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Robinson once led the Black Crowes down the rock and roll path of glory with his guitarist brother Rich. But the siblings butted heads and the band broke up.
Robinson formed the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, a free-flowing jam band.
“We are excited by the sound we make,” Robinson told Newsday in 2015. “We still find real magic and substance in our music. The more we tend that garden, the more we will reap the benefits. It’s a brick-by-brick temple we are building.”
As for the contrast in musical direction, “The Black Crowes is a different presentation that is more of a blues, gospel performance based in a showbizzy kind of way,” he says. “We get cookin’ but we have a different expectation from our sonic interplay. It’s less reliant on what has been and more reliant on what is happening.”
WHEN | WHERE 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 at The Space at Westbury, 250 Post Ave., Westbury
INFO 516-283-5566, thespaceatwestbury.com
ADMISSION $29.50-$45
2. GEOFF TATE
KNOWN FROM Queensrÿche
NOW WITH Operation: Mindcrime
When Tate was fired from his old band Queensrÿche, a two-year battle for the name began. After his old band members bought him out, Tate established his own unit, Operation: Mindcrime, named after the group’s popular album.
“People didn’t know who I was. They would recognize the band name but not me,” Tate says. “I needed something that was well-known to my fans and those who were interested in my music in order to explain who I was.”
But Tate flies solo from the group at his Mulcahy’s gig Saturday, teaming up instead with ex-Iron Maiden singer Blaze Bayley and ex-Judas Priest vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens.
“We really are the ‘Ex-Men,’ ” says Tate, whose set will focus on Queensrÿche’s progressive metal hits (“Silent Lucidity,” “Eyes of a Stranger”). “We will be doing stuff together and sing backup on each other’s songs. It’s kind of like an aggressive version of the Rat Pack.”
WHEN | WHERE 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 at Mulcahy’s, 3232 Railroad Ave., Wantagh
INFO 516-783-7500, muls.com
ADMISSION $25 ($20 advance)
3. SCOTT STAPP
KNOWN FROM Creed
NOW WITH Art of Anarchy and playing solo
Stapp has had a rough road in recent years, battling alcohol/drug abuse and bipolar disorder while his band, Creed, is put on hold.
“My life has mirrored being bipolar because I’ve professionally experienced the highest of highs as well as the lowest of lows,” Stapp says. “They say life imitates art and I think it definitely does come through in my songs. You can tell the various head spaces I was in.”
When he comes to The Paramount in Huntington, Stapp’s solo set will focus on rock-based Creed material (“With Arms Wide Open,” “My Sacrifice”) as well as tunes from his solo albums, “The Great Divide” and “Proof of Life.”
“Music is just a gift in my life,” Stapp says. “It’s awesome to be able to connect with fans through music and it’s humbling as well. These songs are part of the soundtrack to some people’s lives and I’m so grateful for that.”
WHEN | WHERE 8 p.m. Nov. 22 at The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
INFO 631-673-7300, paramountny.com
ADMISSION $15-$40
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
