Concert Review #6: Queen!

Throughout this journey as the Classic Rock Intern for Classic Rock 98.1, Queen has served me well. First with our video “project” and then with my on-air interview.

I’ve been a Queen fan since I was a kid, I remember listening to my copy of the The Game on repeat singing along with the album liner. I was excited to see Brian May, and Roger Taylor – rock royalty in my opinion, and was curious to see how Adam Lambert would fill the incomparable Freddie Mercury’s shoes. 

Queen fans were in for a treat at the packed house of Scotiabank Arena. This was a night of high drama, showmanship, lasers, video and hit after hit. Brian May at 76 plays with effortless grace, high energy and amazing talent. Joined by fellow original bandmate, drummer Roger Taylor, 74, whose kit sounded full,energetic and he never missed a beat. Both members also still contribute heavily vocally with harmonies that were on point. 

Adam Lambert, 41, has been playing with the band for 10 years now, and his powerhouse vocals have led to the ongoing success of Queen, decades after losing Freddie Mercury. Lambert thanked the audience for giving him a shot, and graciously thanked May and Taylor for allowing him the privilege of playing with them. As a Queen fan I say thank you Adam Lambert for giving us the chance to enjoy these songs once again. 

Lambert did Freddie proud with all of the flourish one would expect at a Queen show, with his own spin in places. There was no shortage of sequins, outlandish costumes, and platform boots. However you look at it, it works. This was just an old-fashioned rock show, with some amazing light shows, a Motorcycle which had Lambert lying back seductively as it rotated around while he belted out Bicycle Race, a raised platform that had Brian May standing on a Meteor, and an appearance or two of Freddie Mercury. 

The 25 song set list opened with Radio Gaga, into Hammer to Fall, Stone Cold Crazy, Another One Bites the Dust – the hits just came one after another. Roger Taylor then took over to perform I’m in Love with My Car. Taylor would also perform a drum solo, and take on David Bowie’s part in an emotional version of Under Pressure. Brian May took ample opportunities to parade down the catwalk, including a highlight of shooting flames out of his guitar during A Kind of Magic. 

The most poignant moments for me involved the aforementioned appearances of Freddie Mercury. Brian May moved to the end of the catwalk to speak to the crowd of his happiness of being back in Canada. He then launched into an acoustic version of Love of My Life that included an image of Freddie Mercury projected on the screen to sing with him. At the end of the song on screen you could see Freddie and Brian reach their hands out to one another, and then looking centre stage again you could see Brian with his outstretched hand as Freddie walked away. It was very touching, and honestly brought a tear to my eye.

They took a moment to introduce the remainder of the touring band members on keys, percussion and bass. They were a tight unit that performed amazingly well together, but the stars of the show were clearly May, Taylor and Lambert. Their dynamic was undeniable, and the crowd was very involved singing and clapping along to Killer Queen, (which had Lambert sipping champagne) Don’t Stop Me Now, Somebody to Love, Crazy Little Thing Called Love.

Another spotlight was Bohemian Rhapsody which included the original video and vocals, and paid homage to the band’s past. 

As we neared the close of the show, Freddie made one last appearance as he appeared on video and took the audience through a flashback to Wembley. The audience was thrilled to oblige as Freddie led us through the vocal acrobatics he was known for, at the end of which he told us all F-You and walked off “stage” , hand raised and a a smile on his face. 

That would have been enough, but the band returned for an encore to take us through We Will Rock You, A reprise of Radio Ga Ga, and We are the Champions. Nobody does a sing-along quite like Queen fans, and the band themselves have done a good job of remembering Freddie and doing justice to this legacy. Freddie Mercury is still missed by millions decades later,  but in his own words The Show Must Go On, and it has in a way that I think Freddie would have enjoyed.

This crowd certainly did.

Keep on Rockin’