6.25.14 Adam News and Info
Jun 24, 2014 23:25:35 GMT -5
Post by tinafea on Jun 24, 2014 23:25:35 GMT -5
UPDATE: Edmonton Review
Edmonton Queen fans welcome Adam Lambert at Rexall Place
By Mike Ross ,Edmonton Sun
If we decide that Queen with a False Freddie is better than no Queen at all, we’d best shut up about all the “glorified cover bands” running rampant in classic rock.
For in the vocal department, in theatrics, in everything that counts in a great frontman, there are no bigger shoes to fill in rock ‘n’ roll history than Freddie Mercury’s. They don’t build bands like Queen anymore. And while it may seem galling to have some American Idol runner-up risk turning the legend into a hollow mockery and ruining it for everyone, this is seriously the best live version of Queen that fans are going to get.
They made sure of that with an incredible show in Rexall Place Tuesday night. It’s been quite an eventful few days in Edmonton. First Buble, then the queen of pop, Cher, then Queen. Good, better, best. This concludes our expensive trip down memory lane.
Imagine the pressure on Adam Lambert, under such sharp scrutiny by more than 10,000 hardcore Queen fans hanging on every note, listening hard, judging. The cheers after the first few notes of the opener Now I’m Here revealed the initial verdict: He’ll do fine.
Lambert did not go into this thing timidly. He added his own wrinkles, at no time “pretending” to be Freddie Mercury, but being his own flambouyant, outrageous self. In Fat Bottomed Girls, he shouted at the appropriate moment, “Now all you fat-assed bitches out there, get on your bike and ride!” For Killer Queen, decked out in a lovely sparkly spiky getup (Cher must’ve left one of her costume boxes behind), he stretched out on an antique chaise lounge, then spit champagne all over himself and the audience. “Did I get you wet?” he asked a woman in the front row. “You’re welcome! I think I got myself wet.”
This of course isn’t the first time Queen went out with another singer – Paul Rodgers from Bad Company filled the spot for five years - but Lambert is a much better fit. He sang the living hell out of these songs Queen fans know so well, in a set spanning 45 years of some of the most classic of the classic rock songs. He can hit all the high notes in Somebody to Love – one of several spine-tingling moments in the show – and he has power to back it up. Later, his wailing rendition of the power ballad Who Wants To Love Forever brought the house down. In the legacy of rock ‘n’ roll understudies, this has to be one of the best hires – better than the guy in Yes, the guy in Journey, and both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar put together.
The original Queen guys got their chance to shine. Before Roger Taylor wowed the fans with the expected drum solo, guitarist Brian May provided one of the most chilling points of the night all by himself. Sitting centre stage and armed only with an acoustic guitar, he invoked the spirit of Freddie on Love of My Life, which the two of them used to perform as a duet together, now done solo: “Love of my life, don’t leave me, you’ve taken my love, you now desert me.” This intimate, vulnerable moment had a lot more impact than his epic guitar solo later on. Nice touch showing the old film clip of Freddie singing on the big round TV screen (that seemed to have been stolen from Pink Floyd’s stadium shows). If there was a dry eye in the house, I didn’t see it.
It’s funny how Queen used to boast “no synths” on its records, never mind that some of the stuff came up with were studio creations impossible to reproduce live. Bohemian Rhapsody is a good example, the bombastic bombshell coming near the end of a successively hit laden home-stretch. They don’t build songs like this anymore, either. You’d drive yourself crazy at concerts these days trying to figure out what’s being tracked, but in this case, almost all of that middle section was. They didn't even try to hide it, either.
At one point in the night after a particularly impressive display of vocal prowess, May asked the crowd, “What do you think of the new boy?!”
There seemed to be general agreement that Lambert will be permitted to sing Queen songs as long as he wants to.
www.edmontonsun.com/2014/06/25/edmonton-queen-fans-welcome-adam-lambert-at-rexall-place
News That Worth Repeating
Adam Lambert’s New Material May Be ‘Strongest of His Career’
June 24, 2014 5:45 pm
Kathleen Perricone
Adam Lambert is currently on the road with Queen, but the singer is also focusing on his own music.
On Air with Ryan Seacrest has learned that Adam has been working on the follow-up to his 2012 album, Trespassing, and we’re hearing it may be “the strongest one in his career.”
