1.21.15 Q+AL Manchester

Awwww, thanks! 

loha ‏@lohablondie.
wow, high quality SM from Manchester youtu.be/shPUQ_76s-U

Here is a recap of a young friend of mine, Alex, who went to the Manchester show. She is from NZ and went to GN here in 2010 (she was 14 at the time) and now lives in the UK.  

It is a long, but good read!


Queen + Adam Lambert 21/01/15 Recap
23 January 2015 at 10:11
Well, I don't really know where to start, but I do know that I need to get down as much of what I can remember of the best bits from last night as possible. This probably won't be anywhere near as long as my several thousand word recount of the Glam Nation concert in 2010 (which is a hilarious read, by the way), possibly because I'm no longer a 14 year old so obsessed that I never spoke about anything other than Adam. Or maybe my writing skills, passion, and attention to detail have simply waned. Either way, THE SHOW WAS SO GOOD AND I WISH EVERYONE COULD HAVE SEEN IT SO I COULD TALK ABOUT EVERY LITTLE DETAIL WITH ALL OF YOU. Anyway...

I had laboriously dressed myself for the occasion, in dark but pretty makeup, black nails, split leg black and white pinstripe jeans reminiscent of Freddie's style, a leopard print top corresponding with a certain Mr Lambert's tastes, a leather jacket with a couple of extra layers underneath, leather gloves, a spiked bracelet, black and gold snake necklace, scarf that I wore to Glam Nation that I've had since I was a kid, and heeled black boots.

Joel and I arrived at the arena at around 5:45. There were already a fair bunch of people there queueing, but thankfully not too many. I would have preferred to have been there earlier but we still got an awesome spot, so no matter. It was really cool looking around seeing all the people wearing Queen merch, though I would have been even happier to have seen just one person that was obviously there for Adam. Note: I have an insane amount of respect for Queen, having grown up on and loved several of their songs, so I was by no means only there to see Adam, it's just fair to say that I would not have been anywhere near as keen to go were it not for him.

When we got inside, it was time to line up once again for one of the six standing zone entrances. We were pretty close to the front. We could see both the merch stand and the big billboard advertising Michael McIntyre shows in October (note to self: Michael McIntyre is doing shows in Manchester in October) and though I wanted a t shirt, I also wanted a programme and only had enough money for one, so I decided to go with the programme and get one after the show as I knew I could get all my favourite T shirt designs on the Queen site anyway. As it turned out, we had to exchange our tickets for wristbands, but were told we could get tickets back as souvenirs at the end of the show. I know it's statistically very unlikely that the tickets we did get back were actually ours, the ones we came with, but I choose to believe. It was great being at the front of the line and having people show up that had tickets but no wristband and seeing them get pointed all the way to the back of the line. Mentally, I was all, YEAH, BACK OF THE LINE, BITCHES, but on the outside my face remained a mask of neutrality. Okay, I was visibly gleeful, but the mask of neutrality thing is funny.

The line started moving, and we were finally descending painfully slowly into the arena as people carefully proceeded down the stairs. I could see there was already an initial row of people directly up against the barricades - I'm assuming they were those who had paid extra for the VIP access that gets you a front row spot. People were starting to flock towards the front to form a second row, with the poor arena employees trying to stop people from running. The trip down the stairs was taking forever, and I just wanted to get down there and nab one of those front spots. Not the very front, but in front of the platform that protruded into the crowd, as A) it was kind of a compromise between me wanting to be all the way at the front and Joel wanting to be all the way at the back, and B) it was a recommended spot by my NZGlitterTribe friends who had already attended the show and said it was great to be there because then Adam was never behind you.

We got to the bottom of the stairs, and the PAIR OF PEOPLE IN FRONT OF US TOOK FOREVER TO POUR THEIR DRINKS INTO PLASTIC CUPS OH MY GOD (it was mandatory to do this if you had a drink in a bottle). I made a noise of exasperation and waved my arms in a "COME ONNNNNN" fashion, and finally we were on the arena floor! At a sensible yet swift pace, we proceeded to the ring of people surrounding the centre platform, and in my haste I didn't notice that there was (what I can only assume was) a speed bump on the ground, and I tripped. Thankfully, I was too excited to care that I'd already made a prat of myself in public, and thanks to Joel's hand keeping me vaguely in place, I flailed but did not fall.

