June 26th was a tough night to be a classic rock fan. While Heart was rocking out at the Jubilee Auditorium with a show that included a set of Led Zepplin tracks, Queen took Adam Lambert with them to the Saddledome, bringing their classic catalog to life one last time. Both shows were sold out, showing there is lots of support for rock in town. For fans of both, it sucked to have to choose.
Many undoubtedly would choose Queen, a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the guitar work of Brian May and drumming of Roger Taylor along with the vocals and showmanship of Lambert. The 5th stop on their tour, which started in North America and will take them around the world, showed a group that was as solid as one that had been playing together for years. The anticipation was high as the giant curtain in front of the stage dropped and Lambert stood behind Taylor, kicking the show off with Now I'm Here and Stone Cold Crazy. Decked out in a studded leather jacket, leather pants and sunglasses Lambert strutted the stage and nailed the notes right off the bat. He made his way to a smaller stage for Another One Bites The Dust as the crowd sang along.
For many it was a chance to experience songs that have defined our lives in a concert setting. Queens hits are numerous and endless and they just kept coming. Fat Bottomed Girls, Somebody To Love and I Want It All were executed skillfully by May, Taylor and the band while Lambert's vocals soared. Adam took a break from the stage and May, who confessed to "not being a singer, but everyone is a singer if they have a story to tell," sat down for an acoustic version of Love Of My Life. Roger Taylor took lead vocals on These Are The Days Of Our Lives and performed a duet with Lambert on the Freddie Mercury/David Bowie classic Under Pressure. The concert was a family affair, as Taylor's son Rufus also played drums including a drum battle with dad. Brian May also took his solo spotlight with a lengthy and incredible guitar solo.
Lambert, Taylor and May stripped things down again with Love Kills, which was Freddie Mercury's first solo song written for a restoration of the 1927 silent film Metropolis in 1984. Mercury was paid tribute to multiple times over the night in video segments, including his vocals and image on screen alternating with Lambert on the closing of Bohemian Rhapsody.
Although you wouldn't know it from the sold out concerts, the combination of Adam Lambert and Queen has been much maligned on social media. Purists decry, "It's not the same without Freddie!" and that Lambert singing his songs would have him "rolling in his grave." The simple fact is that bands change, relationships end and people die. Adam Lambert is not Freddie Mercury, nor is he trying to be. Many people, myself included never got to see Queen fronted by Mercury. But the live concert experience is about reliving memories and creating new ones. For someone who remembers cranking Bohemian Rhapsody and waiting to head bang like Wayne and Garth in the first Wayne's World they got to do so. For someone who has used Somebody to Love as an anthem in their life, they got to sing along loudly and proudly. Every sports fan who has thrust their fist in the air at a game to We Will Rock You got to sing along with it live during the finale. Those who dislike Lambert or didn't want to see Queen had the choice to not go. They also missed out.
Lambert was in a word, incredible. His vocal range is spectacular, but we knew that from American Idol. Every note was perfect, his charisma off the charts and he played the audience like a pro. When you combined his talent with that of the band and an impressive light and laser show it truly was something special. Although his outfits weren't as over the top as Mercury's, he clearly had fun with his wardrobe including a gold outfit and crown for the finale. He seemed genuinely amazed to be there with Queen, and even commented on it during the show. Adam Lambert is a star whether singing his own material or Queen’s.
For nearly two and a half hours Queen and Adam Lambert put on the perfect rock spectacle. It may not be topped again this year. By the time the evening ended with the double-punch of We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions everyone knew they had been part of something special.