Not only is he “focused and inspired,” but he’s also very happy with the direction the songs are going in. And best news for fans: We can expect to hear Adam’s next album at the beginning of next year.
Until then, catch Adam on the road with Queen … click here for ticket info!
https%3A//soundcloud.com/ryanseacrest/adam-lamberts-new-material-strongest-of-his-career
- See more at: www.ryanseacrest.com/2014/06/24/adam-lamberts-new-material-strongest-of-his-career/?utm_campaign=tweets&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter#sthash.cF8cKavP.dpuf
VIP Tour Package Goodies, Here's A Look
QueenOnline on Tour: Notes From The Road Part 10
24th June 2014
Late afternoon in Saskatoon. Wow, now I'm dealing in poetry and rhyme.
"I just shook Brian May's hand. How about that? Quite the deal for me, big fan, big fan." - The security guard sat outside our production office backstage.
Bless him. I get that, I really do, I STILL do. I am fan of many artists and it can still be a thrill no matter if you work in this business or not. There are plenty of people I would like to say hi too, not that I chase that kind of thing.
Roger has turned up for sound check looking pretty suave; he's wearing a black trilby. Classy. I told him so too.
He popped in a little later, pulled up a chair and we discussed the Chicago show and he asked about the reaction online to the first couple of shows. I showed him the Foo Fighter clip of them covering ‘Under Pressure’ which he liked and finally, I asked him if he was enjoying himself as he was leaving..."Oh yeah!" he grinned.
Sound check is blasting out at as I type this. It has consisted of THAT solo from ‘Bohemian Rhapsody; Brian cranking the riff to 'Stone Cold Crazy' and 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love', all of these are instrumental, although Adam was with them on stage (I just popped out to see what was going on). Adam eventually then started to warm up under Spike's guidance to 'Somebody To Love', before nailing 'Don't Stop Me Now' and 'Killer Queen' with the full band. They also tinkered with a small section of 'In The Lap Of The Gods'.
OK, 'Bus Life' as promised.
It's not as bad as you think. Having said that I'm only out here for 2 and half weeks, I might feel differently after 6 weeks hammering the highways. We have 4 buses shipping us around and no, for those of who have asked, Brian, Roger and Adam do not have a bus, they fly between the dates with management and their teams.
It is important to note that as soon as the show ends at 10.15pm or so, the guys leap into action to break the show down and load out and we are normally clear and ready to hit the bus by 2.30am and travel to the next venue, so in most cases most of the 44 crew have pulled roughly 19 hour days. Prior to getting the bus everyone will have a shower between the hours of about 12am and the 2.30am mentioned, the venue provide the towels and the facilities, we all bring a 'day bag' which contains a change of clothes and wash bag. Most change into 'comfies'. Baggy shorts or bottoms, a fresh T-shirt, hoodie and flip-flops are pretty standard. The dirty, stinky roadie tag seems a thing of the past.
"We're a bus." That means everybody is on and lets move on out.
We have 12 bunks, two sets of six either side of the gangway in the middle of the bus, and there is a seating area at the front with a table, TVs, and the 'kitchen', with another to the rear. The sleeping arrangements all start with the most senior member of the bus picking his bunk, on our case it was Head Carpenter and fellow Essex boy Keano who got first dibs, after that it was a free for all. I have a middle bunk on the right side towards the back; I think I am over a wheel. The bunks are actually pretty comfy and you have curtain that blocks much of the light, it took a while to get used to it, but it is 'coffin-like' and after doing such long days you do sleep and well, I think the motion of the bus helps too. The longest stretch for on my tenure was when we did 15 hours from Chicago to Winnipeg. Oh, and you have to sleep with your feet facing to the front for safety reasons so you don't crack you head should we brake.
First and last rule of touring on a bus. No solids in the toilet, from either end. Let's move on shall we?
The bus has a regular turn over of drinks and snacks on the bus which is called 'bus stock', this is refreshed everyday by the catering boss Pete. In the beverage department, it currently includes a selection of juices, beer and wine, plus there is a constant supply of bottles of water. Food-wise there is always bread, crisps, spreads, chocolate, fruit and cold meats to tuck into. Once again, going back to the time we all eventually look to leave the venue there will be some food specially prepared for us as we board, from Winnipeg it was a huge platter of sushi, once again, not the sort of image you have of a road crew, all of use stilling there with little plates, chop sticks and discussing pickled ginger and who likes wasabi and who doesn't.