We made it to the platform just after the second row of people had formed, so we were the third. Not bad; we could see pretty much the whole stage and I knew that when Adam came out to sing on this mini stage, he'd be hella close. Having already seen several clips of other performances of this show, I said to Joel, "Brian May's gonna come out and do a solo on this bit!" I was correct, of course, but we'll go into that later. Joel pointed out that the crown inside the Q of the Queen design on the giant curtain looked kind of like a creepy guy with a moustache. Once you saw it, there was no unseeing it. The next hour and a half or so wasn't particularly eventful. Joel rested his head on my shoulder and asked if it was time to go home a lot, and I was surprised to see how slowly the arena filled with people trickling in, even when we were close to the show start time, but still the excitement in the air was tangible. I knew there was no support act.

The time drew near, and cheering and clapping started as though people were trying to encourage the band to stop being shy and come out already. This was encouraged by what appeared to be someone poking the curtain from behind, getting the crowd more excited with each consequential ripple. I like to imagine that it was Brian, giggling to himself. Finally the annoying background instrumental music stopped and was replaced by long, loud, sort of deep boat horn like noises (??). The lights dimmed and everyone lost their shit. Then the curtain was gone and Queen were there and Adam was there with his back to the crowd and his fist in the air and everyone lost their shit even more, myself included. Especially myself.

It was completely surreal, after four years of being busy with things other than glambertism, yet seeing my old fan friends remain very much in the loop and attending and sharing videos of the shows themselves, and then watching him on actual UK TV on New Years Eve, to see Adam in front of me once again, and to witness this spectacular show launch into action as the chords of One Vision began and Adam's familiar vocals started to ring out. His first outfit of the night was a black and gold leather phenomenon, with tight pants and round black shades. A giant smile plastered itself onto my face and didn't go away all night, and upon seeing this hero of mine in the flesh again after so long, I was more or less euphoric. Adam was every part a true rock star and I didn't know whether to look at Brian or at him. At some point in that song the shades came off, though I didn't even notice when.

Another One Bites The Dust is one that's really grown on me lately, and I was so happy when it started. Adam absolutely nailed the vocal bit I love towards the end of the song, and was so confident in his stage presence! I wish I could have known what all the people seeing this performance for the first time (like, hadn't seen the NYE show or videos of other shows) thought. And Fat Bottomed Girls just had that awesome feel to it that it always does because of the tune, but even better because it was live and Adam and the whole crowd was singing it.

Unlike for Glam Nation, I had not memorised the exact set list and order of the songs, so I don't actually remember what came next. The real next highlight for me was after the first costume change, when Adam donned some spiky shoulder sleeve things with tassels on the arms (remind your of the glam nation purple coat, anyone?) and it was time for one of my favourite Queen songs: Don't Stop Me Now. I sang along with every word, and absolutely died of happiness for one woman in the ultimate VIP seating section (actually on the stage off to the side) when Adam strutted over and I think took her hand and sang directly to her. I "aww!"ed and it made me so happy to see that she was wearing one of the early For Your Entertainment shirts from Adam's site. It made me happy to know that not everyone was there just to see Queen, I only wished I could have somehow told him I was there too. Like hey, Adam, that crying mess you met in New Zealand four years ago and that you chose with her friend Rosie to win the Glam It Up video competition is here in the UK watching you sing in her home country! Pretty sure Adam also took a selfie on that woman's phone.

When crew members put the fancy couch thing on the platform we were in front of, I couldn't believe it as I knew the fabulous draping himself over the chair was part of the show, just not that it happened on the small middle stage we were so close to. Killer Queen was excellent, but probably my favourite part was when Adam had a little difficulty flashing open the gold handheld fan, having to shake it a few times with a "fuck!" thrown in there that made everyone laugh as it was clear that this was not planned. His stupid happy laughing grin when he did manage it would be enough to make anyone smile. Watch the video - it's some seriously endearing shit. And we were super close. >w

On to Brian May, I was pretty awestruck to be in the presence of such a legend. Man can that man play guitar. His "duet" with Freddie of Love Of My Life was emotional to say the least. And I love how much he embraces the selfie stick. I doubt you can see me clearly in the 360 degree video of the crowd he used it to make, but I'm hopeful. In his later solo, he was so close to us! Also, Roger Taylor, yo! (And his son Rufus mmmhmm~) mad drum skills. And the drum battle with his son was epic. Not much I can say really other than that I was mildly at a loss for words because HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE THAT CO-ORDINATED?!

