3.24.16 Getting all hot and sweaty in Chicago!
Mar 24, 2016 0:35:54 GMT -5
Post by Q3 on Mar 24, 2016 0:35:54 GMT -5
I am still recovering from the Chicago concert. I will post all the news and a recap later in the morning.
Q3
Getting all hot and sweaty in Chicago
3.24.16 by Q3
I have given up on trying to pick the best Adam Lambert concert. It is not possible anymore. Every show I have seen on this tour has something to commend it. And, they all seem a bit or a lot different.
Last night show at The Vic in Chicago was, however, one for the memory books.
The sound mix was heavy on the bass and percussion – and this was not an accident. Adam was in “Boystown” and he clearly wanted a club mix for this concert. (My ears are still ringing, my bones still shaking a bit.)
Boystown in Chicago, Illinois is the first officially recognized gay village in the United States. It is an eclectic East Lakeview neighborhood that is home to Chicago's visible and active gay and lesbian community. Sitting in the middle of Boystown is “The Vie” - The Victoria Theatre, better known as “The Vic,” is a primarily a musical that can easily accommodate 1,400 people with standing and some seating. It was packed for Adam’s show – literally packed.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/The_Vic_2014-03-13_22-06.jpg/500px-The_Vic_2014-03-13_22-06.jpg
Vic Theatre, designed by architect John Eberson, opened in 1912 as the Victoria Theatre. It took three years to build the luxurious five-story vaudeville house.
The theater still has the old, big Vaudeville stage so it was one of those rare occasions when Adam played an “intimate” venue on a big stage. (I am not sure it seemed intimate from the balcony or back.)
Today, it is not really grand, only partially renovated, and there is a lot of attention to selling drinks – several bars and floor service – even during Adam’s performance. That was a bit odd since it was close to impossible to walk through the crowded floor. When not showcasing live music, the Vic opens its doors as the Brew & View, a second-run movie theatre.
It was an odd venue for an Adam booking – too small for a market with a lot of theaters. But, in many ways, it was the perfect venue for Adam – because of the audience. And part of the concert experience is the audience.
A lot has been written about the diversity of Adam’s audiences. This audience was by far no exception. If I took away some of the black, bedazzled clothing, it could have been a group of people gathered at some urban UA airport terminal. Every checkbox was covered – from 18 year old girls and the young hipster denizens of Boystown to some clearly over 80 hetro couples.
During the concert Adam did his “raise your hand” survey, about half were at their first Adam concert, a large number of international visitors, and many, many from Chicago.
***
I had gotten Ghosttown VIP 2 early admission to hopefully avoid lines. We had to pick up our tickets between 6:00PM and 6:45PM. Line #1. Then we got in to the lobby around 6:45PM. Line #2.
Heather, who works for Adam, patiently checked us in and continued to smile as people complained to her about this or that. Some of the Adam fans can be a bit rude. “my meet and greet was too short last night,” or “I thought this package was VIP,” or “I did a VIP photo in Milwaukee and you are a terrible photographer.” (Heather has to do all the VIP stuff including taking pictures for the photo ops.) When she finally got to us, I decided to be really nice to her. Yes, things are not perfect and the VIPness of the package is overstated, but not her fault.
At this point we could listen to Adam’s sound check – with the door closed. He sang WTTS and all I could hear was his vocal. I think it was a vocal sound check. Then they moved us up to an upper balcony. The good news is that we were not in the GA line in the rain. The bad news is that we had to stand in a line in a drab lobby until about 7:30PM.
Finally, we got in. Slowly the venue filled up. And filled up. And filled up.
***
I was on the floor, dead center, at the front of the VIP 2 section – which was raised up about 4 feet above the pit. The VIP 1 group got to be in the pit area. I was 15 feet from the stage. It should have been a perfect location for streaming the concert. Sorry, that I learned it was not. The concert was so loud that it literally blew out my phone’s mic.
But it was the perfect place to be for the concert. Perfect.
