Concert Review: Geoff Tate - Operation: Mindcrime - The Final Chapter, Ft. Lauderdale, Jan 29, 2026

Review of Geoff Tate – Operation: Mindcrime – The Final Chapter at The Parker, Ft. Lauderdale, Jan 29, 2026

Concert: Geoff Tate – Operation: Mindcrime – The Final Chapter
Venue: The Parker, Ft. Lauderdale, Jan 29, 2026
Photos: Larry Marano Photograpy

Geoff Tate brought Operation: Mindcrime – The Final Chapter to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on January 29, 2026, delivering a powerful, emotional, and definitive performance of one of metal’s most important concept albums. Billed as the final tour where Tate will perform Operation: Mindcrime in its entirety, the night felt less like a standard concert and more like a closing chapter in progressive metal history, and those that were there were treated to a spectacular show,

From the opening notes of “Anarchy-X and Revolution Calling,” it was immediately clear that this was something special. Tate sounded phenomenal. He was commanding, expressive, and effortlessly precise, setting the tone for a front-to-back run through Operation: Mindcrime that was as dramatic and gripping as ever. “Speak” and “The Mission” hit with urgency and fire, while the band locked into the album’s intricate arrangements with confidence and authority.

One of the night’s undeniable highlights came during “Suite Sister Mary,” where vocalist Clodagh McCarthy delivered a stunning performance in the role of Mary. Her voice blended beautifully with Tate’s, elevating the song’s theatrical impact and drawing a huge response from the crowd. The album set closed with the epic “Eyes of a Stranger,” a moment that felt both triumphant and bittersweet, underscoring the significance of hearing this story told live one final time.

Musically, the band was absolutely on point, with particular praise owed to the three-guitar attack of James Brown, Dario Parente, and Kieran Robertson. Handling the layered harmonies, riffs, and solos of Mindcrime is no small task, but the trio executed every part expertly, honoring the original arrangements while injecting fresh energy into the performance.

After a brief break, the band returned for a hit-packed second half that covered more of the amazing Queensrÿche catalog. Hit songs “Empire” and “Jet City Woman” from Empire were met with massive sing-alongs, but the real surprise of the night came with “Screaming in Digital” from Rage for Order, a deep cut that always thrills fans and stood out as one of the set’s biggest highlights. “Walk in the Shadows” followed, keeping the momentum high before the set closed with “Take Hold of the Flame” from The Warning, accompanied by the entire audience chanting “Take hold!” in unison.

The encore began with the massive ballad “Silent Lucidity,” made even more memorable when a lucky fan was invited onstage to play drums—an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime moment. The string section in the band helped make the song even that more powerful and added an extra element throughout the evening. The show ended where, as Tate put it, “metal began,” with “Queen of the Reich” from the Queensrÿche EP. Remarkably, Tate still hit the song’s signature sky-high notes with ease, capping the night with a jaw-dropping display of vocal power.

If this truly is the final time Geoff Tate will perform Operation: Mindcrime in full, Fort Lauderdale witnessed something historic. Tate sounded unbelievable throughout the evening, proving once again why his voice remains one of the most iconic in progressive metal. It was a fitting, emotional, and triumphant farewell to a masterpiece, and a night fans at The Parker won’t soon forget.

Setlist: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/geoff-tate/2026/the-parker-fort-lauderdale-fl-534ed7e9.html

Concert Review: Geoff Tate – Operation: Mindcrime – The Final Chapter, Ft. Lauderdale, Jan 29, 2026

Tags: