7.9.14 Adam News and Info

Tonight – Houston…



More info in the concert thread! adamtopia.com/thread/2416/14-concert-thread-houston-usa



Leaving Las Vegas
“The Show Must Go On”
7.7.14 by Q3, posted on 7.9.14

Today, I have a long day of travel and a chance to reflect on the 2014 Las Vegas Queen + Adam Lambert concert experience. I had not planned to write much about these concerts. The setlist was the same as previous Q+AL concerts. The stage presentation was similar. The introductions to the songs and segues between songs were similar to other concerts. So why as I leave Las Vegas do I feel so different?

And why did this seem so different from Queen concerts?

It was more than the “Freddie void” because I mostly forgot he was gone for most of the concert. There was something else very, very different about these concerts.

Back to May, 1974

I have an American’s view of Queen’s history – a history built before there was any digital media, when the world was still local, and before MTV. So my Queen history which is probably similar to many other 70’s vintage US fans is based on live concerts, official and bootleg recordings (on vinyl) and FM radio. Rock music news mostly came from a handful of rock magazines and real word-of-mouth. In other words, with very little information about what was going on in the UK, and Queen not really getting any coverage or airplay in the US, I feel very lucky to have “stumbled” upon Queen in May 1974..

www.queenconcerts.com/inc/tickets/1974-05-01.jpg
Source: queenconcerts.com; ticket stub from my first Queen concert, Harrisburg, PA May 1, 1974, Mott the Hoople, Aerosmith and Queen. Queen was the opening act. It was in a large State Fair venue that was built for animal shows – and I think the floor was pounded dirt (no kidding).

I saw Queen in 1974 when they toured the US for the first time opening for Mott the Hopople. I went on to attend 7 more Queen concerts in May 1974. The show was basic, many of the venues were small– I expected to hear just another British rock band playing a short set before the artist I came to see preformed. But Queen was good, very good. They performed a mix of their own songs and rock n’ roll covers because they really did not have any hits of their own to play yet. The odd thing to me, in 1974, was they played some pretty great new music and they these old rock and roll songs that were really out dated at the time.

There was nothing in those early shows or the band’s material that indicated the soon to be revealed brilliance of Queen, and particularly the band members unique gifts as songwriters.
 
I do not recall the exact setlist – and it appears that no one bothered to keep track (oh how times have changed. But it was something like this….

Procession
Father To Son
Ogre Battle*
White Queen (As It Began)*
Hangman
Doin' All Right
Son And Daughter*
Seven Seas of Rhye*
Keep Yourself Alive
Liar*

Encore 1
Jailhouse Rock (Elvis cover)
Shake Rattle And Roll (Jerry Lee Lewis cover)
Stupid Cupid (Big Joe Turner cover)
Be Bop A Lula (Little Richard cover)
Jailhouse Rock (Elvis cover, reprise)

Encore 2
Big Spender (Shirley Bassey cover)
Modern Times Rock'n'roll

After I saw Queen perform (and because of the songs with * stars, which I still remember and know were performed), I immediately went out and purchased their two albums: Queen and Queen II. And those two albums included a lot of what we now know as the “Queen sound”. The cover-filled concert set did not prepare me for how good Queen really was. For example, the live performance of "Liar" was excellent but it paled in comparison to the album track.

1974-1982: Sheer Heart Attack to Hot Space

In November 1974, Queen released Sheer Heart Attack and everything changed. This album included a wonderful, campy track “Killer Queen” that was their first big hit – a song that demanded to be played and that generated listener requests. The song that was Queen’s breakthrough hit.

I pre-reserved a copy of Sheer Heart Attack from my local record store and got it at midnight on the US release day. I proceeded to buy every album and attend every US Queen Tour until the 1982 Hot Space Tour when Queen and the US parted ways.

As the venues got bigger, the tours and staging got more elaborate. As their song catalog got larger, they dropped most of the covers and increased the use of medleys to cram in all their hits – but it was always a set of song performances, a concert. Sometimes the songs had nice intros, sometimes the introductions were personal stories, and many times the concerts moved from song to song with instrumental connections.

Coming to Las Vegas

When I arrived in Las Vegas for the doubleheader of the July 5, 2014 and July 6, 2014 Q+AL shows, I had already seen the show live, and watched a few live streams and videos. I knew what was going to happen, what they were going to play, I even could recite some of the almost scripted banter. I was left to ponder questions like would Brian say, “What do you think of the new boy?” or “….guy?” or “…or our Adam”?

I will leave chronicling these shows to others for later. Let me just say that both shows were marvelous, and I really mean marvelous – something to remember. Yes, they were a bit different. The first night had some stunning vocal performances by Adam that literally made people cry. The second night was more filled with fun, more sexiness and different moments that made people cry – including a beautiful “Love of My Life” audience sing-along with Brian with the female-dominated front of the audience singing in harmony with Brian. One of the most touching moments of the night.