***
Alex Newell did his wonderful opening act (Although I wish he would change out the patter a bit. I know it by heart now.) Then we had an interminable wait for Adam.
House lights dim, the 4 screens light up with Adam’s blue astrology image and his pre-concert recorded track start. The crowd cheers.
This crowd is LOUD.
The music is LOUD.
I can already tell it is going to be a wild show.
***
Adam appeared on stage. The audience went nuts. He was really animated and theatrical. He started out the concert is fine spirits – but as the concert continued and he realized how receptive the audience was, he got looser. This audience was cheering, clapping, singing along and having a great time from the start. Adam also clearly saw all the pretty boys in the audience – he mentioned it during his first talking break. He literally cranks it up a notch – to 11 or even 12.
At some points the concert felt like a dance party; other moments it was like a 21st century cabaret act. And for the middle of the concert – particularly for “Mad World” – it was just purely about Adam Lambert vocalist.
Watch the videos, listen to the audio, but do not think for a moment that anyone recorded this concert. There was no way to record the purposely distorted audio. There was no way to record the roars of the crowd. There was no way to record Adam’s vocals. But you will get a glimpse of the spirit of this concert. Adam forgetting the lyrics to songs because he was having such a good time. Or laughing when he forgot to introduce the dancers during the encore. Or the bits of silly-happy vocal improvs.
This was Adam Lambert at his finest – relaxed, happy, embraced by a crowd. Enjoying what he gets to do.
After the concert ended, I looked around. Everyone was smiling. Many were tired. We all put on our coats and headed back out into the cold, rainy night. I left with just a bit more hope that the world can be a better place where everyone is welcome and can party together. Old, young, gay, straight, and others.
A couple side notes:
Adam added “Republicans” to his checkbox speech list last night. It was a bit of an odd political moment for him. After he said it, he seemed to realize he should not go there.
I saw some drama on Twitter about “young fans” and “old fans.” I have no idea what this was about but I assure you that like the Milwaukee “drama” with the standing vs. sitting and security (my row was ground zero for this), whatever it was is being embellished – a lot. These are always major to the people involved and basically unnoticed by everyone else.
The Original High Tour – North America
Wed, Feb 24 7:00 PM Boston, MA House of Blues Boston
Fri, Feb 26 8:00 PM New London, CT, The Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino
Sat, Feb 27 9:00 PM Atlantic City, NJ, Caesars Atlantic City
Sun, Feb 28 7:00 PM Bethlehem, PA, Sands Bethlehem Event Center
Tue, Mar 1, 8:00 PM, New Brunswick, NJ, State Theatre
Thu, Mar 3 7:00 PM New York, NY, Terminal 5
Sat, Mar 5 7:00 PM Washington, DC, Lincoln Theater
Sun, Mar 6 8:00 PM Charlotte, NC, Fillmore Charlotte
Tue, Mar 8 8:00 PM Atlanta, GA, Tabernacle
Thu, Mar 10 7:30 PM Nashville, TN, Ryman Auditorium
Sat, Mar 12 8:00 PM Hollywood, FL, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Sun, Mar 13 7:00 PM Orlando, FL, Universal Orlando Resort
Wed, Mar 23 7:00 PM Chicago, IL, The Vic
Fri, Mar 25 7:00 PM Detroit, MI, The Fillmore Detroit
Sat, Mar 26 7:00 PM Mount Pleasant, MI, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
Mon, Mar 28 7:00 PM Wichita, KS, The Cotillion
Wed, Mar 30 7:00 PM Denver, CO, Paramount Theatre
Fri, Apr 1 7:30 PM Las Vegas, NV, The Foundry at SLS
Sat, Apr 2 8:00 PM Los Angeles, CA, The Orpheum Theatre
Sun, Apr 3 8:00 PM Los Angeles, CA The Orpheum Theatre
Wed, Apr 13 the European leg of the tour begins.
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Happy Birthday
kms15423, lflipper, rebecca and southie9!!
Happy Birthday
kms15423, lflipper, rebecca and southie9!!