7.14.14 Adam News & Info -- North to Montreal

Notice how the really snarky reviews invariably ignore and fail to mention the tours' raucous, loving,and filled-to-the-rafters reception. To be silent on that score discredits the reviews, which, if one were to be objective, must cast the deniers of this truth against the approving roar of the loving throngs.

Here's one that mentions both.....

Queen with Adam Lambert – Air Canada Centre, Toronto – July 13, 2014
By Skye Hawkins

www.queenonline.com/
www.adamofficial.com/ca

If Adam Lambert was feeling like the personification of the classic The Queen hit “Under Pressure”, then he sure as hell didn’t show it Sunday night at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, as he and Queen delivered a powerful performance that held the sold out audience utterly captivated. Lambert’s phenomenal vocal range, cool confidence, and natural ease on stage, mixed with his relaxed interaction with the band makes him an intriguing front man. Does he fit well with Queen – hell yeah!

It goes without saying that most if not all Queen fans and classic rock enthusiasts will agree there was and only ever will be ONE Freddie Mercury – his talent immeasurable, his vocals incomparable, his showmanship unmatched. So if you’re a purist, chances are that you don’t and won’t embrace Adam Lambert belting out the familiar lyrics to your favourite Queen songs. But bear in mind that he is not trying to BE Freddie Mercury, he’s just trying to do the music proud, which he did in spades for the Toronto crowd.

The two hour and 20 minute show was off and running with “Now I’m Here”, teasing show goers with only short-lived shadows of Lambert behind a massive stage curtain adorned with the Queen logo. When the curtain finally dropped, there stood the originators of Queen as we’ve known and loved them since they emerged on the rock scene in the early 70’s – Brian May on guitar and Roger Taylor on drums, with two current touring members on keyboards and bass, and Taylor’s son Rufus Tiger Taylor on percussion and backing vocals. Rufus would later in the show play dual drums with his Dad.

The show’s setlist played out like a “Greatest Hits” album, with the fast and furious delivery of 3 classic songs in a row – “Stone Cold Crazy,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and “Fat Bottomed Girls” all performed to perfection with the crowd singing along. “Seven Seas of Rhye” slowed the tempo a bit and then it was all fun and games for “Killer Queen,” which saw Lambert finally venture onto the curved cat walk that jutted from the stage and culminated in a small platform. A mauve antique velvet love seat sat atop, where Lambert sang and cheekily cavorted. Afterwards, he swilled from a bottle of champagne, which he then spewed like a fountain onto show goers below. Mischievously he asked one of the female contingent pressed against the stage barrier, “Pardon me, madam - did I get you wet? You’re supposed to say thank you.” The sexual overtones of his comment did not go unnoticed by the giggling crowd, at which point Lambert was quick to point out, “I’m equal opportunity, honey!” as he unabashedly clarified his bisexuality. And hot damn, does he make it work!!

With Lambert off stage for one of four stunning costume changes that ranged from leather to leopard print, the tempo slowed with May singing “39” and Taylor delivering “These Are the Days of Our Lives” while May played acoustically. Video of Freddie Mercury played on the big screens, creating a profoundly sentimental moment in the show. Even Brian May appeared visibly touched by the images of his old friend, despite that the process plays out for each and every performance. Lambert then returned to the stage for a revamped version of Freddie Mercury’s “Love Kills”, followed by “Who Wants to Live Forever” which offered up spine tingling chills in the form of Lambert’s spectacular vocal range and power.

Then we were treated to Brian May’s solo, and saying that it was a loooong one might in fact be a bit of an understatement. While there’s no argument that May is a much-loved and phenomenally talented guitarist who deserves to strut his stuff, this uber-extended solo elicited fan comments that included, “I thought it would never end,” “That went from inspiring to just plain self-indulgent,” and “In my 20 years of seeing rock concerts, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen such a long solo. As a matter of fact, even if you strung the 20 years of solos all together, I still don’t think it would be as long as what May just played.” Ouch! Yet, despite the comments, there was no denying The Man Can Play!

The stage came alive once again when the band busted out the raucous “Tie Your Mother Down” followed by “Radio Ga Ga,” which had the entire venue clapping in unison. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” caused Lambert to question his verbal segues between songs, but the tune ultimately had the audience on their feet and dancing. The main set then ended with gut wrenching deliveries of “The Show Must Go On” followed by “Bohemian Rapsody,” accompanied by old video footage of the song as well as Lambert paying respect to Mercury as he stood in front of the big screen and traded off lines of the song with the fallen icon. A short break ensued while lights and dry ice continued to swirl around the stage before the band returned for their classic encore of “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions”.

May, Rogers, and Lambert took a group bow with the crowd on their feet for a standing ovation. And the only words that came to mind after such an incredible show were, “Gunpowder, guillotine, Dynamite with a laser beam, Guaranteed to blow your mind, Anytime!”


Set List:

1. Now I'm Here
2. Stone Cold Crazy
3. Another One Bites the Dust
4. Fat Bottomed Girls
5. In the Lap of the Gods... Revisited
6. Seven Seas of Rhye
7. Killer Queen
8. Somebody to Love
9. I Want It All
10. Love of My Life
11. '39
12. These Are the Days of Our Lives
13. Under Pressure (Queen with David Bowie cover)
14. Love Kills (Freddie Mercury Cover)
15. Who Wants to Live Forever
16. Guitar Solo
17. Tie Your Mother Down
18. Radio Ga Ga
19. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
20. The Show Must Go On
21. Bohemian Rhapsody

Encore:
22. We Will Rock You
23. We Are the Champions

I can see them having Adam singing the whole thing sometime in the future. No, I do not think they will make any major changed in this tour. But I think anything is possible.

I never remember any humor at a Queen concert, and Freddie was many things but he was not a comic actor.

>> Would you have expected Brian to make jokes on a velvet couch about his guitar solos?

>> Did you expect Brian to be kneeling on the floor with Adam doing a floorbert?

>> Would you have expected Adam to chuck in a improvised call and response song that is now apparently part of the show?

>> Did you expect Adam to wear a diamond coronet at the end of the show without a riot?

>> Did you expect them to rearrange "Love Kills" as a rock song?

There is a lot of surprising stuff going on with this show. And the list of surprising stuff is growing and the show is getting better.

***

I have met many, many Queen fans during this tour. Same thing over and over, before the concert they are there to see Brian and Roger, and curious/skeptical about Adam. By they time they get to TSMGO they are wanting more Adam.

Truly, the lull in the concert is the 39-LOML-TWTD-drum section. The "take a break, go to the restroom, buy a drink" song is Brian's solo.

The place literally erupts when Adam returns -- every time, 4 concerts in a row.

There is no way that Bri and Roger do not see the same thing everyone else sees, the big moments of this concert all all when Adam is singing. The reporters can say whatever they want about LOML, but the majority of people do not even stand up at the end of it. People sit and sing along.

***

It may not happen on this tour, but I predict that at some point soon, Adam will sing all of BoRhap except for the chorus part Queen never performed live.

***

All that said, when BoRhap is performed Freddie is always in the room, no canned video needed.

I will be very curious what you think when you see the concert live.

Gelly ‏@14gelly 3m
Great pic and I love the colors instagram.com/p/qa3X1BINUT/