The entirety of both shows was a highlight for me – but the day after one song keeps playing in my head – “The Show Must Go On.” And it is that song, Adam’s theatricality, the history, and perhaps seeing in Las Vegas that made me smack myself in the head. This is different because this is a show with a storyline, and not a concert.

2014 Q+AL: Welcome to "The Show"

The setlist, the videos, the sequence – it is the story of Queen. Laid out from the beginning running through the early songs, the big hits, the glory days, the question of living forever, and the end of the story with “The Show Must Go On”. And then closing with the past and the present together, Freddie and Adam, singing Freddie’s greatest composition, “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

I did not notice how linear this story is because there are a couple songs moved forward that don’t really belong there in the chronological story of Queen – “Another One Bites The Dust” and “Fat Bottom Girls.” At first I thought this was done to get a couple of the hits into the opening of the concert. But that was because I was being too literal. So, even if the intention was not to bore audience members who only know the Queen hits, these two “must perform” songs are actually well placed.

The show falls into 3 acts – not just 3 sets but acts. They appear to me to have well-constructed themes. So, here they are with my Act Names on them.

The show opens with an instrumental that spans two Queen eras: “Procession” (1974, Queen II) and “Flash” (1980, Flash Gordon). I was so pleased to hear the concert start with “Procession” just like the 1974 concerts!

Act 1: Shape-Shifting Majesty

Eight songs, six genres…and it is just the beginning of the show.

“Now I’m Here” (1974, Sheer Heart Attack) – The show opens with a hard rock song that was played by Queen in concert more than any other song, and their most common opener. How strangely appropriate that this song also contains an introduction to their new frontman and at the same time a promise to make the music live again.

“Stone Cold Crazy” (1974, Sheer Heart Attack) – A heavy metal track that was the first song Queen performed live in 1970 – although it evolved over time – and their only heavy metal recording.

“Another One Bites the Dust” (The Game, 1980) – Someone forgot to tell John Deacon that rock bands don’t play funk. Good thing since this is one of Queen’s two US #1 songs.

“Fat Bottom Girls”(1978, Jazz) – This is the hard rock track that inspired Spinal Tap’s “Big Bottom.” Now that is the definition of influential! Adam illustrates what the bike ride metaphor is all about for anyone who was clueless and thought this song had something to do with bicycles. “All you fat ass bitches are gonna get on your bikes and ride!”

“Lap of the Gods…Revisited” (1974, Sheer Heart Attack) – The progressive rock song that was the prelude to “Bohemian Rhapsody” shows the roots and brilliance of Queen. (And is sung brilliantly by Adam!  )

“Seven Seas of Rhye” (1973 Queen (instrumental abbreviated version), 1974 Queen II) – An art rock song that is a live Queen favorite. An abbreviated instrumental version of this song is the final track on the group's debut album Queen (1973), the full version on the follow-up Queen II (1974).

“Killer Queen” (1974, Sheer Heart Attack) – A glam rock excursion that was Queen’s first big hit and almost obscured the hard rock roots. In this show, it is recast as a campy, theatrical numbers that seems like the highlight of the show --- at least until the next song. This performance is “theatrical”.

Transition by Adam as he segues into STL. Queen did song introductions, but never this transitional spoken sections. “Theatrical!”

“Somebody To Love” (1976, A Day at the Races) – Freddie decided to channel a bit of his favorite singer’s (Aretha Franklin) magic and wrote a gospel song. The song fits Adam like a gold-gilded leather glove and transitions from a desperate, down on his knees plea for someone to love, to a joyful call-and-response with Adam leading the audience in a joint plea for love.

“I Want It All” (1989, “The Miracle”) – This act closes with a hard rock song written by Brian May that was never performed live by Freddie. This song is about having ambitions and fighting for one's own goals.

Act 2: Retrospective

The second act takes the audience down a musical path in a Queen retrospective that incorporates a number of songs that that are not rock songs, and many songs that deal with time and space and place.

“Love of My Life” - An early Freddie ballad (1975), mostly sung by Brian and the audience, but ending with “a bit a magic” and a video appearance of Freddie. Usually a crowd sign along and a Queen concert staple.

'39 (acoustic, Brian solo) – This song is Queen’s only sci-fi sniffle song. Are there any more songs like this anywhere? Time and space and place all intersect.

“These Are The Days Of Our Lives” – A time trip. This 1991 song was mostly written by Roger Taylor was released as a single in the United States on Freddie Mercury's 45th birthday, September 5, 1991, and in the UK three months later on December 9, 1991 in the wake of Freddie’s death. It is a bookend to the 1975 "Love of My Life", twice using the line "I still love you".

There an instrumental section with a Bass Feature. They can’t completely ignore Hot Space so Neil does a base feature that includes some of the other Queen tracks (Neil incorporating a number of songs including "Don't Try Suicide," "Body Language," and “Staying Power,” and "Dragon Attack"). This shifts to a Drum Duel – and instrumental with Roger and Rufus)

“Under Pressure” (1981 Queen and David Bowie collaborate) – Originally a pop song, partially used in a hip hop song, this song contains what may be the most famous baseline in music history. Oddly, it’s fame came not so much from this song but from its use in Vanilla Ice’s global hit, “Ice, Ice Baby.”