Our driver is called Scott. He's a very nice man. Just thought I would give him a mention. That is about it, we all get on, we talk nonsense most of the time as most guys do, some people read, others watch TV; the World Cup being on is helping too.
Nothing to do with the bus, but I thought it worthy of inclusion. Laundry - we do, do it. We just stick it all in a bag, attach an envelope to it with $20 inside and your name on it, take it to the production office and our runner takes it away, it all comes back by the end of the day. Again, the grimy on the road image is something of a myth.
Oh and I need a haircut, I need to get to our next day off and sort it out. Get myself a 'local' trim.
The next two days will be tough, we have a 'back to back'; Saskatoon and Edmonton, that means load out, on the bus for just 4 hours, then straight into the venue for another long day, no day off in between. See you on the other side!
"Shook Brian May's hand, oh yeah." Our security guard has just told someone else of his Queen related experience, he really is dining out on this one. You can see him holding court on Christmas Day at the dinner table rolling out that tale, I bet he'll embellish it too as time goes on. "So there I was jamming with Brian...."
Nick
(Edit: I have just come back stage mid-way through the show here in Saskatoon...my goodness, what a crowd, you guys are smashing it, what a noise!)
www.queenonline.com/en/news-archive/queenonline-on-tour-notes-from-the-road-part-10/
Queen's music remains main attraction
BY HEATHER PERSSON, THE STARPHOENIX JUNE 24, 2014 8:20 AM
The true star of Queen's appearance at Credit Union Centre is easy to recognize.
It's not Adam Lambert.
This is not to say this American Idol product does not deserve credit for the way he steps into studded leathers to provide the vocals originally performed by the legendary Freddie Mercury. Lambert is a storyteller and a showman.
It's not even the incredibly resilient Brian May (guitar) and Roger Taylor (percussion) - the band originals who have been shaping Queen's legacy since 1971.
It's really all about the songs.
What filled the arena on Monday is a love of music that is beautifully written, inspirational and can get the most reserved person singing along.
Let's count down some top Queen songs (according to iTunes downloads) and look at how they fit into this latest incarnation of the band's show.
Somebody To Love: Lambert added swagger to his already confident stride for this one.
He seemed to make this song his own. His strong voice, which was reliable through the demanding repertoire, shone on higher notes.
Fat Bottomed Girls: This was pure fun.
Teens screeched when they heard the familiar opening and a huge pink bra landed on the stage.
The band wisely played a straight-ahead version so everyone can sing along.
Another One Bites the Dust: The staging needs some praise when it comes to this and other hard-driving Queen songs.
Smoke, lights, lasers, screens and a royal purple chaise set a stunning classic rock stage.
We will Rock You: Top pick on iTunes, perfect encore along with We Are The Champions.
Bohemian Rhapsody: Again, the crowd was almost on equal footing to the band in performing this one. Top-of-the-lungs singalong chance for fans.
This reviewer's favourite Queen song, Under Pressure, which started off with a virtuosic drum solo by Taylor. Don't Stop Me Now and Crazy Little Thing Called Love were also highlights.
The spirit of Freddie was all over the show.
A clip of Mercury played at the end of Love of My Life was a tender moment.
But audiences who showed up will be glad the music is still alive and touring.
hpersson@thestarphoenix
www.thestarphoenix.com/technology/Queen+music+remains+main+attraction/9968608/story.html
For You Fashionistas
MFL EXCLUSIVE: Everything You Wanted To Know About Adam Lambert’s “Queen + Adam Lambert” Tour Costumes
Adam Lambert joins Queen on their 24-date North American Summer Arena Tour, that kicked off June 19th at Chicago’s United Center. The tour will continue with six shows in Australia in August and early September, followed by two gigs in Japan and one in South Korea.
“Adam is the most incredible frontman”, Roger Taylor shared during a press conference back in March: “He’s a great diva, and I mean that in the best possible way. We need that theatrically”.
“The thought of sharing the stage for a full set in North America is so beautifully surreal”, Adam said in a statement: “I’m honored to be able to pay my respects to Freddie’s memory; he’s a personal hero of mine, and I am deeply grateful for the chance to sing such powerful music for fans of this legendary band. I know this tour will be a huge milestone for me, and with the support of Brian, Roger and the rest of the band, I feel like magic will be on display”.
