(Insert Cliched Headline About How Well Queen Rocked Cleveland Here)
A few songs into Queen’s dazzling concert in Cleveland this past weekend, Adam Lambert took center stage for a brief speech that included two choice words for anybody still complaining that he’s no Freddie Mercury.
“No s—!”
The former American Idol sensation and current solo star, who has been performing live with Queen since 2012, went on to praise Mercury as a one-of-a-kind rock god, and explained that a big part of the reason he took this job was to help keep the band’s music alive for new generations.
It was a fantastically worded and delivered statement — filled with exactly the correct levels of respect, humility and bravado — and it earned a big roar from the packed crowd at the Q Arena.
It was also rather unnecessary, because throughout the 24-song, two-hour show that surrounded his monologue, Lambert more than proved that he was a great choice for the job.
All by himself, Lambert can’t hit every single note the scientifically proven awesome Mercury did in his prime. (As impressive as their collective performances were, neither could the dozens of famous rock stars who gathered to pay tribute to the late singer at Wembley Stadium back in 1992.) But after instantly commanding the stage with strong takes on early-era Queen rockers like “Stone Cold Crazy,” Lambert really blossomed when taking on more ornate material such as “Killer Queen” and “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
Guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor and their three-piece backing band were equally impressive, singing so well on the choruses of the opening “Hammer to Fall” that at first some cynical audience members (including me) suspected trickery. But don’t worry, they’re real … and they’re spectacular!
The entire show was well presented, from beginning to end. Instead of the typical pre-show playlist of other classic-rock songs playing at half-volume, Queen set the mood and built anticipation from the moment you walked into the arena by having a low-frequency electronic hum rise and fall as you waited for them to arrive, with the dynamics getting more and more intense as the show drew closer.
Post by girldrummer on Jul 26, 2017 10:44:36 GMT -5
I keep using the same superlatives. I've run out! QAL is beyond all words. I posted on the last thread that Adam's GDML floor crawl reminded me of his FYE tour where he did a lot of really sexy stuff. I can NEVER get enough of THAT! Thanks for all the Boston vids. Saw McCartney in concert last night. Fantastic show! I've been lucky this summer to be able to see two classic, epic shows. Paul M. and QAL. Talents for all time.
I don't tend to post much around these parts (I'm never really around, between school and work), and I'm sure there are hundreds of better pictures than mine, but I thought of anyone, you guys might appreciate a couple of my favorites from Boston. ^_^
What a fabulous show!! So grateful I was able to attend.
These are great! Never hesitate to post any picture, we love them all!!!!
What shocks me the most in this video is how quickly he can rise to stand up and turn back....I have had RA since I was about his age, and the thought of being able to do that is mind boggling.... just Wow.....
"In the response of the audience, that is where the power of performance lives".
(Insert Cliched Headline About How Well Queen Rocked Cleveland Here)
A few songs into Queen’s dazzling concert in Cleveland this past weekend, Adam Lambert took center stage for a brief speech that included two choice words for anybody still complaining that he’s no Freddie Mercury.
“No s—!”
The former American Idol sensation and current solo star, who has been performing live with Queen since 2012, went on to praise Mercury as a one-of-a-kind rock god, and explained that a big part of the reason he took this job was to help keep the band’s music alive for new generations.
It was a fantastically worded and delivered statement — filled with exactly the correct levels of respect, humility and bravado — and it earned a big roar from the packed crowd at the Q Arena.
It was also rather unnecessary, because throughout the 24-song, two-hour show that surrounded his monologue, Lambert more than proved that he was a great choice for the job.
All by himself, Lambert can’t hit every single note the scientifically proven awesome Mercury did in his prime. (As impressive as their collective performances were, neither could the dozens of famous rock stars who gathered to pay tribute to the late singer at Wembley Stadium back in 1992.) But after instantly commanding the stage with strong takes on early-era Queen rockers like “Stone Cold Crazy,” Lambert really blossomed when taking on more ornate material such as “Killer Queen” and “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
Guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor and their three-piece backing band were equally impressive, singing so well on the choruses of the opening “Hammer to Fall” that at first some cynical audience members (including me) suspected trickery. But don’t worry, they’re real … and they’re spectacular!
The entire show was well presented, from beginning to end. Instead of the typical pre-show playlist of other classic-rock songs playing at half-volume, Queen set the mood and built anticipation from the moment you walked into the arena by having a low-frequency electronic hum rise and fall as you waited for them to arrive, with the dynamics getting more and more intense as the show drew closer.
(Insert Cliched Headline About How Well Queen Rocked Cleveland Here)
A few songs into Queen’s dazzling concert in Cleveland this past weekend, Adam Lambert took center stage for a brief speech that included two choice words for anybody still complaining that he’s no Freddie Mercury.
“No s—!”
The former American Idol sensation and current solo star, who has been performing live with Queen since 2012, went on to praise Mercury as a one-of-a-kind rock god, and explained that a big part of the reason he took this job was to help keep the band’s music alive for new generations.
It was a fantastically worded and delivered statement — filled with exactly the correct levels of respect, humility and bravado — and it earned a big roar from the packed crowd at the Q Arena.
It was also rather unnecessary, because throughout the 24-song, two-hour show that surrounded his monologue, Lambert more than proved that he was a great choice for the job.
All by himself, Lambert can’t hit every single note the scientifically proven awesome Mercury did in his prime. (As impressive as their collective performances were, neither could the dozens of famous rock stars who gathered to pay tribute to the late singer at Wembley Stadium back in 1992.) But after instantly commanding the stage with strong takes on early-era Queen rockers like “Stone Cold Crazy,” Lambert really blossomed when taking on more ornate material such as “Killer Queen” and “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
Guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor and their three-piece backing band were equally impressive, singing so well on the choruses of the opening “Hammer to Fall” that at first some cynical audience members (including me) suspected trickery. But don’t worry, they’re real … and they’re spectacular!
The entire show was well presented, from beginning to end. Instead of the typical pre-show playlist of other classic-rock songs playing at half-volume, Queen set the mood and built anticipation from the moment you walked into the arena by having a low-frequency electronic hum rise and fall as you waited for them to arrive, with the dynamics getting more and more intense as the show drew closer.