7.28.17 QAL in NYNY
Jul 27, 2017 23:00:42 GMT -5
Post by tinafea on Jul 27, 2017 23:00:42 GMT -5
QAL New York Concert Links
VENUE: Barclays Center
WORLD CLOCK: link
STREAMERS: mixlr.com/mardiblitz01/ mixlr.com/mgmsales/ mixlr.com/nica575/
Concert Review: Queen Turns Up to 11 With Adam Lambert as Fan and Frontman
Five songs into a killer Queen show Wednesday night (July 26) at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, Adam Lambert stopped to ask a question. “Is this the real life? Or is it just fantasy?”
Lambert’s quip, referencing the opening lines of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” may have been tongue-in-cheek, but it’s also reality for the “American Idol” season eight runner-up, who had the good fortune of being chosen to front Queen alongside original members Dr. Brian May on guitar, and drummer Roger Taylor (Neil Fairclough plays bass; Spike Edney handles keyboards, and Tyler Warren rounds out the lineup on percussion).
It’s a big job, as Lambert went on to explain, namely because singer Freddie Mercury died tragically in 1991. “Let’s be honest, there is only one Freddie Mercury,” the 35-year-old said from the stage. “I’m a fan just like you guys. I’m just up here in a really expensive seat.”
And it’s a spot that Lambert has earned, as evidenced by the two-hour rock ‘n’ roll laser light spectacle that he led. The set list went heavy on hits, but also sprinkled in a few deep cuts and Lambert’s own original song, “Two Fux,” which was skillfully executed thanks to his otherworldly vocal range and a stage presence that drew the audience in with each line.
Lambert — careful not to mimic Mercury — brought his own artistry and interpretation to the music. Specifically, his emotive interpretation of “Who Wants to Live Forever” as well as handling Mercury’s vocals in a duet of “Under Pressure” with Taylor induced goosebumps. It was simply that magnificent.
Lambert’s interpretation of “Killer Queen” was another highlight. On the 2014 tour, Lambert performed the song while on sofa. This time, he emerged from below the stage seated on the head of “Frank,” the robot that adorns the cover of Queen’s 1977 album “News of the World” (celebrating its 40th anniversary this year). Lambert’s theatrical background came into play on this number as Lambert delivered it with a sparkle in his eyes and just a touch of vamping — the kind you’d expect in a small Broadway theater.
The robot was an important piece of the show, building momentum before the musicians took the stage as his giant hands broke through the set, lifting up the stage to reveal the band, with Lambert teasing the crowd with a snippet of “We Will Rock You” before crashing into “Hammer To Damn.” The payoff of “We are the Champions” (complete with Lambert wearing his deserved crown) would come later, but there was plenty to enjoy before then.
With his leather jacket, sunglasses, and well-heeled shoes (we counted five costume changes throughout the night), Lambert was every bit the rock star, tearing through classics like “Stone Cold Crazy,” owning the catwalk while strutting to “Another One Bites the Dust,” and riding a tricycle for “Bicycle Race.” By the time “Fat Bottomed Girls” came around, the group had the Prudential Center in a singalong frenzy. A stellar May guitar solo — one of many — took things to 11.
Lambert wasn’t the only one at the microphone. Taylor, who celebrated his 68th birthday on Wednesday night, mesmerized on the track “I’m in Love With My Car” (from “A Night at the Opera,” and the B-side to “Bohemian Rhapsody”). He later faced off with Warren on an epic drum battle and enjoyed a moment of surprise as Lambert led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday.”
May, 70, scaled things back a bit seated with an acoustic guitar for a lovely version of “Love of My Life,” a beautiful moment that superimposed Mercury singing the last lines on the screen beside the guitarist. Said May: “I think a good song should never die.”
Truer words were never spoken.
variety.com/2017/music/news/concert-review-adam-lambert-queen-prudential-center-newark-1202508739/
NASHVILLE SCENE
A Die-Hard Queen Fan Considers Queen + Adam Lambert
Ahead of the group’s stop at Bridgestone, a look at what it means to carry on the legacy of a rock icon
by Abby White
As a lifelong Queen megafan and a charter member of Nashville’s Queen Breakfast Club (which is just what it sounds like), when I first heard that the legendary rock act was touring with former American Idol contestant Adam Lambert, my initial reaction was, Why?
Queen, as a band, has been dead since 1991, the year that frontman Farrokh Bulsara, better known as Freddie Mercury, died. The star-studded Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness in 1992 featured the reunion of his three bandmates — guitarist Brian May, bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor — plus killer performances from George Michael, Annie Lennox and David Bowie, Elton John and Axl Rose, among others. It’s also probably the only time Liza Minnelli shared a stage with Spinal Tap. That would have been a fitting end to the glorious 20-year reign of a band as regal as its name.