Adam took to his Twitter on Friday, to personally thank costume designer & stylist Jennifer Rade for helping him put together the fashions for the tour.
The tour wardrobe is a fusion of some of Adam’s signature pieces with new, mostly custom and customized ones, and here is the MFL EXCLUSIVE special I promised you – the full fashion credits behind his five costume changes.
Look #1
Custom crystal embellished black tank and Adam’s beloved Rock & Republic Slim F@#! Skinny Jeans, teamed with Versace AW14 studded biker, also featured in the upcoming season campaign by Mert & Marcus (is it just me or it’s gettin’ hot in here?).
The look was styled with MYKITA & Bernhard Willhelm “Janis” shades in Chicago and Sama Eyewear Mulholland Drive in black acetate & titanium in Winnipeg, AllSaints hematite finish Ariel Necklace with contrasting riveted plates (get it here), custom gloves and a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti AW13 ankle boots with gold plated block heel.
Look #2
Jacket and boots change.
Adam’s WAG Tour black leather fringe sleeves were glamberted-up with studs, crystals, spikes and paint. #looove
The boots are Buffalo x Solestruck 1410-12E with 5.25″ heel (available in melocoton and black at Solestruck + same collection, similar style for ladies: here), totally customized with gold material on toe and heel.
Smokin!!!
My fan is switched on now, so let’s continue…
Look #3
Anthony Franco Copper Lacquered Lace Shirt from the same collection as the TrevorLIVE gala tree print suit, Adam’s Hugo Boss copper jeans, and YSL leopard printed calfskin Jonny Boots.
Look #4
Saint Laurent SS14 Tiger Print Top (try it at Luisaviaroma or Ssense) and white Diesel jeans (Saint Laurent black skinnies in Winnipeg).
The crystal studded black leather moto vest is customized BLK DNM.
White fingerless driving gloves and Dr. Martens 20-eye lace-up boots complete the look.
Look #5
The last look consisted of Leopard Print Cotton Twill Suit embellished with jet Swarovski crystals and gold studs (exclusive close-up for you below) – custom Anthony Franco creation, based on the Los Angeles designer’s AW13 Couture collection.
Custom crown and gold creepers by Underground provided the finishing touches to the last wardrobe change.
“Adam is amazing to work with”, Jen Rade shared with Music Fashionland, “extremely creative with lots of ideas and he was part of every single piece made and every single look. He’s like a stylist with a ridiculously amazing voice lol!”.
To view all the fabulous ensembles go to:
- See more at: musicfashionland.com/mfl-exclusive-everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-adam-lamberts-queen-adam-lambert-tour-costumes/#sthash.QSuo1FEz.GGFFd3tt.dpuf
Should We Evaluate Queen + Adam Lambert The Same Way We Evaluate Iggy Azaelia?
The band Queen was founded forty-four years ago. It took a few years—and albums—for it to become one of the biggest stadium rock bands in the world. By the mid-1980s, Queen was breaking concert attendance and sales records.
Last week, two original members of Queen—Brian May and Roger Taylor—launched a tour with Adam Lambert filling in for the late Freddie Mercury. Queen joined the likes of the Rolling Stones and ZZ Top in keeping their brand alive on the stage well into their fifth and sixth decades.
Reviews of the performance were mostly ecstatic, but some critics have called for the band to create some new Queen music together, rather than reverting to releasing more albums fronted by Freddie Mercury. Does the reconfigured Queen need to make new music to be considered effective? At the heart of this issue is a question that matters not just for bands, but for any organization: Should we evaluate the effectiveness of a mature organization using the same criteria we use for upstarts? Do we judge Queen with Adam Lambert using the same metric with which we assess newcomers, like Iggy Azaelia or Imagine Dragons?
According to a classic study by management professors Robert E. Quinn and Kim Cameron, “Organizational Life Cycles and Shifting Criteria of Effectiveness: Some Preliminary Evidence,” the answer is no. The way we should define and evaluate the effectiveness of an organization depends on what stage of the organizational life cycle it is in.
A new musical act is like a new firm. It is in its entrepreneurial phase. Its primary focus is creating, innovating, acquiring resources and gaining external support. For companies this means securing their first customers and investors. For a band, it means getting their first few million YouTube views and song streams, joining major festival lineups and getting radio play.
