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August 27, 2014 by davidallen
QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT – A REVIEW

IMG_0151.JPGIf anything definitive came out of last nights Queen + Adam Lambert concert at All Phones, it’s this: I love Queen, and I love Adam Lambert. Just maybe not together.

The pairing of the young, glam-pop star and the remaining two members of the legendary rock band is not quite as natural a fit as their touring longevity might have led us all to believe. Despite his spectacular voice, Lambert struggles to front the group, seldom creating moments of magic and almost never managing to place his own stamp on the music. Relying heavily on vocal prowess, he belted his way through a surprisingly unremarkable set-list with a definite reliance on the fondest and most familiar hits in Queen’s substantial arsenal. Never seeming completely at home on stage, Lambert danced and strutted with a surprisingly overt self-consciousness, as if at some point he expected a choreographer to come out and give notes. Managing only one real show stopping moment all night (“Who Wants to Live Forever” – brilliant!) , next to arena veterans Brian May and Roger Taylor, he looked like an ensemble member dragged front and centre and ordered: “sing out Louise!” It was a very on the nose reminder that Lambert (32) has only been a star for 6 years now and remains a little bit too green to be placed in command of the show.

As for May and Taylor, the beloved remaining members of the original Queen line up, most moments of magic the concert delivered belonged to them. Also some inexplicable moments of tedium. Dr May – a bonafide Rock God – sang a touching tribute to Freddie Mercury (“Love of My Life”) with those members of the crowd who knew the words singing along. He later followed on with an extra-extended guitar solo that many used as a good chance to nip out for a pee and to buy another round! Taylor too struck one of the nights sparing moments of gold taking the lead vocals on “A Kind of Magic” – a genuine moment of rock’n’roll! – before following with an incredibly unimpressive “drum off” with his son Tiger. But then the night was full of such moments of polarity.

The nature of a Queen show in the 21st century is one that can realistically only inspire a certain kind of polarity. While many still show up to Queen ready to rock out, most of those that started out with the group in the 1970’s are now in their 50’s and 60’s. This not insubstantial group is more than happy to pay top dollar to see the group live and up close – they’d just rather sit down for the pleasure. Farewell mosh pit and hello to $350 for a seat on the floor – though this group spent most of the night on their feet anyway. The audiences energy was bright and luckily forgiving. The group successfully got away with a set list that jerked to a standstill every time Lambert left the stage and rarely managed to flow. and while any Queen concert has to pay tribute to the great Freddie simply be being, the difference between “rock concert” and “tribute show” grew decidedly grey in places as the night wore on. And over two and a half hours – “wore on” often was the operative expression.

To Lambert’s credit, when he did light up vocally he truly did become an inspiring sight. However, he’s not rock enough to sell a Queen song in spite of his extensive vocal gifts and not yet quite capable of holding a 20,000 seater in the palm of his hand. Is this the reason the set list steered clear of the bigger rock ballads? Or was this a selection just for Australian audiences? Who’s to say?

Queen now finds itself in a curious place where Taylor and May both have the magnetism and seemingly endless talent with which to create a gig of their own. But can they leave Queen behind and would audiences let them? Hopefully the wonderful Dr May is inspired from the rapturous reception he is receiving from audiences on this tour to return alone – or better still with his spectacular protege Kerry Ellis? This duo has recently won success with their acoustic concerts in the UK and Europe. Here’s hoping we’re next.

As for Adam Lambert, let’s hope a new album follows the tour and that we get him back by himself. If his exquisite live album Glam Nation is anything to go by, he’s far more impressive on his own terms.

So far as Queen + Adam Lambert is concerned – if you have tickets already, don’t despair. It’s a fun if uninspiring show with hints of magic. True, it never manages (as you might expect) to quite scratch the zeitgeist – but at least it tries. To those yet to buy tickets. Wait. There’s better shows to be had from these artists in years to come, and in the meantime you can always return to the record player where the Queen that was (and that glorious hunk of man Freddie Mercury) lives on eternal.

Diva Knows Best

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