8.10.14 Off to Korea

I had made some comments about DDD, Ticketmaster reviews, and Queenzone in the top 10 thread under Vocal Masterclass and Holst thought I had some interesting tidbits about the Ticketmaster reviews and suggested I bring them over to the main thread.

I also went through all the low rated reviews (1-3 stars) on Ticketmaster. Surprisingly, many of them didn't like the show but it wasn't always because of Adam. It was either they didn't like the setlist, thought the solos were too long, issues with the venue, technical difficulties, etc. There were even a couple of low rated reviewers who loved the show and I think they just put the wrong ratings. I think I saw only about 8-10 reviews where the person just really didn't like Adam at all (there were 872 reviews total, 4.8/5.0 stars). When I really think about, the positive response is way more than I ever expected. To actually have skeptical die-hard Queen fans converted and now singing Adam's praises.

Here's the entire post:

adamtopia.com/post/531342

Whoa!  Dr.. Bri has no fucks to give!  Hammer down.

My QAL adventures (July 2014) – Part 2 of my 4-part show recap

Merriweather (7/20)- Despite living 30 min from Merriweather I had not been there for a concert before, but had been looking forward to this show since March when we got fanclub presale tickets. We had 7 standing GA seats for my two sons (mid-late 20s), my DIL, my son’s girlfriend, and my best girlfriend (who has attended two GNT shows and a few other local Adam shows with me, thinks Adam is sexy and has a great voice, but not obsessed like me). My husband had good pavilion seats with a few of his female friends (who all did not want to stand, but turned out they stood for nearly all of the show anyway!).

We had early dinner/drinks at the house before driving to the show. We went the back way to Merriweather, missed traffic, got there by 5:30 in time for a good position in line before the doors opened, but did not anticipate the huge long lines in the woods. My kids go to MPP all the time and said they had never seen so many people lined up. Anyway, we took a group pic by the trucks, chatted in line, enjoyed beautiful weather for July in DC, and made our way to GA. Once the doors opened the line went fast enough. I ran into ‘rihannsu’ inside and regret that I could not have talked longer, but we were running to get good seats on the left front. And we had a great position, about 3 rows back where we could see both the stage and the short catwalk very well. We were surrounded by a really diverse crowd, loud Queen fans on the right, young (30s) male Adam fans who had never seen him live before, and the anticipation in the crowd was really electric on the floor. I would have thought MPP would be more laid back, outdoorsy, but no --people were in an ‘up’ mood, smoking pot in the front, and having a wonderful summer evening.

Anyway, the curtain going up and Adam coming out was so exciting. Everyone was loud, cheering, in awe, and this never let up during the entire show, there was some pushing on the floor but nothing unusual (only complaint was a person in front of us taking pics/video with an IPAD, come on, that is a little large to have up high in everyone’s view). We were also behind someone with a large badger (cardboard poster) – maybe 3 ft wide by 2 ft high. Fortunately, he did not raise it too often during the show, usually just when he thought Brian May would see it. Whenever I would turn around the entire pavilion was standing, cheering, and rocking out. I am sure you have heard Brian May remark about this show, and to be upfront I felt just like the first time standing on the floor in London 2 years ago. The anticipation and curtain going up is exhilarating, and you know you have to do it again and again if you can. The fog, Adam, the lights, Adam, the band, Adam , well it mostly is about Adam but I try to enjoy the experience for what it is and can watch videos later to see details of what is missed.

My favorite moments were no one song in particular, but for 2+ hrs I felt like I was back in the 70s at a rock concert with pot in the air and everyone enjoying the event. I could hear my DIL singing every word of every song, she grew up in Asheville NC with her parents playing Queen all the time and she knows all of their music. She was sad they did not play ‘the Bicycle song’. My other son/girlfriend had gone to QueenExtravaganza in DC to familiarize themselves with the songs about a month before the concert; they were surprised that Adam was relatively sedately dressed, apparently they expected a feather boa and more over the top outfits (ah, shades of GNT come to mind). My girlfriend (who plays guitar) said the musicianship was awesome and Adam was sexy as ever. My spouse and his friends loved the entire show as well, the Queen fans to the right kept yelling ‘unbelievable’!! I asked the young guy seeing Adam for the first time what he thought after the show – he had 1 word: ‘phenomenal’.

It is safe to say the crowd was blown away, good times were had by all and memories for my kids that they got to see some of the original Queen members live. We grabbed some confetti and everyone raved about the show and thanked us for taking them. (and yes, leaving there traffic was a bear). Also, post MSG, my husband made a playlist of Queen songs and played them at the MPP pre-party and in the car – another ‘out of character’ thing. I think he liked the shows!

Atlantic City (7/26)

I know that when Adam is touring I will try to attend at least a few shows, even if on my own. I view it as ‘me time’ and a pilgrimage of sort to go to a show on my own. I like going on my own schedule, doing what I want, and being in the zone of “all things Adam” – my total affection and obsession can just play out and you don’t need to be present for anyone you are with. The drive from Maryland to AC was long (traffic), but I had Adam’s albums and for I also grabbed George Michaels’ Faith cd and played that a few times too. I guess the reviews about Adam looking like GM put that in my head, but I love the Faith album and had not listened to it in quite some time. Would love to hear Adam sing some of those songs.

I had not been to AC for a few years, and have to agree with the ‘seedy’ comment made in an earlier post, not much would make me want to go back there except a concert. I walked the Boardwalk in my 2012 QAL t-shirt, which led strangers to ask questions about that tour, which people in US do not typically know about. I met a nice family who had come in from Philly, where the man had seen Queen in 1976 (I think he said) and brought their teenage son. Very diverse crowd, I would say more of an Adam crowd from the noise at the concert. Adam seemed to get the loudest cheers, and as others have said, when he comes back to the stage the energy goes up, it is palpable. You could see people craning to see what he is going to come our wearing next and laughing at Killer Queen.

Over the shows I began to really enjoy the first part of the set, Queen songs that I was not as familiar with. Loved it all and Adam’s voice, especially Love Kills and WWTLF. Those are vocal highlights for me and the disco ball/lighting effects create a perfect background to that song. [By the way he seemed to have on more black eyeliner than I think he did at other shows, it came all the way the upper inner eye area.]

I had a very good seat on the aisle closest to the stage and just a few rows up from the floor- I could see all the action with the sound crew, Adam coming and going up the back stairs, and Adam motioning to the sound guy. The latter did not bother me as much as it did in Philly. I thought Adam looked very happy and his voice was strong, great as ever, and he was fully at ease.

I was standing (as were a few others) in the dippy section that Adam called out for sitting during the call and response. But when he came out to the elevated stairs on the right, I was standing closest to him and he looked directly at me, you know the look- where you connect for a few seconds as he is looking directly at you and you acknowledge each other. This has happened to me before at the 930 club benefit and GNT shows, when you know he really looks at the crowd in an intense way and connects with people. It was obvious he was not giving up until that section of people stood up. Was pleased that my section eventually stood, I have no idea what is up with people other than perhaps they have not been to a concert before or drank too much, but Adam did not let up until that section stood the ‘fu-k’ up . They were enjoying the show, just in a very internal way I guess.

This show was fun for me, I got to see the last US show, take in the show once more solo, and of course another chance to buy yet another t-shirt. I will say that people were raving after the show- calling if perfect from start to end, and every other accolade you have read about. And now that a few weeks have gone by I have pics, memories and videos (thanks to those that post them) until the next time I can see Adam live. It is true that the more shows you go to, the more you want (no need) to go to again!

Also posted these in MPP and AC concert threads. thanks for reading!