11.13.23 Adam News and Info
Nov 14, 2023 1:01:42 GMT -5
Post by momtomany on Nov 14, 2023 1:01:42 GMT -5
It's been a long time since I've written a review. Likely, this will be my last one. And, it's not really a review; more, a reminiscence.
Lucky, lucky me! I was able to attend 3 of the final four concerts of this tour. I was also able to share this experience with 4 of my grandchildren; three of whom hadn't even been born when my obsession with Adam began. One of those grandchildren is Penelope. Shortly after her birth, in 2011, she became very ill, and nearly died in the neonatal ICU. I spent several frantic, lonely nights - and the friends on this very website kept me afloat. I was able to watch her, this Thursday, dance and clap her hands to Radio GaGa; sing to Bohemian Rhapsody. She shares her heart and soul with me. Life goes on!
I had a stage seat for the first SF show. Forty of us gathered together and were ushered to the stage. There, we met Andy - the 'chaise lounges' personality who has been with Queen since 2014. When I first met him he looked like a boy just out of college. Now, his hair is gray. Beside the stage, he talked about the logistics of bringing the trucks in and setting up for each performance. It's a dance! One they all know very well, and execute to perfection. During the show, Andy can be seen, headphones on, going here to there around the stage, making sure every set-up and every strike of every song is done just as it should be. Along with Andy, Steve Price, who is responsible for all the special effects, lights, camera work (basically, he runs it all!) appeared and told us how he and Andy have the longest tenure in the Queen travel entourage - they both have been a part of 'this very happy family' since 2014. He said, that while many of the crew work with many different tours, when Queen calls they come running! We watched as the people who make it happen tuned the guitars and set the drum kits; I was amazed at the people in black, who communicate wordlessly while doing their jobs as Adam, Brian, and Roger perform. They are meant to be invisible; but if things were to go wrong, their efforts would blaze across the stage.
Out of the spotlight, Adam and Spike, Neil, Tyler - all have moments where they relax - even for just a moment. It was at these times they glanced back to the opera boxes and waved, smiled, and acknowledged those of us who literally stood in awe. I was lucky to be surrounded by generous people who needed to celebrate and to connect with the musicians and the music. One of our celebrants had lost his wife only weeks before. When Brian sang "Love of my life, don't leave me . . . " we cried with him.
I felt like Adam was a coach for Brian and Roger that evening - November 8. When he wasn't strutting down the catwalk to the thrust, he was dancing and visibly, expressively, encouraging his Queenmates as they performed. He transmitted his energy to them through touch and eye contact and delicious body language. He fed them what they needed on a night they might have been a little spent. Tyler Warren was a rock star, by the way! He bounced and shook his hair and gave life to the drums - and even took off his shirt!
Each song was a work of art; framed by the unreal lights and camera work. I swear, it seemed as if real robots were climbing the grid at the front of the stage! Every single nuance received attention - every puff of smoke, firework, laser beam was 'dynamite'! After the show, I collected autumn leaves that fell from above during "Is This The World We Created?" - a metaphor that should leave us all asking that question.
This tour was truly a rhapsody - an effusive expression of feeling. One could sense the composition and order to the setlist - and on Saturday, when I saw both my first stadium show and my last Queen show, the incredible brilliance of the lights, the music, the screens, the lasers filled the night. The Rhapsody Tour was meant to soar beyond a mere ceiling, into the sky - into that realm Brian seems to touch with his heart.
Adam reigned supreme at every performance. His voice is flawless; he pranced and strutted and owned the stage. It's hard to believe there was a time, long ago, after the AMAs, that rumor had it he was unpredictable . . . he has truly stepped into the lead role of Queen; and I feel that Roger and Brian have gratefully and honestly allowed this for him. He's earned it, through hard work, commitment, unreal talent, courage, sensitivity, and JOY.
With tears in my eyes I left the stadium, on Saturday night, knowing that this would be my last Queen concert. What a wonderful decade (and more!) it has been! I will look forward to the videos and news we'll receive from the Japan concerts - and, I expect there will be a few more in Europe in the coming year. I see and understand the reluctant weariness as years pass and it becomes time to move on. "Do not go gentle into that good night" . . . I don't think Queen ever will. I think they will soar into the stars, towards the places they imagined and realized through their music. Their journey, and mine, goes on.