For some bands this growth eventually leads to signing with a record label, which can usher them to the second stage of the organizational life cycle: survival. This is the stage of development where the band gels as a team and develops the cohesion and commitment that will carry them through the challenges of growth. At this stage, according to Quinn and Cameron, evaluations of effectiveness should be based on whether the group has coalesced around a common vision and is committed to that vision.
Next comes a period of success. In this phase, companies turn toward sustaining their momentum and productivity. For Queen, the period between the mid-1970s and the mid-1980s was such a period. During this phase, effectiveness should be measured by the extent to which the organization maintains its position and meets the goals it has set for itself. Any company currently succeeding in the market is concerned with sustaining its success, whether by increasing efficiency or by formalizing its procedures.
The final stage is renewal. It involves scouting for new opportunities to avert decline. Queen’s current tours, like the tours of their peers, seek to take advantage of the relatively new market for nostalgia, to preserve their legacy and, in many cases, introduce their music to new audiences. “We’ve played to some of your mothers and fathers,” said Queen guitarist Brian May in the Chicago concert, “And some of your grandchildren, I’m sure.”
In this mature phase of Queen, we should not evaluate them as we did when they were in their entrepreneurial phase. We leave discussions of innovativeness, creativity, and freshness of voice to artists who are just starting out. Instead, we evaluate Queen on their ability to adapt to the contemporary musical landscape and provide an experience that their audience values. And on that front, Queen + Adam Lambert have delivered.
www.forbes.com/sites/ruthblatt/2014/06/24/should-we-evaluate-queen-adam-lambert-the-same-way-we-evaluate-iggy-azaelia/
*****
2014 Queen + Adam Lambert Tour Dates | Concert Preview | |
06.16.14 | iHeart Radio Theater | Burbank CA United States |
| 2014 Queen + Adam Lambert Tour | |
06.19.14 | United Center concert info | Chicago, IL United States |
06.21.14 | MTS Centre concert info | Winnipeg, MB Canada |
06.23.14 | Credit Union Centre concert info | Saskatoon, SK Canada |
06.24.14 | Rexall Place concert info | Edmonton, AB Canada |
06.26.14 | Scotiabank Saddledome | Calgary, AB Canada |
06.28.14 | Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena | Vancouver, BC Canada |
07.01.14 | SAP Center | San Jose, CA United States |
07.03.14 | The Forum | Inglewood, CA United States |
07.05.14 | The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino | Las Vegas, NV United States |
07.06.14 | The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino | Las Vegas, NV United States |
07.09.14 | Toyota Center | Houston, TX United States |
07.10.14 | American Airlines Center | Dallas, TX United States |
07.12.14 | The Palace of Auburn Hills | Auburn Hills, MI United States |
07.13.14 | Air Canada Centre | Toronto, ON Canada |
07.14.14 | Bell Centre | Montreal, QC Canada |
07.16.14 | Wells Fargo Center | Philadelphia, PA United States |
07.17.14 | Madison Square Garden | New York, NY United States |
07.19.14 | Mohegan Sun | Uncasville, CT United States |
07.20.14 | Merriweather Post Pavilion | Columbia, MD United States |
07.22.14 | TD Garden | Boston, MA United States |
07.23.14 | IZOD Center | East Rutherford, NJ United States |
07.25.14 | Mohegan Sun | Uncasville, CT United States |
07.26.14 | Boardwalk Hall | Atlantic City, NJ United States |
07.28.14 | Air Canada Centre | Toronto, ON Canada |
08.14.14 | Super Sonic 2014 | Seoul Korea |
08.16.14 | Summer Sonic Music Festival | Osaka Japan |
08.17.14 | Marine Stadium | Tokyo Japan |
08.22.14 | Perth Arena | Perth Australia |
08.26.14 | Allphones Arena | Sydney Australia |
08.27.14 | Allphones Arena | Sydney Australia |
08.29.14 | Rod Laver Arena | Melbourne Australia |
08.30.14 | Rod Laver Arena | Melbourne Australia |
09.01.14 | Brisbane Entertainment Centre | Brisbane Australia |
*****
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Happy Birthday
crazylady,joannalizzy,and lizziek!!