7.17.14 Q+AL CONCERT THREAD -- New York, NY USA

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Queen + Adam Lambert concert review: Brian May, Roger Taylor prove that they’re far from biting the dust at Madison Square Garden gig

Former American Idol finalist Adam Lambert channeled the late Freddie Mercury to reinvigorate the legendary band’s classic tunes, from 'Radio Gaga' to 'Bohemian Rhapsody.'

BY KEVIN COUGHLIN NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Friday, July 18, 2014, 6:35 AM


Adam Lambert (left) and Brian May weren't afraid to go a little 'Radio Gaga' the Queen gig at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

The last time Queen performed at Madison Square Garden was on two steamy July nights during the "Hot Space Tour" in 1982, with Billy Squier as the opening act.

Fast-forward 32 years later, and Queen is once again the headlining act on a steamy July night in the World's Most Famous Arena. Well, at least half of the original Queen line-up; founding members Brian May on guitar and Roger Taylor on drums. Both gents showing their age, especially May, sporting a dazzling grey-white Moses mane.

Completing the band, billed now as Queen + Adam Lambert, is bass player Neil Fairclough (replacing original bassist John Deacon who retired in 1997), back-up drummer Rufus Tiger Taylor, and keyboardist Spike Edney.

Last, but certainly not the least, former American Idol finalist Adam Lambert channels the spirit of Queen's late frontman Freddie Mercury in almost every detail.

Strutting the curvaceous stage like a black leather-clad peacock with a slight pompadour, Lambert launched into the set opener, "Now I'm Here" with ferocity and vigor. At times, Lambert's presence appeared to rejuvenate and energize May's and Taylor's performance throughout the 2 hour 15-minute, 23-song set.

More...

www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/queen-adam-lambert-concert-review-brian-roger-taylor-prove-biting-dust-article-1.1871650

I'm back.

First let me say sorry I didn't respond to the gracious invites to meet up with people both before or after the show. When I got in my seat I didn't want to move or miss anything. I just spent the preshow just trying to soak it all in so I wouldn't have been great company! I would have stopped by afterwards but my wife had to work this morning in Albany so as soon as it was over we had to hit the subway back to the car and drive back to Albany (getting in last night around 2am or so). I checked the thread during the subway/car ride and loved seeing everyone looking for my response, but being on my phone - well I HATE posting from my phone, but I noticed and appreciated

NOW where were we.

Despite trying to take it all in it was still all a blur.

I guess I'll try to take it chronologically with a tangent now and again...

I was actually surprised to NOT see as many Glambert as I thought. In my section especially, it was full of Queen fans. Mostly older guys and their significant others. A few young, a few older but still more Queen fans. I didn't really talk to anyone - I kind of wanted to but I was still in soak it in mentality. Two younger females sat next to me and it was obvious they were Adam fans and I hoped I didn't annoy them by trying to make sure B&R heard me but I wasn't going to stop...They never said anything so that's good

When Track 13 (Unofficial title) started playing, I turned to my wife and said - OK we got about 20 minutes to show time....For those that don't know that pre-Procession music is the unlisted track on Made In Heaven. It was an instrumental, ambient, minimalist piece that was supposedly trying to illustrate Freddie's transition to heaven...It's about 23 minute
s long and is really just a wash of chords...it's good lights out kind of music (except for the occasional drum to wake you up )

Then the smoke came out...a few times....and I turned to my wife and noted how Queen knew how to tease and build anticipation.

Finally it started.

I was just excited to hear Now I'm Here.

From there the songs were mostly a blur so I'll give overall reactions first and then try to get specific.

Spike and Neil were rock solid as I expected them to be. I was so glad Neil kept the Nevermore part of the bass solo.

Rufus. Rufus has DEFINITELY inherited the drumming gene from his father - he's a POWERFUL drummer live. Now he just needs to learn a BIT more from his old man. One of Roger's best traits as a drummer is a certain subtlety. Sometimes it's not what you play, it's what you don't play. Rufus (perhaps due to age and with more experience this will improve) but he sometimes...overdrums a bit. A bit too much. BUT the raw talent is definitely there and playing with RT will only help him.