Lucky, lucky me! I was able to attend 3 of the final four concerts of this tour. I was also able to share this experience with 4 of my grandchildren; three of whom hadn't even been born when my obsession with Adam began. One of those grandchildren is Penelope. Shortly after her birth, in 2011, she became very ill, and nearly died in the neonatal ICU. I spent several frantic, lonely nights - and the friends on this very website kept me afloat. I was able to watch her, this Thursday, dance and clap her hands to Radio GaGa; sing to Bohemian Rhapsody. She shares her heart and soul with me. Life goes on!
I had a stage seat for the first SF show. Forty of us gathered together and were ushered to the stage. There, we met Andy - the 'chaise lounges' personality who has been with Queen since 2014. When I first met him he looked like a boy just out of college. Now, his hair is gray. Beside the stage, he talked about the logistics of bringing the trucks in and setting up for each performance. It's a dance! One they all know very well, and execute to perfection. During the show, Andy can be seen, headphones on, going here to there around the stage, making sure every set-up and every strike of every song is done just as it should be. Along with Andy, Steve Price, who is responsible for all the special effects, lights, camera work (basically, he runs it all!) appeared and told us how he and Andy have the longest tenure in the Queen travel entourage - they both have been a part of 'this very happy family' since 2014. He said, that while many of the crew work with many different tours, when Queen calls they come running! We watched as the people who make it happen tuned the guitars and set the drum kits; I was amazed at the people in black, who communicate wordlessly while doing their jobs as Adam, Brian, and Roger perform. They are meant to be invisible; but if things were to go wrong, their efforts would blaze across the stage.
Out of the spotlight, Adam and Spike, Neil, Tyler - all have moments where they relax - even for just a moment. It was at these times they glanced back to the opera boxes and waved, smiled, and acknowledged those of us who literally stood in awe. I was lucky to be surrounded by generous people who needed to celebrate and to connect with the musicians and the music. One of our celebrants had lost his wife only weeks before. When Brian sang "Love of my life, don't leave me . . . " we cried with him.
I felt like Adam was a coach for Brian and Roger that evening - November 8. When he wasn't strutting down the catwalk to the thrust, he was dancing and visibly, expressively, encouraging his Queenmates as they performed. He transmitted his energy to them through touch and eye contact and delicious body language. He fed them what they needed on a night they might have been a little spent. Tyler Warren was a rock star, by the way! He bounced and shook his hair and gave life to the drums - and even took off his shirt!
Each song was a work of art; framed by the unreal lights and camera work. I swear, it seemed as if real robots were climbing the grid at the front of the stage! Every single nuance received attention - every puff of smoke, firework, laser beam was 'dynamite'! After the show, I collected autumn leaves that fell from above during "Is This The World We Created?" - a metaphor that should leave us all asking that question.
This tour was truly a rhapsody - an effusive expression of feeling. One could sense the composition and order to the setlist - and on Saturday, when I saw both my first stadium show and my last Queen show, the incredible brilliance of the lights, the music, the screens, the lasers filled the night. The Rhapsody Tour was meant to soar beyond a mere ceiling, into the sky - into that realm Brian seems to touch with his heart.
Adam reigned supreme at every performance. His voice is flawless; he pranced and strutted and owned the stage. It's hard to believe there was a time, long ago, after the AMAs, that rumor had it he was unpredictable . . . he has truly stepped into the lead role of Queen; and I feel that Roger and Brian have gratefully and honestly allowed this for him. He's earned it, through hard work, commitment, unreal talent, courage, sensitivity, and JOY.
With tears in my eyes I left the stadium, on Saturday night, knowing that this would be my last Queen concert. What a wonderful decade (and more!) it has been! I will look forward to the videos and news we'll receive from the Japan concerts - and, I expect there will be a few more in Europe in the coming year. I see and understand the reluctant weariness as years pass and it becomes time to move on. "Do not go gentle into that good night" . . . I don't think Queen ever will. I think they will soar into the stars, towards the places they imagined and realized through their music. Their journey, and mine, goes on.