I believe it was after the drum part that Under Pressure began, and there was a point towards the beginning that I am absolutely convinced that Adam sang directly at me after I waved at him. Like he did that pointing, "I'm acknowledging you, member of the crowd!" thing at me. So happy we had a spot that meant he was close enough to see me.

At some point, the guy who was in the second row directly in front of me decided he was going to leave the inner circle, as his legs were going. So I got his spot! He actually smiled at me and said "get in there!" It was so nice of him to make sure it was me that got his spot, he must have known I was dying to get in there, and it was just a really nice feeling knowing we both were really enjoying the concert. I was as close to the stage now as I was in 2010, with an even better view. I will forever appreciate that guy and his tired legs.

I love Somebody To Love anyway, but just everything about it was brilliant at the show! Of course it was introduced by Adam asking who in the crowd was in love, then saying he wasn't. It was so cute when the crowd went "awwwwww." Then it was "how about we make a deal, by the end of the night, we find me... somebody to love." Hehehe. And at some point later on, I can't remember what it was but something made him say "hey! I found somebody to love!" after which he just went "wow, this is corny as shit" which again made everyone laugh. x3 This was proceeded by him getting Brian to take the mic away from him "because he was talking shit" and that was when Brian said "so what do you think of the new guy?" and as a fan I was SO PROUD at the cheering that followed! I'm so happy Adam is finally getting some exposure here in the UK.

ALSO I JUST REMEMBERED HOW AWESOME STONE COLD CRAZY WAS AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

During the gimme your love sing along, right towards the end, he came out onto the middle platform again and I'm sure looked me in the eyes again! I had the hugest smile on my face. And when he came out to touch everyone's hands that were at the front of the barricades during Radio Gaga (in which I loved how everyone was doing the clapping thing), I wasn't fortunate enough to have him look right at me and properly shake my hand like he did some others, but I touched him as he went past! My black leather glove and his red one shared a moment. And I also touched his wrist. Right on the skin. This was before the glove as he was moving away and it was like one of those dramatic movie moments where hands slip away from each other. Except more awesome.

Bohemian Rhapsody was Bohemian Rhapsody. Adam began it, video footage of Freddie was used, everyone sang along to the weird parts (and I say weird in the fondest way possible), sang along to all of it actually, and the four queen faces were flashing and there were lights and then BAM Brian's guitar came back in doing the bit that I'd had stuck in my head all day and everyone down the front was jumping with their hands in the air and it's my favourite part of the song and aaaaaaah.

The softer part of the show began and I think it was during Save Me that Adam got everyone to get their phone lights out and sway them and I looked around and it was so pretty and so wonderful to see them all and the lights of the show themselves were amazing but just the fact that the whole giant crowd was enjoying the same thing, wow. At some point during that song, I think, Adam came out onto the platform and was standing side-on to us, and he was holding the mic up to his mouth in a certain way and there was this moment where I just saw his eye of horus tattoo really clearly and it was a really special moment for me. It reminded me of when I first became a fan and that even though he has more tattoos and different hair and dress style and music style now, this is still the same Adam Lambert that I love. It was amazing to see that same tattoo on that same man's wrist here in Manchester when it feels like forever ago he first captivated me when I still lived in New Zealand.

Who Wants To Live Forever was absolutely mesmerizing. I think, vocally, it was my favourite performance of Adam's in the entire show and I was just completely awestruck and so grateful that we had such an amazing spot to watch him sing from. It was the most beautiful, raw thing - I'm not even speaking as a biased fan, just watch a video of him singing that song and it'll be apparent what exactly I mean. It was touching and almost intimidating at the same time.

I was a little sad when We Will Rock You started, because though I love that song, I knew it meant the show was almost over. Adam's crown of his last costume change was much sparkly-er than expected. The clapping (and singing) along was awesome, and when I looked around it was a great sight to see the whole crowd doing it. In We Are The Champions of course everyone swayed, and the giant burst of gold confetti at the end was the perfect finish. I caught a piece in mid-air and of course it is now special to me.

After the show I overheard such glorious things as "worth every penny" and "they need to get back in the recording studio!"

To conclude, Queen were amazing, Adam was amazing, I think I'm gonna have to go to the Liverpool and Sheffield shows around my birthday next month, and it was totally worth wearing heels for the view.