Another transition between songs.

“Love Kills” (198 Freddie Mercury and Ge, disco!) – This late disco song was recorded by Queen but never released in that form. It was released as a Freddie Mercury solo artist

The act concludes with a show-stopper: “Who Wants To Live Forever.”

Musical interlude: Brian’s guitar solo provides a moment to reflect. He incorporates his signature composition, “Last Horizon” (1993, Back to the Light), which moves across emotions from serenity to at times it feels like his guitar is crying. The solo mixes improvisations and parts of other Brian May compositions along with part of "Welcome to the Jungle" (1987, Guns N' Roses).

Act 3: Music Lives Forever

The final act starts with three upbeat songs:

“Tie Your Mother Down” (1977, hard rock)
“Radio Ga Ga” (1984,
“Crazy Little Thing Called Love”

Then the second big power ballad, “The Show Must Go On.”

The act concludes with Freddie’s masterpiece, “Bohemian Rhapsody” – a song that I expect will be played in 2314 on Titan (on of Saturn’s most beautiful moons.)

Encore: When the show has concluded, the players return for an encore of Queen’s stadium rock anthems.

“The Show”

It is still playing in my head. “The Show Must Go On”. It is a show. The staging, the lasers, lights and giant disco ball. Yes, that is what is so different.

In the 1970’s and early 1980’s I went to many Queen concerts. And some of those tours had “huge” staging for the time. But 2014 requires something bigger, grander, “more gold”! And indeed we have a gold-gilded tour with a massive stage production, theatricality and a lot of interaction on stage as this story of Queen and their music plays out.





More Queen rumors!





Watch: Judas Priest Release Behind the Scenes Video for Redeemer Of Souls
Posted by Joseph Lee on 07.08.2014

.....

On working with guitarist Richie Faulkner instead of co-founder K.K. Downing: "Richie's contribution can't be overstated. It really wasn't that different -- two guitar players and a singer as a writing team, so the format was very, very much the same as it's always been. When you bring in a guitar player who's also a very proficient writer and has great skill as a lead guitar player and a tremendous dynamic on stage, that's got to have some kind of effect on you. I was watching a really cool clip of (Queen's) Brian May and Roger (Taylor) sitting next to Adam (Lambert), and both Brian and Roger said that (Lambert) just kind of kicked them in the ass, brought another level of intensity and energy to the band. And I feel very, very strongly that's what Richie did for us as well."

Judas Priest have a tour coming to support the album. It stars on October 1 in Rochester, New York and ends in Salt Lake City on November 18. They will tour in Europe in 2015 and the rest of the world in 2016.

youtu.be/3Zi-atbU6jA

Link: www.411mania.com/music/news/328163/Watch:-Judas-Priest-Release-Behind-the-Scenes-Video-for-Redeemer-Of-Souls.htm



Another One Bites the Glitter!
Posted by Q3 7.8.14, source Facebook and Twitter 7.7.14.

There have been a lot of celebrities at the Queen + Adam Lambert concerts -- and many positive comments. But this one is really nice.

Roddy Chong (on Facebook)

ADAM LAMBERT: Did a shockingly great job
as lead singer and front man for Queen. I really didn't know anything
about this guy. Awesome to see him earn the approval of the audience
song by song. I see a concert about once a week and this was by far my
favorite show this year. So inspiring. — at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel
& Casino.



He was at the Q+AL afterparty....

Roddy Chong @roddychong • Jul 7
LAS LAX. Back to the LA hustle. #QUEEN was one of the best concerts I've ever experienced in my life!

Roddy Chong @roddychong •
@adamlambert Thanks for your hospitality & inspiration #AdamLambert!

Roddy Chong @roddychong •
@officialrmt Thanks for your hospitality & inspiration #RogerTaylor! #Vegas

Roddy Chong @roddychong •
@drbrianmay @thejointlv @queenwillrock Thx for your hospitality & inspiration #BrianMay! #Vegas #Queen #WeWillRockYou

Roddy Chong
@roddychong
Virtuoso
Violinist & Keynote Speaker currently on tour w/ Trans-Siberian
Orchestra and Kevin Costner & Modern West. Toured w/ Shania Twain
and Celine Dion.



Share your concert story or review!!
6.28.14 by Q3

Everyone wants to read about your concert experience. So, if you are inclined to share, please do. It is fun to read them even if you attended the same concert. Everyone has a different experience and sees different things.

If you do want to share a review, please post it in the CONCERT thread. Then, so we don’t miss it, post a short note with a link to your review in the current Daily News thread.

If you already posted it in both places, that fine. Just leave it as it is. If you did not post it in the concert thread, please post a copy in the concert thread so we can include it in the concert archive.

Thanks to all who have shared. And I hope/expect to read hundreds more! So post away!

2014 Queen + Adam Lambert Tour Dates




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