8.4.17 QAL Dallas Concert
Aug 3, 2017 23:18:33 GMT -5
Post by tinafea on Aug 3, 2017 23:18:33 GMT -5
QAL Dallas Concert Links
VENUE: American Airlines Center
WORLD CLOCK: link
STREAMERS: mixlr.com/mardiblitz01/ mixlr.com/dr_dana/ mixlr.com/adamlambertnation/
Nashville Reviews
Queen + Adam Lambert rock Nashville — and celebrate Freddie Mercury
Dave Paulson, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee Published 12:31 a.m. CT Aug. 3, 2017
A Queen + Adam Lambert concert is a joyous, two-hour thrill ride of rock, but at no point does its audience forget who's not a part of it.
That would be the late Freddie Mercury, the band's larger-than-life lead singer. And his mythical status has grown exponentially in the 26 years since his death.
At the same time, Mercury was a constant presence at the band's Wednesday night concert at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. Every beat, every massive chord strummed and every high note hit by Lambert (and those in the packed house) was a celebration of Mercury — perhaps the greatest frontman rock 'n' roll will ever know.
It was also a celebration of two of the band's surviving members: guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor, both of whom were crucial architects of the band's sound and songs. Queen may never be the same, but on Wednesday, these two made a strong case that they deserve to keep sharing the stage — and sharing an evening with the fans who've been with them for decades.
“I'm very grateful to be here, and I'm very grateful that you all turned up,” May said as he took a seat at the end of the stage catwalk.
“But I'm also grateful that I get this moment, because we come in and be heroes, or whatever, but I get to be down here and talk to you like a human being. And I love that. ... I don't take anything for granted these days. For four young boys, as we first came to this country about 40 years ago, it's a miracle that we are here right now.”
He followed that sentiment up with an acoustic “Love of My Life,” encouraging the room to sing along. For the final lines, he played guitar as a video of Mercury singing played on the screens behind him. The crowd roared, and after May strummed the final chord, he quickly wiped away a few tears.
Still, tender moments were rare at Wednesday’s show, which was about as boisterous as arena rock gets. The Queen faithful wouldn't have it any other way.
That element is chiefly due to Lambert, who’s been known for his bravado and staggering vocal range ever since he burst out of “American Idol” in 2009.
Lambert doesn't try to emulate Mercury, and that's for everyone's benefit. He’s also clearly found a real rapport with his veteran bandmates. You see it when he's locking eyes and trading vocals with Taylor on “Under Pressure,” or bounding down the catwalk (shaped like a guitar neck) with May during one of his epic solos.
he guitarist got to remind the crowd that Mercury wasn't the only member of Queen with a flamboyant streak. Nashville howled when he emerged from beneath the stage in a massive cloud of fog to play his solo in “Bohemian Rhapsody” — decked out in a shimmering silver cape.
But Lambert wasn’t outdone. He re-emerged for the encore wearing a crown (and maybe a bit of a smirk) to sing “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.” Those two songs have rattled the stands of Bridgestone for hundreds of Predators games, but Wednesday night was a win for everyone under that roof — on stage and off.
Link To Article and Photos: www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/08/03/concert-review-queen-with-adam-lambert-bridgestone-arena/530370001/
Queen + Adam Lambert Have a Ball at Bridgestone Arena
Latest incarnation of the iconic rock group respects its legacy
PHOTO BY ERIC ENGLAND
The rain started to mist on The Spin and the rest of the concertgoers swelling into Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday for Queen + Adam Lambert, but nobody seemed to mind. The woman at the concessions register, who we guessed to be in her twenties, commented that soundcheck had sounded great. “I didn’t realize they sang all those songs!” she remarked incredulously. We wondered if she knew that this was a newer incarnation of the band, carrying on without bassist John Deacon and with Adam Lambert taking on the role of late frontman Freddie Mercury. We knew a lot about what to expect — Lambert being reverent to the legacy while putting his own spin on the performance — but we weren't sure how it was going to land with us emotionally. We've been fans since the days of the cassette Walkman, and Queen is something ingrained deep in our psyche. How can the best presentation even begin to compete with those memories? It can't, and that's why it was smart of Lambert and the remaining members of Queen to create a sensation that's very familiar, but also very much their own.
Somebody must have told the band that Nashville isn’t very good at driving in the rain, because they started nearly 40 minutes late. The massive LED screens lit up to display the giant robot from the cover of 1977's News of the World and the familiar strains of “We Will Rock You" came roaring out of the P.A. — except unlike most of the times folks have heard it inside the arena, at least half of the original band was there to perform it. It was only a teaser, though: Brian May, looking every bit the legendary guitar wizard he is with flowing white locks and his lean, agile frame draped in black, pulled a switcheroo and played the opening riff from “Hammer To Fall.” This was Adam Lambert’s first chance to win over the crowd, and he didn't waste no time at all: In a black leather vest-and-pants combo, paired with sparkling red shoes that looked straight from the costume department of a production ofThe Wizard of Oz, he prowled and preened and landed every note.
