Clifton Park Sept 12

After waiting over 20 years to see Stryper live for the first time, I get to see them for the second time the very next day! Quite a busy day. After a week in Boston time to pack my bags and hit the road once again. The drive from Boston to Clifton Park is just a few hours. Dropped our stuff at the hotel and headed straight over to Northern Lights to attend the meet and greet/sound check.

This was really cool. Whilst waiting we could hear Stryper inside warming up already. As this was the first meet and greet no one knew what to expect. We could hear Stryper and we just wanted them to open the doors and let us in to see them. Finally they let us in and we poured through the doors and up to the stage. Lots of photos were taken. Oz done most of the chatting from the stage. We heard a couple of beginnings from songs as they checked sound level etc.

After a few minutes of this the sound check was completed and the band members came down to the floor to meet the fans, sign autographs, and have pictures taken. All the band members are really cool. You didn't get long with them as there were many people to get through. It all went pretty smoothly, most people said a few words, took their photo, and got their things autographed. There were a couple of people who thought they could tell them their life story or something and others who didn't seem to understand the concept of lining up and waiting your turn, but on the whole no dramas and it seemed everyone got to meet all the band members.

Since we had been on the go all day instead of waiting for the concert to start we took off to find something to eat with the intention of coming back in time for doors opening to the public. However we found a place with good food and cheap beer, so ended up staying there a couple hours and made our way back to the concert just in time for Stryper.

Stryper came out and blasted through their set list in rapid style. The technical problems that occured throughout the Boston set seemed to have been taken care of and they were able to just get on with playing. For reasons unknown they dropped two songs they had played in Boston. One of which is a ballad, so I didn't mind it was dropped (although it should have been replaced with something else) but the other one they dropped is my favourite song from the new album. I was totally bummed that was dropped. Hopefully they will return in later shows. Despite the shorter set they still totally rocked it out. Great show, can't wait for more.