Stryper front man Michael Sweet graced the Loft stage inside The Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie this past Saturday night. The small but very intimate part of the Chance gave Sweet the chance to get up close and personal with the crowd. Sweet performed solo and used a looping to give his set a more full sound. Sweets set really was a time capsule of his entire career which as spanned for over 34 years now.
This show was basically a stoytellers kind of a show. Sweet talked about where he was in the time of writing it and how the song came about. There were also melodies and chord pattern changes in songs as well. “Honestly” was one that had a completely different tone and feel to it. It was like Sweet breathed brand new life into the this classic Stryper ballad.
Sweet talked with the audience all night in between songs asking if anyone has not seen or heard of Stryper. One gentlemen answered and Sweet joked with him by saying look for the guys wearing all yellow and black and with the high hair. That would be us he quipped which drew laughs. He also hoped that he would won him over as a fan. He had the fans join in singing on “All for One.”
Sweet went back to his first solo album with “Someday.” Sweets powerful vocals were evident on the heartfelt track “I’m Not Your Suicide.” He also had everyone clap during the Sweet & lynch song “Strong”
The atmosphere picked up for the Stryper classic “Calling on You.” He ended with the ballad “I Believe in You.”
Sweet also announced he would be working on a new Stryper album this fall with a hopeful April release. He just got done with another Sweet & Lynch album and he will be working on another album with current Whitesnake and TSO guitarist Joel Hoekstra. you can say Sweets plate is quite full for the foreseeable future.
Even the crowd was light, Sweet treated the crowd like he was performing in front of stadium. he gave it his all and knowing how Sweet is, you wouldn’t expect anything less!
Setlist:
U Know What 2 Do
Reach Out (Stryper song)
Honestly (Stryper song)
Always There for You (Stryper song)
All for One (Stryper song)
Someday
Real
Save Me
I’m Not Your Suicide
Strong
Dying Rose (Sweet & Lynch cover)
Only You
Calling On You (Stryper song)
To Hell With the Devil (Stryper song)
I Believe in You (Stryper song)
We would like to thank Team Sweet for the credentials to review the show.
