Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-02-22
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

CONCERT REVIEW Adam Lambert, Queen a match made in heaven
by Jerry Nunn, Windy City Times
2017-07-19

This article shared 2367 times since Wed Jul 19, 2017
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


The 1970 British band Queen returned to Chicago for a rocking concert on July 13 at the United Center.

Two members of the original group remain, with Brian May on guitar and Roger Taylor on drums. Bassist John Deacon retired after singer Freddie Mercury's death in 1991. Former Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers filled in for Mercury until American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert took over the singing duties. This is certainly no chore for Lambert as he mentioned at the Chicago show, "I am fan of Freddie, just like everyone here." It really set the tone for the evening as he remained humble and appeared grateful to be a part of the festivities.

Lambert paid homage to Mercury without trying to be that singer. It was more about taking the audience for a ride down memory lane while hitting some high notes. There was only one Freddie Mercury, and that was plainly shown on the monitors that displayed past performances.

All the major hits of the band were included in the more-than-two-hour set list. From "I Want It All" to "I Want to Break Free," these versions of the songs sounded current as the tattoed Lambert wailed through them.

Lambert described his pink outfit as the "gayest suit ever" before jumping on a pink bicycle for "Bicycle Race" and pedaling away with high-heeled stacks.

He asked May to look for a date in the crowd for "Somebody to Love," although he didn't focus on anyone in particular. The singer did run around the stage pit shaking hands, giving high fives and even taking selfies with a few lucky fans. Speaking of selfies, May used a camera connected to the video screens to make a massive picture of the crowd packed into the United Center.

The robot from the album cover of News of the World was featured several times, including during a face-melting guitar solo from the iconic May that was worth the price of admission alone.

There was also a drum solo from Taylor that showed this concert was focused on the original surviving members and not just some cover band.

Lambert had as many costume changes as Cher does during a show—and almost as many sequins. Mercury was private at a different time in the world and never came out publicly, so it refreshing to see the out and proud Lambert enjoying the flamboyance of the work. Many gay fans rejoiced in the mixed crowd at the United Center that night. While there could have been more AIDS fundraising in the lobby, the group did play a tribute last year for victims of the mass shooting in Orlando to show their support of the LGBT community.

For "Under Pressure," the vocals just soared together and "Radio Ga Ga" had the spectators waving fists in the air timed to the music.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" combined videos with live vocals and the encore of "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions" finished things off with Lambert prancing about in a silver crown, May wearing a Chicago flag T-shirt, and an exploding cannon of confetti.

In the same week rockers like Kiss and Ozzy Osbourne are in town, it's good to see another classic act like Queen still strutting its stuff. Mercury's spirit lives, and this night was a tribute to him and his fans.

The Queen + Adam Lambert Tour will continue into 2018; if you haven't experienced it yet, get there before "Another One Bites the Dust."


This article shared 2367 times since Wed Jul 19, 2017
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

SHOWBIZ Warhol, Sarah Paulson, upcoming books, Rufus Wainwright, Elliot Page 2023-05-26
- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled seven to two that the late artist Andy Warhol wasn't allowed to use a photographer's portrait of Prince for a series of pop-art images, per The Hollywood Reporter. Associate Justice Sonia ...


Gay News

Hair coming to Skokie Theater June 23 - July 30 2023-05-20
- Madkap Productions has announced the cast and creative team for the inaugural show of their 2023-24 season, the rock musical HAIR, with book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, and music by Gail MacDermot. ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Cynthia Erivo, 'Next Level' winner, 'All Out,' Madonna, Omar Ayuso 2023-05-19
- LGBTQ+ actor Cynthia Erivo will star in a film adaptation of the theater sensation Prime Facie, Variety noted. Oscar nominee Erivo will take on the role originated on the West End (and, currently, on Broadway) by ...


Gay News

WORLD Spain, South Korea festival, Eurovision, marriage items, Sri Lanka 2023-05-19
- Spain became the latest country to join a U.S. initiative that seeks to promote LGBTQI+ rights around the world, The Washington Blade reported. "Promoting and protecting the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and ...


Gay News

PASSAGES Chicago cultural and music advocate, poet, educator Diane Gomez 2023-05-18
- Chicago cultural and music advocate, poet and educator Diane Gomez died May 5 due to complications from cancer. She was 70. Gomez was born September 28, 1952, on the South Side of Chicago to a very ...


Gay News

Belting for Life returns for an 8th edition 2023-05-18
- On May 15, Jeff Award-winning director and activist Christopher Pazdernik celebrated his birthday with the eighth edition of Belting for Life, his annual Chicago-style theatrical concert and fundraiser for AIDS ...


Gay News

Foo Fighters, The Cure, and Tegan and Sara to perform at Riot Fest 2023-05-16
- Foo Fighters, The Cure and Death Cab for Cutie are among the headliners at this year's Riot Fest, taking place Sept. 15-17 in Douglass Park. Some of the other acts include queer twins Tegan and Sara, ...


Gay News

MUSIC Billy Porter talks 'Mona Lisa,' authenticity and activism 2023-05-15
- Billy Porter certainly seems to have it all. The actor/singer/director received numerous awards—including two Tonys (for his role in Kinky Boots and as a producer of A Strange Loop), a Grammy (for Kinky Boots as well) ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Alabama protest, antibiotic, bi politician, high-school musicals, Key West 2023-05-12
- Alabama LGBTQ Action is urging the LGBTQ+ community and allies to join the group at a march on the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery on Tuesday, May 16, to demand equal rights for all state residents, ...


Gay News

WORLD Turkish president, former congressman dies, Polish case, Uganda, sports 2023-05-12
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan again attacked the country's LGBTQ+ community in a bid to rally his conservative voters before the May 14 election, france24.com noted. Polls showed Erdogan—whose campaign is dealing with an economic crisis ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Nathan Lane, Marvel, 'Guardians,' Deborah Cox, Provincetown film fest 2023-05-12
Wanda Sykes' 'I'm an Entertainer' trailer below - GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics named Nathan Lane its Timeless Star for 2022-23, per a press release. "Nathan Lane is an icon of stage and screen, a master of both drama and comedy, and ...


Gay News

Lyric Opera of Chicago introduces first-ever Artist-in-Residence program with soprano Whitney Morrison 2023-05-11
--From a press release - CHICAGO (5/11/23) — Anthony Freud, General Director, President & CEO of Lyric Opera of Chicago, announced the launch of a new Artist-in-Residence program. Developed by Lyric Unlimited, the company's learning ...


Gay News

South Chicago Dance Theatre to debut 'Memoirs of Jazz' on June 10 2023-05-09
--From a press release - (May 8, 2023) Through the 1960s and '70s, Jazz in the Alley on Chicago's South Side was a hotbed for jazz and a meeting place for some of the country's prominent musicians, visual artists, poets, activists, ...


Gay News

Sophie B. Hawkins swoops into City Winery this May 2023-05-08
- Sophie Ballatine Hawkins is a talented Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter currently out on tour. Her roots in music began at an early age as she attended the Manhattan School of Music for percussion. She found commercial ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Barry Manilow, 'The Kardashians,' gay Marine drama, Tonys, 'Unleashed' 2023-05-05
- The Barry Manilow/Bruce Sussman production Harmony will make its Broadway bow in the 2023-24 season, beginning performances Oct. 18 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, with opening night on Nov. 13, according to Playbill. The musical—featuring music ...


 


Copyright © 2023 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives. Single copies of back issues in print form are
available for $4 per issue, older than one month for $6 if available,
by check to the mailing address listed below.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.
All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transegender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.