marisa · @marisa_965
22nd Jan 2015 from TwitLonger
www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sk6iksThis amazing fan from Scotland wrote two recaps, and they are both AWESOME. First one is a recap of the Newcastle show; second, Manchester.
NEWCASTLE
"I'm on the train home so I thought I'd use the time to reflect on the epic Newcastle show.
- As you know, there were severe weather warnings, so I was anxious that trains would get cancelled. Fortunately, mid afternoon, I spilled boiling water over one of my arms and at that moment I knew I was going to make it. The terrible thing had already happened and this meant the journey was going to be fine - and it was
The scarring was worth it.
- When I arrived at my hotel, the nice receptionist asked my why I was visiting. When I told her Queen & Adam Lambert, he said that everybody checking in today was going too - is Adam Lambert any good? I said, ' you don't really want to ask me that because there's a queue behind me and there'll be a riot by the time I finish'. I think he was lucky that I was able to exert that degree of control. By the time I go to the concert, I'd moved into full Adamstan mode.
- As I walked to the venue, I walked under 4 bridges over the Tyne river. It was lovely. It was also really quiet. Where is everyone?
- They were all in a massive queue on the other side of the venue. They must have been frozen. Luckily, I'd splashed out on a VIP ticket, swanned in, picked up my pack and found my - oh my God - my seat!!!!!!!!! I'm just next to one of the high side platforms on the right hand side. I have a great view of the stage, the walkway, everything. I have to text everyone I know to tell them about MY SEAT. I'm sure they were very happy for me.
- Unfortunately for the people on my right hand side, I had the last good view in my row. Their view was blocked by equipment and the platform. They were not happy. I tried to cheer them up with stories of Adam's fabulousness but it wasn't cutting the mustard. They also thought Marc Martel would be a better fit. So maybe it was karma.
- People on my left hand side were party people and super excited to see the show. The wife was in lust with Adam and spent quite a bit of the concert squeezing my injured arm shouting 'He's gorgeous', 'Over here, Adam' and 'Hello Baby!!!'. They were big Queen fans and knew all the words to all the songs. I thought the guy would die of happiness when they did Tie your Mother Down and Stone Cold Crazy.
- The show was just great. The crowd was loud and enthusiastic. Adam remembered were he was - geographically speaking. Brian led us in a rendition of Fog on the Tyne which is really the Geordie Anthem. I might have shed a tear at that point. The glitter ball and laser show was glorious. The only distraction was that the live screen was out of sync with the actual music. It didn't matter to me because I could see every wrinkle on their faces, but it might have been a bit odd from a distance.
- And then Adam sang 'Save Me' on the platform just above me. It was just beautiful. His voice, his voice. He did that thing where everyone thinks he has looked at them directly and I thought maybe I should have spent more that 30 seconds of primping. He must be wondering why I seem to have been unable to even find a hairbrush. In reality, he was probably thinking, 'why are the 4 people on my right looking so grumpy and sitting down?'
- Another great thing about MY SEAT was that you could see the band entering and exiting the stage from backstage. Adam had his minder with him - the silver haired guy whose name I've forgotten. At the end of the show, before the encore, Adam waited for Brian to come off stage and high fived and hugged him, with the world's biggest grin. The woman next to me clutched my arm again and said 'awwww'. I clutched her back.
- From my seat, you could also see just how hard the crew work. It takes a village and all that. But it's a really professional village.
- I still remain amazed that Brian and Roger have the physical stamina for this show. It is full on for the 2 plus hours. Incredible really.
- On my way out, the crowd was loud in their appreciation of the show. As I was queuing, someone said (insert Geordie accent) 'Well, you couldn't have asked for more than that, man!'. His companion said morosely, ' Yes I know, I tried. But all the tickets to the other shows are sold out'. Welcome to the fandom mister. It's be prepared or be disappointed."
MANCHESTER
Reflections from the road trip.