But it wasn’t. In 2004, May and Taylor launched a collaboration with Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers, an act that toured as Queen + Paul Rodgers and recorded the album The Cosmos Rocks. Deacon, who penned some of Queen’s biggest hits — including “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Under Pressure” and “You’re My Best Friend” — had not appeared with the band since a one-off performance in 1997, and continues to choose to remain out of the picture. The bar was set quite low by the 2002 musical We Will Rock You (Brian Logan of The Guardian wasn’t exaggerating when he called the play “traumatising” and “ruthlessly manufactured”), but while the act Queen + Paul Rodgers wasn’t exactly dynamite and laser beams, it wasn’t bad.
Naturally, when I heard about May and Taylor working with Lambert, I was suspicious. Mercury took the idea of being a frontman to an otherworldly level from the very beginning. He paced the stage like a lion surveying his domain, brandishing his microphone like a weapon, and he’d rile up the crowd by toasting them with Champagne or riding around on Darth Vader’s shoulders. His sartorial choices through the years — the Zandra Rhodes-designed white cape of early Queen performances, that harlequin jumpsuit he donned in the late ’70s, the white tank/tight jeans combo he wore for Queen’s magnificent comeback performance at Live Aid in 1985 — remain the stuff of legend.
Lambert, who has a second-place finish on the eighth season of American Idol, a Grammy nomination and two chart-topping albums under his belt, has made it clear that he isn’t trying to emulate Mercury. While he shares Mercury’s undeniable vocal prowess and his love for adventurous clothing, nail polish and eyeliner, he commands the stage in his own way. I found myself drawn to his voice in the way you’re drawn to a piece of modern art that you don’t quite understand, which might have been part of how Mercury appealed to his first audiences back in the early ’70s. But Lambert is no second coming of Freddie Mercury.
Is that what we’re really waiting for, though? As any Queen die-hard knows, there can be only one.
It appears that what the world has been waiting for is Queen + Adam Lambert. Their first world tour, which spanned 2014 to 2015, grossed more than $68 million and, according to Pollstar, ranked in the top 50 worldwide tours both of those years. Their current U.S. tour, which hits Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, has been received positively by critics — after their Minneapolis show, the Star Tribune called Lambert “the best thing to happen to Queen since the 1992 film Wayne’s World.” It’s hard to argue with that.
A cynic might say Taylor and May are doing this tour as a cash-grab. I’m not so sure that May, who wrote “We Will Rock You” — which is probably being played at dozens of sporting events around the world at this very moment — needs the cash. What’s more, May is also an astrophysicist and works with NASA. Seriously. He has an asteroid named after him, which might be the most rock-star thing ever.
I’m more inclined to buy the argument that May and Taylor are touring out of a sense of nostalgia. What’s wrong with a little nostalgia? If the audience can be temporarily transported through a sonic wrinkle in time to recapture some of the feelings they had when they first heard “Bohemian Rhapsody,” I imagine the band can, too. It’s OK for music to be fun, and maybe the question of why they’re touring doesn’t really matter. Maybe nothing really matters. And according to recent press, anyone can see they’re having a good time on this tour — they’re having a ball. I wouldn’t dream of stopping them, now.
And as for Freddie, I’d like to think that if he’s watching, he’d raise a glass of Champagne to Lambert in approval. Because as he once told the world himself, the show must go on.
www.nashvillescene.com/music/features/article/20970380/a-diehard-queen-fan-considers-queen-adam-lambert
digboston
FOTOBOM: QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT @ TD GARDEN
No one ever said that playing rock music was rocket science, but Brian May has proven that the two aren’t necessarily diametrically opposed. (For those intrepid-minded readers, feel free to dig into his thesis entitled A Survey Of Radial Velocities In The Zodiacal Dust Cloud.) The good news is that he’s not gone all pointy-headed nerd in the process, and still knows how to wield the Red Special on stage in a most impressive manner. Hell, he loves that guitar so much he convinced the rest of the band to fashion a stage in its iconic shape for the new Queen + Adam Lambert tour that hit town last night.
It’s pretty clear that the Freddie Mercury was among the best singers of his or any generation, and he matched that prodigious vocal talent with a flair for style and some serious musical chops. That combination led to staggering popularity, and with good reason. Fun fact: only three bands have sold more records worldwide than Queen. (If you guessed The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, well done.) I’m not sure that Paul Rodgers was the best choice for the first singer in the post-Mercury era, his brand of gruff blues rock not exactly meshing with the dizzying heights of glam/pop/prog/?-rock that Mercury, May, Rogers and Deacon brought to life. Adam Lambert? Yeah, now that’s inspired casting. Anyway way you look at it, it’s a great story. In 2009, he’s a no-name that decided to audition for American Idol, choosing the opening of “Bohemian Rhapsody” as his song. Two years later, he’s singing with Brian May and Roger Taylor at the MTV Europe Awards. Lambert’s body must have been a mass of purple caused by all the self-pinching.
