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Taken from MLive (July 21, 2017)
Queen and Adam Lambert pay tribute to Freddie Mercury with rockin’ Palace show
by Edward Pevos
Queen performs with Adam Lambert at The Palace of Auburn Hills on July 20, 2017. |
AUBURN HILLS, MI - They came, they rocked and they paid tribute to the late Freddie Mercury. Queen and Adam Lambert played two hours of hits with some surprises at their concert at The Palace of Auburn Hills on July 20, 2017.
Lambert told the crowd it's a big honor for him to perform with Brian May and Roger Taylor. He also said he knows he's no Mercury, and he didn't try to be. Lambert performed Queen's music in his own style, but not too much where it took away from the music fans know and love.
"There's only one rock God called Freddie Mercury," Lambert told the crowd. "I love him just as much as you do. I'm a fan just like you, except I'm up here in a really gay suit. I have to keep up with Freddie. He was a fashion icon. He was also an incredible singer. An incredible composer."
Queen took the stage at 8:45 with a pretty cool entrance. An image of the robot featured on the cover of their "News of the World" album punched through a giant screen and then lifted it off the ground to reveal the band as they performed a portion of "We Will Rock You."
The energy continued with "Hammer to Fall" and "Stone Cold Crazy" before the band went into some bigger hits with "Another One Bites the Dust," "Fat Bottomed Girls," and "Killer Queen," where Lambert sat on top of the robot's head as it rose from beneath the stage.
Next, Lambert introduced his only solo song of the night. "One of the things I loved the most about going back and watching Freddie perform, or stories from the guys, is that he didn't care what you thought. He didn't give... well, you get the idea as that led into "Two Fux." Lambert then rode along the stage in a pink bicycle as they performed a short version of "Bicycle Race."
Lambert left the stage and drummer Roger Taylor sang lead on "I'm In Love with My Car." He would be front and center later in the show as well.
Lambert returned in one of the many different outfits he changed into throughout the concert and performed "Get Down, Make Love" and "I Want It All."
Then, it was guitarist Brian May alone on stage as he performed "Love of My Life." Mercury appeared on the big screen behind May toward the end of the song to finish it off.
Next, one of Queen's signature songs with a twist with "Somebody To Love." Mercury would sit at the piano for this one, but instead, May lead the song off on his guitar with Lambert singing next to him before the full band eventually joined in. This is one example of how Queen and Lambert stayed true to their music, but at the same time, didn't try to duplicate what a show with Mercury would be like.
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" was next before a terrific drum battle of sorts between Taylor and Tyler Warren. Then, a song Taylor dedicated to the late David Bowie with "Under Pressure." Taylor sang Bowie's parts.
"I Want To Break Free" was next, followed by "Who Wants to Live Forever," before a mesmerizing guitar solo by May leading into "Radio Ga Ga." Then, the final song before the encore... "Bohemian Rhapsody." Mercury again appeared on screen toward the end of the song to finish it off.
The encore got the crowd back on their feet with "We Will Rock You" and "We are the Champions."
Final thoughts: This was simply a fun night of music with two living legends and a young, powerful singer. Yes, as Lambert said, he is no Freddie Mercury, but in his defense, Mercury is perhaps the greatest front man in music history. The crowd was at its loudest the entire night when a video of Mercury played as he belted out short bursts of sounds while the crowd would repeat them, something Mercury did during Queen concerts.
Lambert never came close to getting a reaction from the crowd like that. But, he is a solid performer with a powerful voice who did Queen's song's justice. Both Taylor and May still bring lots of energy and look like they are truly having a great time on stage at ages 67 and 70.
From the notepad:
May asked fans to sing along to "Love of My Life" and told the crowd, "Detroit was one of the first places in America where people actually did sing to us."
After "Love of My Life," May brought out a selfie stick and the live image was put on the big screen as he took pictures of the crowd from all angles.
During the encore, May sported a shirt with "Detroit" on it.
Toward the end of the concert, different colored laser lights shined across the entire arena during a few different songs.
During "Radio Ga Ga," Lambert walked into the crowd and gave some fans high fives.
The stage was shaped like a guitar. It went out into the crowd about halfway through the floor portion of the audience.
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