Concert Review: Stryper at Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Az

Stephanie Flock
4 days ago
4 min read

Rock band performing on a smoky stage with purple lights, amps, drums, and backdrop text Isaiah 58:5

STRYPER, a Christian hard-rock and heavy metal band, began their 2026 ISAIAH 53:5 Tour in Anaheim, CA with a stop the very next day in Tempe, AZ at the Marquee Theatre.

THE VENUE was Marquee Theatre in Tempe, AZ. The venue itself is very unassuming from the outside; there are no large signs displaying “Marquee Theatre” or indicating that the building is a concert and event venue, however, Apple maps did provide accurate directions to the venue, so there should be no issues in finding it.

As far as parking goes, there is on-site parking available for $15 per vehicle, but there is limited parking. I would suggest getting there early, or you may need to go across the street for additional parking options.

Once parked, both the box office and security to get into the venue are on the right side as you walk from parking to the venue. You will show your ticket, your bag will be checked (typical venue bag policy in place, either 5”x7” small purse, or the bag needs to be clear) and you will be wanded by security before entry. Between the security checkpoint and the entry doors, there will be a small table where you are able to show your ID and get a wristband if you are wanting to drink alcohol that evening, and the final stop right as you are walking through the entry door, there are employees waiting to scan your ticket for entry.

The back portion of the venue, where you originally enter, has the merch table, bar, and bathrooms. This space is large, with plenty of room to grab a drink and meet up with friends prior to the show.

When you’re ready to move into the main portion of the venue, you will initially see the main general admission area. This area is usually standing room only, but for this event they did put in ten rows of chairs closest to the stage, with standing room only behind a basic metal barricade. When I talked with security, they did say that they do not often put out chairs, but they do occasionally for certain events that they think will be better with them. Outside of the general admission, there is also both seated and standing option in the balcony (balcony access to the left when looking at the stage. Your ticket will be checked and you will have the option of stairs or elevator) The balcony does have their own dedicated bar.

THE BAND originally founded in 1983 by brothers Michael (lead vocals and guitar) and Robert Sweet (drums). Oz Fox (guitar and backing vocals) is an original member still touring today, and Perry Richardson (bass guitar and backing vocals) being the newest member brought in in 2017.

The 2026 Isaiah 53:5 tour pays homage to the band’s namesake. According to previous interviews with the band over the years, their name Stryper comes from the King James Bible verse Isaiah 53:5 which states “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

The band has released numerous albums over the years, starting with The Yellow and Black Attack!

In 1984 all the way to their newest album When We Were Kings released in 2024. Top songs throughout the years include hits “Honestly”, “To Hell with the Devil”, “I’m Alright (I’m Okay)” and “Calling on You”

THE CONCERT was overall amazing! To my knowledge, Stryper did not have any planned opener bands for the Tempe, AZ stop on the tour, and Marquee Theater was able to get two bands local to Arizona to help prep the crowd for the headliner!

What concert goers experienced once they arrived:

· 6:00pm Doors Open

· 7:30pm-8:00pm STEREO REX

· 8:10pm-8:40pm SWEET MESS

· 9:10pm-10:45pm STRYPER

Stereo Rex and Sweet Mess are both local bands that did a mixture of original songs and covers. Both brough energy to the stage, were excited to be there, and engaged slightly with the crowd. (You can check them out of Instagram: @StereoRex and @SweetMessRocks)

When Stryper took the stage, the band dawned their signature black and yellow attire, with a mixture of leather, denim, and their own Stryker merch. The cohesiveness of their outfits, the classic Mesa Engineering Amps and Marshall speakers as their backdrop, and not-so-subtle 80’s vibes bring the whole experience to life.

Stryper started off strong with their classic “Sing-Along Song” that immediately got fans on their feet. In this moment it was evident that chairs were no longer necessary for the venue, as there was not a single fan in their seat for the remainder of the show!

Michael Sweet (Lead Vocals) did an outstanding job of keeping the audience engaged in between songs. With a mixture of appreciation for the opening bands, and reminiscing about the band’s earlier days, the crowd was responsive and engaging.

The setlist included 15 of Stryper’s original songs, with a heavy emphasis on songs from their To Hell with the Devil album that was released in 1986.

About two thirds of the performance focused on their music that was released in the 80’s and 90’s, with a third of the show consisting of music from their albums released since the 2000’s.