7.14.19 QAL San Jose, CA SAP Center
Jul 15, 2019 3:58:09 GMT -5
Post by JustKaren on Jul 15, 2019 3:58:09 GMT -5
THE MERCURY NEWS
Review: Queen + Adam Lambert celebrate Freddie Mercury with tour
Band drew capacity crowd to SAP Center in San Jose
Adam Lambert wanted to address what he called the “big pink elephant” in the room.
“I’m not Freddie Mercury,” the former “American Idol” star told fans the capacity crowd assembled to see him perform with Mercury’s old band, Queen, on Sunday (July 14) at the SAP Center in San Jose. “I (expletive) know.
“Because there is only one Freddie Mercury.”
OK, it’s good to know that we’re all on the same page when it comes to that topic. No one can fill the shoes of Mercury, the amazingly talented vocalist who led Queen to the top of Mount Rock before dying at age 45 in 1991 from complications from AIDS. And, wisely, Lambert makes it abundantly clear that he’s not even really trying to accomplish that feat.
Instead, he embraces his role as singer in what is, at its core, a highly paid tribute act. And the market for the band is booming right now, in large part due to the overwhelming success of the Mercury/Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
“Can we celebrate Freddie and Queen together tonight?” Lambert asked the crowd.
Yes, we can. And we did, for some two hours, as Queen + Adam Lambert nicely motored through a generous 30-song set list built from fan favorites, rock radio staples and hits. Granted, that’s a lot of time to spend listening to a cover band — even one featuring two members of the original outfit — but people seemed to enjoy each and every number.
The project works on many levels, including, perhaps most importantly, the vocals. Sure, Lambert is the first to admit he’s not Mercury. Yet, it’s hard to imagine finding anyone else better for the job. He’s a powerhouse on the microphone, blessed with both a wide vocal range and superb technique, and he handles all those challenging singing parts with style.
Check out their photo gallery:
www.mercurynews.com/2019/07/15/review-queen-adam-lambert-celebrate-freddie-mercury-with-tour/
He is apparently unaware that over half the songs in tonight's set were written by Brian and/or Roger ... isn't it a little odd to suggest that Brian and Roger are a cover band for their own songs?