“You’re watching legends here tonight,” Lambert said a little later. “I know what some of you are thinking — you’re looking at me and thinking, ‘he’s no Freddie Mercury’, " pausing for effect before he deadpanned, “No shit.”
He explained that he was a fan, just like us, and before things could get too somber, he said, “I’m just up here in the gayest suit you’ve ever seen and a sensible hiking boot.” (When considering anything related to Freddie Mercury, sartorial choices always demand comment. Lambert's sparkly fuschia suit was out of this world, and his glittery platform boots were ravishing and not in the slightest bit sensible.) Lambert thanked the audience for letting him sing these songs and praised Mercury’s skills as a singer, composer and fashionista — as well as because “he did whatever the fuck he wanted to.”
Lambert dominated the stage during “Killer Queen” and “Another One Bites the Dust,” but always showed complete reverence to Taylor and particularly May, being in closer proximity to the latter. They shared a similar chemistry to what May had with Mercury: Lambert played the ultimate entertainer, using every square inch of the stage and giving his all to get a rise from the crowd, while May would saunter down the ramp, playing one of his heroic solos with a casual ease that we're lucky if we can muster for a walk down the street. Taylor, who always had that sexy fallen angel look with his long, blonde hair, has also aged sublimely into an elder statesman of rock. He took the mic for the perennial fan favorite “I’m in Love With My Car,” segueing into the swampy “Get Down Make Love,” which had Lambert slithering across the stage while a cartoon version of a red light district unfolded on the screen behind him.
Lambert's own recent single “Two Fux” was received politely by some and used as good timing for a beer run by others. Those who did leave scrambled back to their seats for “Don’t Stop Me Now.” We got stuck in the bathroom line during “Bicycle Race,” but everyone in earshot was singing along at the top of their lungs — even the queues at a Queen show can become a festive occasion.
Following the crowd-pleaser "I Want It All," May took a seat on a stool.
“I don’t take anything for granted these days,” he said. “For four young boys who came here 40 years ago, it’s a miracle. This is the music capital of the world.”
We were a little concerned that he might start playing “The Miracle,” the title track from what might be the least-loved Queen LP, but we needn't have worried. Instead, he picked the gorgeous opening notes of A Night at the Opera’s “Love of My Life,” one of the most poignant entries in Queen's vast catalog, and he encouraged us to sing along, which we would've done out of habit anyway. On their own, the lines “When I grow older / I will be there at your side / To remind you how I still love you” moved many to tears, but the floodgates opened as footage of Mercury, which looked to us like it was from the mid-’80s, appeared on the screen and joined in. For a split second, we almost believed he was there, and our fellow audience members must have felt the same: The cheers for that moment were the loudest all night.
The spell was broken when Lambert — dressed in what we'd call a glam Beetlejuice suit — returned to the stage, working us into a frenzy with “Somebody to Love” (while May used a selfie stick to capture a panoramic view of us singing along). If anyone walked in doubting that Lambert could handle Mercury’s vocal gymnastics, he stuck landing after landing to prove them wrong, taking on everything from indelible mega-hits — “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Under Pressure” (with Taylor handling David Bowie’s part) and “I Want To Break Free” — to catalog classics like "Stone Cold Crazy" to a breathtaking rendition of the power ballad "Who Wants to Live Forever" (because if there's anything a power ballad should be, it's breathtaking.)
The show's material was a perfect balance of the anthemic and the heartrending, all the way through "Radio Ga Ga" and the set-closing monster everyone was waiting for: “Bohemian Rhapsody.” True to the way Queen performed it throughout their touring career, the band played the first third of the song before the stage went dark, and film of the group singing the operatic second act filled the screen. Being in the middle of a crowd of thousands singing every “Galileo” in unison was a kind of magic we could never get from listening to the record alone (that experience is its own kind of magic, of course). When the band returned to finish the song, every head in the room was banging. Wayne and Garth would be proud.
Everyone near us seemed to be on pins and needles waiting for the encore. After a few minutes, Lambert walked back out, resplendent in an outfit that paid homage to Mercury again: silver-on-silver with a matching crown. The group took this opportunity to finish “We Will Rock You," paired with “We are the Champions” and, as Queen has done historically, took their final bows to their 1974 recording of “God Save the Queen.”
We'd have stayed as long as they wanted to keep playing. We didn't get to hear “Tie Your Mother Down,” “The Show Must Go On,” “Flash,” “Seven Seas of Rhye,” “You’re My Best Friend” or “Now I’m Here." But all that means is that we have something to look forward to for next time.
