7.19.14 Q+AL CONCERT THREAD -- Mohegan Sun, CT USA

'39 - squintyt4e2112

TALC HD - Queen - Solo Montage including Bass, Drum Battle & Brian May Guitar Solo -Mohegan Sun - CT
TALCvids

My turn, my turn . . . 




I attended Mohegan 1 with a friend who is also a classical musician. We had a great time. I have to say that the whole casino complex was massive and rather strange to me. I've never been to a casino before. We ate dinner at the buffet-style restaurant. There must have been hundreds of people in there and we had to stroll around all the food lines before deciding what to eat. It was like The Mall of America (Minneapolis) where there is everything in the world under one roof. It's American consumerism at it's peak--not my style.

On to the concert. I sat next to a man who was a serious Queen fan. We didn't talk much but he had the play list on his phone and referred to it regularly. After the concert he asked if I liked it and said he'd been to lot's of rock concerts and this was the best. 

I thought the audience was very responsive (not much standing in my section). During the "dreaded 3-hour guitar solo" only a few people move around. My friend and I both enjoyed it and didn't get bored (but we are classical instrumentalists and very used to listening to just an instrument). I'm with those who wonder if today's attention span is to short for many people. I didn't feel like the section of the concert starting with Love of My Life was a downer. Obviously, it was calmer than the opening of the show. But a show needs that, just like a play or movie. You need the tension and release. I loved that this section of the show wasn't so loud and loved being able to hear all the voices and instruments clearly, especially on '39. Love of My Life was beautiful with Brian's clear, gentle voice. 

My only complaint besides the whole thing being too loud is that Adam's voice sounded almost tinny or shrillish. Hard to explain, but he sometimes sounded like a teenager's voice--not full yet. I like how he sounds even on many of the amateur YTs. I don't know why this struck me. I still enjoyed it. He sings so effortlessly. I had read a comment by a Queen fan somewhere recently about how they preferred how Freddie sang--with more emotion because he made faces and the veins popping out of his head. I repeated that to my voice-teacher sister and had a good laugh. (For those of you who may not get the joke--veins popping out is a really bad thing for "proper" singing technique.)

Anyway, I enjoyed the entire concert, especially the improv with Brian and Adam at the end of the sing-along. The performers were great and there was a lot of variety. Didn't think it was even close to being a Freddie memorial. I can't for the life of me figure why anyone would review this show poorly. I'm not the biggest rock fan and don't go to concerts, and even I can see that this was extremely well done. A reviewer is never going to be unbiased: that's not what a review is. If it weren't biased, it would just be a retelling of the events with no opinion. However, even I can go to a concert that is not in my area of expertise and appreciate/critique it without panning it. Critics slam the greatest classical musicians in the world too. All I can say is "really????"

Notes from Mohegan +

37. Love Kills is a duet. Brian sings and responds with his guitar. Seizes me every time. Mourning, pain, and catharsis. A gift to Adam to share with the audience. An exquisite, passionate, bridge to bond.
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38. Who Wants to Live Forever. Beautiful. + Heavens come down from the sky streaming rays of light. And the stars are twinkling throughout the room. Loooove the effects!
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39. Show Must Go On BREAKS MY HEART EVERY SINGLE TIME. So much pain in a single song. Adam was made for this song and, for me, sings it to perfection.

40. Of all the songs, I would say that Tie Your Mother Down is the least Adam-ish of them and the most old-boy-with-pick-up-truck- high-testosterone rock and roll. It is 100% about Brian's guitar. and Roofus "smacking those skins hard. Whachit" ha ha ha. Adam's role in it just makes me laugh. Not in a bad way. It is just funny and cute and Adam put's his all into each song in whatever way is needed.