The BIG 3:

ROGER - I know it to be true, but it never ceases to amaze me how IMPORTANT to the Queen sound, Roger's backing vocals are. When Roger sings, it sounds like Queen. When he doesn't, it lacks something. RT's drumming was TOP notch and he's in GREAT shape. I know you guys talk about giving Adam a break at times, but I also think I Want It All is positioned where it is too right before RT takes a break. That bit at the end of the guitar solo (when RT does the 1234 1234 and it goes into overdrive...must be tough on his stamina but he pulled it off...and the band is back to playing at full speed..but then he gets to take a break. It's probably also a good choice to let Rufus do TYMD. Roger appeared to be having a BLAST and really was soaking it all in. Him and Rufus' drum duel was phenomenal live and I actually thought it was over too quickly. Under Pressure was a REAL highlight.

BRIAN - What can I say about him. He still has it by far. His chops were on good form. He had a few flubs in spots but all in all it was just non stop 2+ hours of playing. I loved the camera on his guitar for FBG and then how he turned it on the audience and then Roger at the end of it...nice. His Love of My Life....um...wow. He walked down the aisle and got the biggest applause of the night by far and it was just amazing watching him soak it all in. He teared up before, during, and after LOML. It was beautiful.

tangent - Love of My Life was a decent singalong but I was very loud I was told BUT it was in a good way as according to my wife I was impressing the people in front of me - they turned around and were listening to me supposedly....I was lost in the moment and had no idea)

Back to BRIAN - At the end when Freddie came on (and that actually might have been the biggest applause too ) Brian couldn't even look at the screen, he was so choked up. Beautiful.

Brian's solo - FUCK those who say it's too long. Sorry. I thought it was perfect. Last Horizon is BEAUTIFUL and adding in those other sections. Yes people sit down. That's okay - It's not a danceable moment. It's a time to reflect and just watch this legendary man work his magic. And when he went up on the higher platforms, everyone near him stood up and was giving him such appreciation. One thing I didn't know - I have been collecting but not able to hear TOO TOO many performances but I don't know if there was a fuck up or not but for the first part of Last Horizon there was NO backing....it was JUST Brian which was new and unique to me. I'm still early in the tour listening to boots in a way where I'm taking in everything and there had always been a backing but this was different. I don't know if someone fucked up but it ended up being unique for certain

tangent 2 - The production. WOW. Much more in depth than I thought. Amazing Q, I loved the dropping oval, loved the screens, loved the disco ball, loved the lasers...just top top notch.

NOW I know you've been scrolling a bit to read my views on Adam with Queen...

ADAM - He was great. I knew he would be. Adam is in a place where he is still learning...the whole frontman thing so there were a few moments of awkwardness (NOTE to Adam - Bite it hard is not a good singalong ) BUT he knew it and took advantage of the awkwardness and turned it into something....endearing. He was extremely reverent to the band (and Freddie), which was definitely appreciated by the Queen fans. His rock voice has grown since 2012 for certain and I was happy to see this version of STL was MUCH better than 2012. I like the church of glam rock gospel feel he gets out of it now. He has no fear and the band certainly gave him leeway to do whatever he wanted but he never stepped on toes. The people around me (including one overzealous Queen fan was rocking the whole night and really seemed to appreciate Adam too. He got a nice ovation when Brian asked about him and he got 2 very much standing Os for WWTLF and Show Must Go On....speaking of Show Must Go On...I thought that last bit was VERY interesting when he started with this low shooOOOOOOWWWWW! and brought it up to amazing heights.

(OH and I was part of the standing Os too for the record)

Adam's voice is amazing. His range is really spectacular. I would still hold to the fact that I like Freddie's richer tone better as Adam's voice is a bit light and ethereal to me (which is one reason I know people love it)....

Adam was definitely having a blast and it showed and he let the boys have a blast too....Oh and the crown thing didn't bother me at all (for that matter neither did the couch or spitting or whatever...all mountains of molehills)

All in all - it was a GREAT show.