LINK TO ARTICLE AND SLIDESHOW: www.nashvillescene.com/music/spin/article/20971430/queen-adam-lambert-have-a-ball-at-bridgestone-arena
New York Review
Review: Adam Lambert and Queen irresistible at New York's Barclays Center
www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/music/review-adam-lambert-and-queen-irresistible-at-new-york-s-barclays-center/article/499090
"Brooklyn - Adam Lambert and classic rock band Queen gave the Barclays Center in Brooklyn a concert that will be talked about for many years to come.
When the performers (Queen and Lambert) took the stage, they were greeted with a huge New York welcome, since everybody was well aware that Queen is rock royalty, and rightfully so. They teased the crowd with a snippet of "We Will Rock You," which energized the mood of the venue. It was followed by such rocking numbers as "Hammer to Fall" and "Stone Cold Crazy," before they tackled the liberating "Another One Bites the Dust," and the perennial Queen fan-favorite, "Fat Bottomed Girls." Adam Lambert's voice got even more powerful as the night progressed.
They showed major charisma on "Killer Queen," and the Grammy-nominated pop star dedicated his latest single "Two Fux," to Freddie Mercury. "Are you guys having fun?" Lambert asked, and the answer was a resounding "yes." "I've got to take a second to give a big thank you to Brian May and Roger Taylor. Do you guys realize that you're watching legends plays?"
To this day, Lambert acknowledged that he still has to pinch himself about performing with Queen, despite being on tour with them for the past six years. "Is this real life, or is it fantasy?" he inquired. Lambert even poked fun at himself about not being "Freddie Mercury," which he noted must be running in the minds of many listeners. "No shit," he admitted. "I do love Freddie Mercury!"
Lambert's single "Two Fux" described the late Queen front-man the best. "If you didn't like Freddie, he didn't give two fux," Lambert stated. "If anybody gave him shit about anything, he didn't care. He was an absolute rock-star!" he exclaimed.
They continued with "Don't Stop Me Now" and "Bicycle Race," where Lambert rode a bike on stage, which was a real treat. Roger Taylor sang lead on "I'm in Love With My Car," featuring his husky voice.
The variety in their set got so much better with such remarkable hits as "I Want It All," "Somebody to Love," "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and "Under Pressure." After the infectious "Radio Ga Ga," they concluded their sensational set with "Bohemian Rhapsody." Their encore was comprised of two of the biggest rock powerhouse tunes in musical history, "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions," where they did a superb job on both.
The Verdict
Overall, Adam Lambert's goal was to bring these classic rock songs to life with Queen, and it is safe to say that not only did he accomplish that difficult task, but he excelled in it. Besides, he proved to be a big fan of Queen himself, with a "really expensive seat" on the stage level, where he rightfully belongs. He sounded incredible, and the stage deserved to be his tonight, and every night they are on tour. Lambert is a true song stylist that would have made Freddie Mercury proud. Brian May and Roger Taylor were guitar and drum masters in their own right. Their live show at the Barclays Center was simply irresistible.
QAL 2017 Tour Schedule
North American Tour
June 24th Las Vegas, NV - T-Mobile Arena
June 26th Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
June 27th Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
June 29th San Jose, CA - SAP Center
July 1st Seattle, WA - Key Arena
July 2nd Vancouver, BC - Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
July 4th Edmonton, AB - Rogers Place
July 6th Denver, CO - Pepsi Center Arena
July 8th Omaha, NE - CenturyLink Arena
July 9th Kansas City, MO - Sprint Centre
July 13th Chicago, IL - United Center
July 14th St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
July 17th Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
July 18th Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
July 20th Detroit, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
July 21st Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
July 23rd Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
July 25th Boston, MA - TD Garden
July 26th Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
July 28th New York, NY - Barclays Center
July 30th Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
August 4th Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
August 5th Houston, TX - Toyota Center
European and UK Tour
November 1st - Prague, Czech Republic, O2 Arena
November 2nd - Munich, Germany, Olympiahalle
November 4th - Budapest, Hungary, Sportarena
November 6th - Lodz, Poland, Atlas Arena
November 8th - Vienna, Austria, Stadhalle
November 10th - Bologna, Italy, Unipol Arena
November 12th - Luxembourg, Amneville Galaxie
November 13th - Amsterdam, Netherlands, Ziggo Dome
November 17th - Kaunas, Lithuania, Zalgiris Arena
November 19th - Hartwell Arena, Helsinki, Finland
November 21st - Friends Arena, Stockholm, Sweden
November 22nd - Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark
November 25th - Dublin, 3 Arena
November 26th - Belfast, SSE Arena
November 28th - Liverpool, Echo Arena
November 30th - Birmingham, Barclaycard Arena
December 1st - Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
December 3rd - Glasgow, The SSE Hydro
December 5th - Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
December 6th - Leeds, First Direct Arena
December 8th - Sheffield Arena
December 9th - Manchester, Arena
December 12th - London, 02 Arena
December 13th - London, 02 Arena
December 15th - London, The SSE Arena, Wembley
December 16th - Birmingham, Barclaycard Arena