Making the rounds for a new tour, the ensemble shook up the set list a bit from the 2014 stop but still played a ton of hits. Right out of the gates with a teaser of “We Will Rock You” that segued into “Hammer To Fall,” they proceeded to do just that. “Killer Queen,” “Somebody To Love,” “Fat Bottomed Girls,” “Another One Bites The Dust.” Blam! Though bassist John Deacon called it a retirement two decades ago, May and Taylor are still breathing life into the storied songbook. Lambert has the vocal chops and personal style to fit right into this lineup, but he’s still in a bit of a bind. He’s under the obligation to serve the song but still be himself at the same time, and that’s not an easy tightrope to maneuver. Mercury’s vocal lines are burned into the minds of so many fans that it’s a bit disconcerting to hear some veering from the blueprint, a bit of vocal melisma here or a few ad libbed notes there.
More... digboston.com/fotobom-queen-adam-lambert-td-garden/
nj.com
If you love Queen, you must see their triumphant '+ Adam Lambert' concert (PHOTOS)
NEWARK -- "I think a good song should never die," noted Brian May.
The venerable Queen guitarist was preaching to a literal choir in Newark Monday night, where a vast chamber of voices gleefully resurrected the band's catalog -- and made peace with the new man at the pulpit.
Adam Lambert, the fabulously gifted vocalist who first met the band as a finalist on "American Idol" in 2009, has toured with founding members May and drummer Roger Taylor since 2012, and has combined with new bassist Neil Fairclough, keyboardist Spike Edney and percussionist Tyler Warren to form "Queen + Adam Lambert," a supergroup succeeding Queen's collaboration with Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers from 2004 to 2009.
Lambert, 35, did well to honor his role as interim frontman and was welcomingly frank about the situation.
"There is only one Freddie Mercury ... I'm a fan just like you guys, I'm just up here in a really good seat," he told Prudential Center Monday, adding that before each performance he reminds himself he's "working with legends."
"Thank you for giving me the chance to keep this music alive," he said.
The graciousness ended there; Lambert spent the rest of the two-hour performance as an uber-flamboyant pop-rock sensation, belting with aplomb -- explain again how he didn't win his "Idol" season? -- and balancing brilliantly between the melodic blueprints to some of the best-known songs of the 20th Century and his own pop-leaning sketches.
Thank the rock gods he didn't sing every track note-for-note and beg comparisons: the delicately altered states of "Another One Bites The Dust," "Don't Stop Me Now" and a particularly chilling vocal performance on "Who Wants to Live Forever" all saw Lambert emerge from Mercury's encompassing shadow and all but scream "if Queen wants to keep going, I'm the man for the job!" With the inherent theatricality of the Queen songbook plus Lambert's penchant for a stagy performance -- he spent nearly a decade in musical theater before "Idol" -- such a concert could have easily devolved into a "Rock of Ages" jukebox dummy, but hand-over-heart, this felt like a true rock show, honest and worthy of the band's prolific career.
Though it was never explicitly mentioned, homage was paid all night to the band's 1977 album "News of the World," which celebrates its 40th anniversary in October. The album cover's famed sci-fi metallic head popping up on screen, as well as in a 10-foot statue form, on top of which Lambert sat to sing "Killer Queen."
May, 70, and Taylor, who turned 68 this night, were each given ample space to show off as well; from a raised platform May ripped a dynamic solo that morphed from atmospheric sounds to crunching, bluesy riffs, and also sang a solo acoustic rendition of "Love of My Life" with Mercury superimposed next to him on the large screen, to a swell of cheers.
Taylor took back his original vocal on "I'm in Love with my Car" -- anyone who can simultaneously play a drum kit and sing lead is okay in my book -- and faced off against the percussionist Warren in a speedy battle of drum kits.
Sure, there were moments where Lambert probably took it too far: he could have lived without the five costume changes and in some cases an exaggerated facial expression, strut or hip thrust matched to every phrase lent to the idea that this was more a role for him than a gig. And the jury's still out on whether his singing his own single "Two Fux" added to was a detriment to the overall performance.
But the triumphant moments shone through, from the expectedly epic sing-alongs on "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Somebody to Love" to "Under Pressure," where Lambert was spot-on in Mercury's part, locking eyes with Taylor, who wailed David Bowie's lines.
Two legendary talents gone, two incredible performances keeping their spirits alive -- full disclosure: in this moment, I nearly burst into tears.
If you love Queen, plain and simple, go see this show. It doesn't know how to disappoint you.
More..
www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2017/07/queen_adam_lambert_2017_concert_review_nj_photos_v.html#
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
July 31st Washington D.C. - Verizon Center
August 2nd Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
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