Hi guys,
This was my third and in many ways best show. I went to Philly and MSG, both had their amazing moments. Philly being the first, close stage right seats and being able to take in the whole stage and venue show. MSG feeling like such a big show, being stage left, also great seats.
I decided to take my SIL to AC and a ahort drive became a 5 hour nightmare due to an accident. So horrific, as it took us over an hour at one point to go just over one mile. Thoughts and prayers for the families. Driving past, a car was smashed completely and two sheet covered bodies lay were in the grass (learned later two women instantly killed, children in back injured and air lifted). We are driving to a silly show and it all feels frivolous when things like that happen. More on that later.
I had taken my SIL to the AI tour years ago and she enjoyed that. She saw Queen in 1989 at the Meadowlands and used to be a big concertgoer but hadn't been much lately. What would have been a leisurely stroll along the boardwalk turned into racing to the hotel (which we couldn't find at first), trying to get parking, going through lines inside to inhale dinner, and in our seats at 8:00 in the dot. The concert began at 8:05.
Boardwalk Hall is right next to HeWhoCannot amed Plaza. It feels intimate as no seat seems bad. We were in the 200s, and had great sightlines. But the sound! It was the BEST sound I'd heard. Our section sat the whole time but they were the most enthusiastic sitting section ever. I had fun just looking at the crowd. Men tapping their feet, bopping heads, a group of male teenagers head banging and standing, people on the floor dancing. After eating an entire pizza like a ravenous animal during the opening two songs (yay Kabuki drape worked) I looked over at SIL's face and she had a big grin. That to me was worth it and considering what we'd witnessed on the road, life is short and these kind of experiences have their own value.
So I sat back, relaxed, took no vids or pics. Our section gave Brian May a standing ovation though I feel less people knew the words to LOML. It was funny to see Adam dancing up a storm, moving around, and then the big Q showed, well, NOT Adam. Brian really played up his Go Pro on FBG and it was adorable to see Roger stick out his tongue in the best rock star way. You can all have Dr May. I call dibs on Mr Taylor.
Everyone looked really relaxed up there but maybe this was my own skewed perspective from eating an entire pizza in 5 min while chair dancing and drinking a beer? The opening really builds with FBG really getting the crowd into it but they are really in the zone during STL. After Adam sings happy birthday to Roger, his whole, we can do whatever we want and then launching into Dragon Attack was a real surprise and perfect. Plus I felt that Adam was really driving that song and you can see it with his gestures to Neil (and maybe the sound guy) and his count at the end. Plus seeing them rock out on the thrust like that. To be able to pivot like that on the setlist is awesome. Brian's solo was also my favorite. Less whale and more notes, more concise but maybe I'm just so far under the Red Special's spell that it could have lasted forever.
LOVED the call and response. When Adam was doing the sections, the row behind me was responding and the teens in front shushed them (in a funny way) saying we couldn't help them win. I didn't feel it was overly long at all, and liked it when Adam asked for the beat. And Adam and Neil's happy dance during CLTCL? Cuteness.
I saw some looks of happy disbelief when Adam came out in the crown. Everyone was up after Bo Rap and the audience was really into it and lingered. Audience seemed so happy as we all exited. Teen boys started singing FBG on the stairs down and people laughed. For such a packed exit it was incredibly orderly and chill. Merch line was huge and a teen squealed as she clutched her Adam shirt (the standing one). At the parking garage more than one car was playing Queen, including a young man and his date. His face was radiant as he drove by. My SIL said Adam fit in perfectly, that the whole show was awesome, she also enjoyed the nostalgic bits, and she kept thanking me.
The whole band was ON POINT last night. All I can say is that OZ and NZ are going to get some unbelievable shows.
Will try to finish up 2m.
