February 18, 2018

Queen + Adam Lambert Take us on an Emotional Rollercoaster…

Queen + Adam Lambert – Spark Arena, February 17 2018

After five years touring and performing with Queen, Adam Lambert has unquestionably upheld his ‘crown’ as the rightful heir to Freddie Mercury’s throne. Queen and Lambert have perfected their show with a non-stop onslaught of hits amidst elaborate light shows, automation and animated graphics. Each song remained fresh and invigorated by Lambert’s youthful charm and vitality. There were no stops on this bicycle ride which conjured up feelings of exhilaration, nostalgia, elation and a healthy pinch or two of melancholy.

As a critic and music concert buff, I shall endeavor not to disclose too many details in this review because the little surprises during the show is what made it unique, special and unforgettable.

Crowds filled the entire street and park area in front of the arena even before the gates opened. There was a buzz of anticipation in the air and I overheard many ticket holders proudly and passionately describe their past Queen concert experiences.

Walking into the arena, one cannot help but be captivated by the stage set. A massive array of curved screens engulfed the whole stage with a runway that extended to half of the arena floor space.

Dressed in black, Queen kicked off the show with an intro to We Will Rock You before quickly switching to Hammer to Fall. I sensed a difference from how this show started compared to when the band toured Europe last year. This was fast becoming a night filled with unexpected surprises and indeed it was!

The complex and impressive lighting setup for the show was only evident when elaborate patterns of light consumed the stage and the whole arena. Strobes and lasers flashed and beamed on cue with the music and the gigantic screen filled with eye-catching graphics, animation and live images.

Lambert was comfortably at home on stage, gyrating with his mic stand, pumping his fist in time with breaks in the song and throwing seductive glances into the crowd. However, the sound mix for the first collection of songs did not adequately showcase his vocal range. The vocal layers and bass lines for Stone Cold Crazy, Tie Your Mother Down and even Another One Bites the Dust were hard to distinguish. Thankfully, the sound quality improved when Lambert, in a pink suit, sat on top of Frank’s head and effortlessly sang and posed to the words of Killer Queen.

So, is Lambert officially now the new Mercury? Lambert addressed this notion head on with a loud proclamation that there was only one true Rock God and it was Freddie Mercury. He felt humbled and privileged to perform with Rock Legends, Brian May and Roger Taylor. After five years of performing across the world together, Lambert’s continual respect and genuine appreciation for his part in Queen history was both admirable and endearing. It did not matter that Lambert was handpicked by May and Taylor and that his vocal abilities were compared to Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin, Lambert was contented singing in the shadow of Freddie Mercury.

At this point, the audience mostly enjoyed themselves while keeping to the boundaries of their allocated seat. It was inevitable that cellphones would be raised up high to photograph and video portions of the show. I can understand the need for a few photographs and short video clips to keep as ‘visual souvenirs’ but I see no reason for many to record songs from start to finish and obstruct others from watching the show. An irritable distraction that is now forcing increasing number of artists to enforce stricter restrictions on filming and cellphone use.

At the time, I felt the highlight of the show was reached when Lambert delivered a powerful rendition of Don’t Stop Me Now followed by a medley of songs including Bicycle Race and I’m In Love With My Car by Roger Taylor. In a khaki green jacket, black pants and striking makeup, Lambert looked like a victorious soldier when he delivered I Want It All underneath the massive lighting rig that rotated in time to the music. I was wrong because the hits kept coming in enjoyable ‘bite sizes’ with even more elaborate light shows that accompanied Taylor’s formidable drumming and May’s evocative guitar work.

In the midst of the visual extravaganza and celebration of song, Freddie Mercury’s spirit was ever present and remained a deeply rooted part of the show. Emotions ran high and tears flowed freely during May’s rendition of Love of My Live on a 12-string guitar. Another emotionally charged part of the show was Lambert’s delivery of Who Wants to Live Forever under pyramid shaped lights tinted with rainbow colours.

During the show, May and Taylor were both given space to express their abilities horned by decades of performance. Taylor chose a drum solo battle with supporting percussionist/drummer Tyler Warren while May thrilled the audience with his instrumental piece, Last Horizon, accompanied by graphics that were clearly a nod to his work in astronomy and astrophysics. The strong bond and camaraderie between these two rock titans was indisputable when they performed It’s a Kind of Magic together.

At the end of the show, the loud and incessant cheering for an encore was a clear indication that the audience had reached a heightened state and were eager for more. Queen and Lambert returned with We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions before taking a final bow. They were joined by long time collaborator Spike Edney (keyboards), Neil Fairclough (bass) and Tyler Warren on percussions and drums.

Until the very end, Lambert’s voice remained strong and clear. He neither waivered nor faltered in the delivery of each song, confidently walking the thin line between injecting some of his personality while staying true to each Queen classic… songs that have stood the test of time and one might say, even attained a certain kind of immortality.

Who wants to live forever, you might ask? Well, Freddie clearly is someone who does.

Reuben Raj

The second Queen + Lambert show will be at Spark Arena, Auckland on Sunday, 18^th February 2018. Get ready for a thrilling ride!

Set list