1. The train from Leeds to Manchester was full of Queen fans - many of whom appeared to be friends through long established Queen fandoms. These were dedicated fans - many of whom had already bought their tickets to the Freddie party in Montreux in the autumn. The couple behind me had been to the Leeds show and were reading out a variety of positive online comments. When we arrived at Halifax, they were hailed by folk getting onto the train. Had last night's concert been any good? 'No' (sad face and long pause). 'It was bloody fantastic!' The group cheered
2. I spend the afternoon doing all the things I haven't had time for during my road trip including reassuring my parents that I was still alive. My mother remains puzzled that I would want to see the same show if they sing the same songs every time. However, she has kept every newspaper review for me that she has come across. It's things like that that remind you that your parents love you no matter how daft they think you are.
3. My son texts me to thank me for taking him and his girlfriend to the Leeds show. They loved it and still find themselves bursting into Queen songs at random moments during the day. He tells me that his face still hurts from smiling. I know what he means. And I think we smile for all sorts of reasons. There's the inherent joyousness of the show and of Adam himself. There's the thread of ludicrousness that runs through it and hints at Spinal Tap (I mean this as a compliment). There is the admiration for their collective mad skills and their determination to give us a SHOW. And there's the happiness that the music lives on and that we are here to witness it. 5 shows on, I'm only sorry that I only have 2 left to go.
4. My accommodation has a washer/dryer - hurrah!
5. The Manchester Arena is huge. I mean huge. When I exit my accommodation I don't need to ask which way to go because the people in the streets are moving in one direction only. Pied Piper like I follow them.
6. I've had all sorts of seat locations on this tour of British arenas. My London seat was high up in the Gods with a great view over the arena floor. Watching all those people moving in sync to Radio GaGa was actually pretty moving. QAL have full mastery over their subjects. The Leeds seat was unexpectedly great because of the arena design. My Row R seat turned out to be second row with the thrust just below us and I got to see Killer Queen close up.
7. I know you already know this, but Adam is one of those people who is beautiful from every angle, and you find yourself a bit in awe of that. I can't imagine many gatherings where the room wouldn't fall silent as he entered. In Manchester, I was for the first time seated both directly opposite the stage and at some distance. From there you could see over the whole arena and experience the full audio visuals. The laser show really is spectacular.
8. At Manchester I suddenly realised that I hadn't heard any 'well I love Queen but I don't know about this Adam Lambert chap' voices. I think the tide has genuinely turned in the UK. The reviews and the voices of those who have attended have been so strong that as you enter the arena you can feel the hyper anticipation in the crowd. They are ready to be wowed. And wowed they are! I can tell you that listening to 20,000 plus people singing along, both sends shivers up your spine and puts joy in your heart. No wonder Brian looks like he could cry and would be happy if he never had to leave the stage.
9. I have seen discussions about the length of Brian's solo. I personally enjoy it because a) I know that it makes him happy and that's good enough for me b) I enjoy that he has no f*cks to give. He knows that some people find it too long but he is playing to the die hard Queen fans and anyone else can f*ck off and get a drink c) it seems to me to be no bad thing for people to miss Adam. I think it reminds them of how he owns the stage.
10. I still feel I may spontaneously combust when I hear Adam sing Save Me. The a capella part is so beautiful I could cry. I'd happily listen to all of it done that way. It really is the saddest song in the world. An anthem to bereft people everywhere.
11. The concert whizzes by. Bohemian Rapsody is greeted with almost religious fervour from the crowd and they erupt when QAL return to do the encore. Having been to the Vegas shows where the crowd was really enthusiastic, it's hard to describe how this is qualitatively different - much more intense. Part of it is the British love affair with Queen. We love the bombastic, campy nature of them. They are National Treasures entwined into our collective psyche. But a large part of it is our gratitude that Adam has taken such good care of the Queen legacy and has added to it. These guys are going out with a bang and not a whimper. I'm looking forward to new Adam music but I'll be forever grateful for the opportunity to see him breathe new life into live Queen.
12. Naturally, with Adam being the bad weather god, this trip has covered every kind of miserable climactic conditions. So far I've returned from concerts wet like a drowned rat, as a living Frosty the Snowman and buffeted from high winds. Fascinatingly, everyone emerges from the concerts on such a high, no one seems to mind. Our grinning faces keep us warm."
The scarring was worth it.