It’s been almost ten years since I last went to a Queensrÿche show. During that time I’ve changed jobs, become a father, moved to Hawai’i (where for some reason, Queensrÿche, like all other decent bands, never seem to tour), changed jobs again, moved to a different island, changed jobs again, and spent a fair chunk of the last three years traveling all over the world (mainly to places where, again, there were no Queensrÿche concerts happening).

But this week, my daughter and I happened to stop in New Jersey on our way home from Europe to Hawaii, and tonight, the Mikes happened to do a guitar clinic in New Jersey. I think Michael Wilton barely recognized me 10 years and 30 pounds later, with an 8-year-old hiding behind me when I tried to introduce her.

And of course I must say hi to #queensryche IRC channel regulars Royal_Pain and dellabrown, who were both in attendance.

Here’s a photo (one of plenty I took) of the Mikes jamming on An International Confrontation at the start of the clinic.