Stryper’s mission ever since it has been touring Texas from the mid-1980s has been as clear cut, and as opposite, as any band around: to spread the gospel of Christ in rocking fashion. Adorned with its customary yellow and black attire and instruments, that message has usually come in the form of a new album or, as in the case of its October 2016 visit to the now-defunct Alamo City Music Hall, a 30th anniversary celebration of its most successful album To Hell With the Devil.
This time, Stryper expressed its colors with a greatest hits tour.
For the second consecutive visit, last Sunday’s concert at Vibes Event Center performed by original members in vocalist/guitarist Michael Sweet, his brother and drummer Robert Sweet and lead guitarist Oz Fox was accompanied by new bassist Perry Richardson, who used to be in Firehouse. Richardson made his San Antonio debut with Stryper in June 2018 at Sam’s Burger Joint as the band toured behind God Damn Evil (coverage here).
But it nearly got off to an ominous start.
The band was three hours late to the venue, according to Rock Box/Vibes Event Center co-owner Steve Rodriguez, due to having witnessed the aftermath of a horrific motorcycle accident between Austin and San Marcos en route to the Alamo City from Dallas. Stryper understandably was shaken up upon its arrival, Rodriguez said, eventually going through a brief soundcheck after ensuring the concert would be switched from the originally scheduled Rock Box stage — where a sold-out Stryper performance in July 2016 minus air conditioning had band and patrons sweating profusely, as Michael Sweet recalled in our interview shortly thereafter (listen here) — to the larger Vibes stage.
Fortunately, the band had a few hours to gather its bearings before going on at 10 p.m. and made no mention of its travails during a rockin’ 85-minute showing before approximately 500 fans (as revealed by Din Productions promoter Alfred Mejia). Richardson, too, looked more comfortable a little less than two years into being a member than at the Sam’s show that was one of his first in yellow and black. Seven of the 16 tunes performed (setlist in 52-photo slideshow below) were from To Hell With the Devil, including “Free” and “More Than a Man” (ATM Facebook Live footage here) and the double encore of “Sing-Along Song” and “To Hell With the Devil” (watch here). Watch ATM footage of three other classics below.
While Stryper was ending the Texas and American portion of its greatest hits tour on the eve of the inaugural performances of its 37-year existence in Mexico, the stage was set for them by a pair of local bands that formed in 1987, the year after To Hell With the Devil’s release. Direct support act Byfist and openers Wicked Angel have carved their own niche in San Antonio metal history.
Byfist’s lineup path has been well documented, but for those not in the know . . . rhythm guitarist Nacho Vara, who also plays in local classic rockers Seance, remains the lone original member. The band lost original vocalist Vikk Real and guitarist Dave Lee but persevered through the inevitable uncertainty of what the future might hold. Byfist’s 1989 EP Adrenalin was produced by the late Metal Church and Reverend vocalist “Reverend” David Wayne. As such, Vara tends to get emotional while dedicating “Mary Celeste” to the former two, and vocalist Raul Garcia pays homage to Wayne on traditional finale “Scattered Wits” (ATM footage of both below).
As is the group’s custom, it opened with the up-tempo of “Universal Metal,” which features a portion of Ernie B.’s guitar solo that reminds one verbatim of George Lynch’s solo in Dokken’s “Tooth and Nail.” Another standout was “In the End,” as bassist Stony Grantham and drummer Scott Palmer’s efforts were not to be outdone. New music is definitely being looked forward to regarding Byfist.
Wicked Angel is planning on having its own new tunes in the not-too-distant future. Though the band doesn’t play nearly as many shows as other local acts in the scene, that could change this year. Wicked Angel’s presence opening this night was a welcome sight, and quickly served notice as drummer Ernie Chavarria took to the stage by lighting his China Boy cymbals on fire. It was also music to the ears for those longing to hear 1987 tracks such as opener “Realms of Chaos.” Afterwards, vocalist Dave Caballero set the tone for the evening’s theme by describing how it was necessary to root out all evil. When some in the crowd laughed thinking he was just playing, Caballero replied, “No, really!” Watch ATM Facebook Live footage of “Stealer of Souls” and below of closer “Lucifer’s Hammer.”
So whether being healed by yellow and black stripes, the memory of band members who have moved on or an inspirational look to what lies ahead, Stryper, Byfist and Wicked Angel demonstrated in their own way that the rock remains strong within them. Righteously speaking.