I only had the one other Queen show to compare it to - QPR in 2005. My wife and I went to that show and I asked her her thoughts first. She said it was so hard to compare because they were such different shows. And I agreed. I was surprised at HOW different they felt....and not in that one was better or worse than another - just totally different feels to it. We both agreed that we enjoyed the production a lot more this time around, and we liked the set list better overall. QPR I think was more of an exploratory kind of fun with Queen trying to branch out into a new territory (which isn't a bad thing - it led to some great musical moments and experiements), whereas this felt much more like fuck it, I'm giving in and just playing some great songs....QPR also did have the advantage of being the first time we saw Queen so that's hard to top in a way....BUT that this show itself was at least equal if not better than our first gig.

I don't know what else to say...I cried a few times, my wife cried a few times...I tried to soak it all in and failed a bit...I may have missed a lot of Adam stuff because I kept getting transfixed watching what B&R were doing. BUT I thought Adam did a great reverent job and....(insert FLD that I won't say because I know you don't want to read it) it was great seeing fucking MSG roaring loudly and raining down love and appreciation on QAL.

I can't wait to go on Saturday....

Review: Adam Lambert and Queen amaze at New York's Madison Square Garden

by Markos Papadatos

On July 17, Grammy-nominated pop star Adam Lambert fronted the iconic rock band Queen at their Madison Square Garden concert in New York City.
The stage was graced in a white backdrop with the Queen logo, that changed to blue, as Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Brian May and Roger Taylor took the stage as Lambert belted out the opener "Now I'm Here." Lambert was dressed in black leather, guyliner, and spikes and even sported black sunglasses and black nail polish.
They followed it up with "Stone Cold Crazy" and Lambert incorporated the spitfire "Another One Bites The Dust" as a crow sing-along. "C'mon, New York. I can't hear you," he said.
"Fat Bottomed Girls" was another fan-favorite, as May rocked the lead guitar and Lambert nailed the vocals.

Lambert returned with a different outfit for "Seven Seas of Rhye" and he sang "Killer Queen," while sitting on a purple couch and towards the end he took several sips from a bottle of champagne, prior to spitting it out to the audience. "Hi mom," he said jokingly. "Anybody else thirsty?"
"Are you guys having fun?" Lambert asked, and expressed his gratitude to the crowd for coming. "We are having a great night," he added.
Lambert showcased his powerhouse pipes on "Somebody to Love" and as the stage was graced in red lights, he sang "I Want It All" with May in perfect pitch.
Roger Taylor impressed on his drum solo and May was able to captivate with his lengthy guitar solo.
One of the most moving moments of the evening was when Taylor sang lead on "These Are The Days of Our Lives" with May on harmonies as the stage was graced in blue lights. It was a poignant homage to the late Freddie Mercury, as a video montage showed clips of the original group.
"Under Pressure" was a neat collaboration between Taylor and Lambert, and it is evident that he holds him in the highest regards. "Give it up for Roger Taylor on the drums and vocals," Lambert said.
In "Who Wants to Live Forever," Lambert proved that he is in a league of his own vocally.
After yet another outfit change, Lambert sang "Radio Ga Ga," as he had the audience clapping along to him.
They closed with "The Show Must Go On," as well as "Bohemian Rhapsody," the latter of which was his audition song during his American Idol days. Most impressive about this version was that they performed it as a duet with Mercury, with the help of modern technology on the televised screens. It really brought the whole show together, and it ended their concert on a high note, and it garnered them the longest standing ovation of the evening.
For their encore, they returned and sang two of their greatest hits "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions," as Lambert wore a golden crown on his head and a golden chair around his neck, and displayed his incredible vocal range, which was sheer perfection. Yellow confetti drizzled from the top of the venue, and it proved that all six men (Lambert, Taylor, May and their band members) knew how to rock.
The Verdict
Queen featuring Adam Lambert was one unforgettable concert experience that I was honored to be a part of. Lambert's superb vocal ability is unparalleled and Brian May is a guitar king. While I have never seen Freddie Mercury live, since he passed away while I was a kid, I thought Lambert did an exceptional job paying tribute to his lengthy body of musical work. You just could not get your eyes off of Lambert, no matter how hard you may tried. Lambert seemed to have a great deal of fun with his outfit changes and theatrics, and the crowd did too. He had good stage presence as did May and Taylor. Somewhere in heaven, Mercury would be smiling upon them, especially since Lambert helped bring Mercury's classic rock music to a younger generation of fans. They garnered an A+ rating.

