Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Getting the arena-sized production of Judas Priest into cozy confines of the Genesee Theatre could’ve been a challenge, but wound up benefiting the sold out audience, who was treated to one of the hardest trailblazing acts in history as close as humanly possible.

And whether they’ve been following the English band since the very beginning or part of the younger generation just jumping on board, singer Rob Halford, bassist Ian Hill, drummer Scott Travis, guitarist Richie Faulkner and touring axe man Andy Sneap put everyone on the same page for “50 Heavy Metal Years.”

The only main men missing were fellow six-string slayers Glenn Tipton, who’s touring is limited due to Parkinson’s disease but nonetheless earned a virtual 75th birthday greeting, and K. K. Downing, now solo after somewhat acrimoniously stepping down, though everyone else made sure it was an authentic Judas Priest experience filled with explosive sounds and sights.

Throughout 95 minutes, the recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees stormed through classics such as “Electric Eye” and “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” off the enormous “Screaming For Vengeance” album, plus continued to pack as punch during a couple killer cuts from its latest dose of “Firepower.”

The guys also touched on many eras in between, unfurling “Jawbreaker,” “Judas Rising,” “Genocide,” “Steeler” and several other prime examples of “British Steel” that have afforded them the rare opportunity to endure for a half-century.

Yet Judas Priest really let loose for the encores, which included Halford riding in on a motorcycle for “Hell Bent For Leather,” practically every fist pumping out “Breaking The Law” and even an inflatable bull popping up for the raging “Living After Midnight” to close the electrifying overview.

Having been officially in business since 1980, Queensrÿche is well on its way to matching such longevity with zero signs of slowing down, thanks to yet another new progressive metal opus, “Digital Noise Alliance.”

Although some of the players have changed, co-founding guitarist Michael Wilton and bassist Eddie Jackson capably led the current cast through forty minutes of head bangers, including “Queen Of The Reich,” “Warning,” “Empire” and “Eyes Of A Stranger,” adding unforgettable aggression to the already intense anniversary.

For additional information on Judas Priest and Queensrÿche, visit JudasPriest.com and QueensrycheOfficial.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Genesee Theatre include Randy Rainbow (Nov. 4); Gin Blossoms (Nov. 5); A Very Electric Christmas (Dec. 2); “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”: The Musical (Dec. 8); Marie Osmond (Dec. 9); Million Dollar Quartet Christmas (Dec. 15); Tusk: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute (Jan. 26); “Alice In Wonderland”: A Magical Cirque Adventure (Jan. 28); Lake Street Dive (Jan. 29); The Commodores (Feb. 16); Rick Springfield (Feb. 24) and Killer Queen: A Tribute To Queen (Mar. 16). For additional details, visit GeneseeTheatre.com.

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