Read more: www.digitaljournal.com/a-and-e/music/review-adam-lambert-and-queen-amaze-at-new-york-s-madison-square-garden/article/390795#ixzz37pjlqyaZ

Digital Journal review of show

Good review.

Gelly ‏@14gelly 2m
"Concert review: Queen + Adam Lambert at Madison Square Garden" music-mix.ew.com/2014/07/18/concert-review-queen-adam-lambert-at-madison-square-garden/ … via @ew

By Erika Berlin on Jul 18, 2014 at 2:20pm


The Queen is dead; long live the Queen. It’s been 22 years since Freddie Mercury died, and yet his band—who managed to continuously find new life throughout its original run—has done so yet again. The current heir presumptive? American Idol’s Adam Lambert, a self-proclaimed Freddie Mercury devotee who was still in diapers the last time Queen played New York’s Madison Square Garden in 1982.

But for all of Lambert’s preening and expert vocal acrobatics, this was still very much Mercury’s show. Queen’s remaining original members, guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor (bassist John Deacon retired in 1997), have said time and time again that this show is not a reproduction and that Lambert is not meant to be a Mercury clone. So while his skinny leather pants, leopard-print tuxes, and use of studs and fringe in a single outfit would likely all be Freddie-approved, Adam Lambert was very much his glam-punk self, and Mercury still kept a couple of coveted solos for himself.

The band came out hard with songs such as “Now I’m Here,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and “Fat Bottomed Girls” and spent the majority of their two-plus-hours-long set showcasing the still-obvious talent that made May a guitar hero in the first place. Lambert catwalked and peppered the crowd with sporadic stage banter (“When I feel lonely, I just drink and douse myself in rhinestones like any sensible gay,” he said before launching into “Somebody to Love”). Lambert’s crowning theatrical moment was his vaudevillian performance of “Killer Queen”—sprawled out on a purple velvet chaise lounge mid-arena, platformed, glitter-covered boots in the air, spewing champagne onto the audience. Guaranteed to blow your mind, indeed.

But for all of the show’s highs (including a rousing “Who Wants to Live Forever,” co-starring a dazzling disco ball), there were still enough tributes to fill a VH1 special. “Years and years and years ago,” May eulogized mid-show, “some of you will remember and some of you were not even born yet—there was a man named Freddie Mercury. And he was extraordinary.” May then quietly duetted with the audience on an acoustic performance of “Love of My Life,” a contemplative ballad he used to, back in the day, perform next to a seated Mercury under simple stage lights.
And May is right. Of those filling the Garden on July 17, many were probably early fans of the British rock band—who would sing along with early hits like “Stone Cold Crazy” and not think of it as a Metallica song. And then, there were plenty who probably learned of the band by listening to their parents’ LPs—a couple of generations worth who weren’t around to witness Queen’s 1970s heyday, or their miraculous comeback at 1986’s Live Aid concert in London (29 years ago this week), or the lingering decline and death of the band’s brilliant and beautiful leader.

And yet, it was without irony that not 15 minutes after May’s tribute (and Taylor’s rendition of “These Are the Days of Our Lives”—a schlocky song Taylor wrote for his frontman for their final album before Mercury’s death, and sung while playing a video montage of ’70s band nostalgia), that Lambert returned to the stage to the opening bassline of “Under Pressure,” a song that younger generation of audience members would undoubtedly place as ’90s staple “Ice Ice Baby” before remembering its very glam origin. Sigh.

It was the finale the brought the nostalgia-fest to its peak, though, and gave Mercury his biggest moment of the night. Lambert took the first verse of the band’s opus, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and moved aside for Mercury to take the second (via old concert footage). The operatic section? The band cleared the stage. They let the original recording do the heavy lifting, opting to play their 1975 disembodied head video, complete with all the complicated vocal layering that made those “Galileos” and “Bismillahs” famous in the first place. And why not? Even with a first-rate fill-in like Lambert, sometimes you just don’t mess with perfection.