Queen + Adam Lambert at IZOD, New Jersey (July 24, 2014)

Getting psyched!

My 51st birthday will be on August 19 and one of my gifts from my husband was taking me to see Queen + Adam Lambert at the Izod last night!

Now, first a little background. How much do I love Queen, let me count the ways! I’ve been a fan since I was 12 or 13 in the 1970s. I got every album they made at that point and listened to each song on each album, every single day, in the order they were recorded! I memorized who wrote what song and all the liner notes of who played what featured instrument on all the songs. As well as all the lyrics. To this day, if you call out any Queen song from the first five albums, I can tell you who wrote it.

The first time I saw Queen was in 1982 with Freddie Mercury. I saw them again 10 years ago, with Paul Rodgers. And last night with Adam Lambert. All three times were special and unique.

The anticipation build up was off the hook. They had a little problem with the curtain, delaying the show by a half hour. A pre-recorded “Father to Son” from Queen II was played and I lost it. “They’re going to play this?!” But it was just a tease. However, they opened with “Now I’m Here” from “Sheer Heart Attack”  then went into “Stone Cold Crazy” from the same album.

“Fat Bottom Girls” was next, followed by yet another from “Sheer Heart Attack” — “Lap of the Gods”! I was losing it, it was just one great song after another! Then “Seven Seas of Rhye” from “Queen II.”

Then Adam Lambert camped it up during “Killer Queen.” A red velvet couch was brought out for him to ham it up on (he couldn’t even keep a straight face and he was cracking up). He drank from a bottle of Moet and then spit it into the audience, followed by a few cute double-entendre jokes. He even had panties thrown at him. “Somebody to Love” followed and this was the first time you got a true taste of Adam Lambert’s astonishing vocals. He was a stellar front man — a wonderful choice. Yet, the entire band worked together as a group and everyone had their spotlight. Adam appeared extremely grateful to be part of the act and raved about how he loved Freddie and even bowed down during May’s ever-so-sweet guitar segments.

It was cute when Brian May asked a cheering crowd, “How do you like the new guy?”

And in equal cuteness, Adam Lambert endearingly referred to Brian as “Doctor Brian May.”

One of the most special moments, which I saw Brian perform back in 2005, was when he played “Love of My Life” — a song originally played by Freddie on a harp — on his guitar. Brian sang beautifully too. During this time Adam Lambert took a break and after “Love of My Life” Brian was joined on stage with others, including Roger Taylor, his son, Rufus Tiger Taylor (who looks just like his dad!) to do a bare bones version of “’39” followed by “These Are The Days Of Our Lives” which featured a touching tribute to Freddie Mercury.

Then came a great bass solo by current touring bassist, Neil Fairclough and an exciting drum battle between the Taylors (which is probably why “I’m in Love with My Car” was forfeited).

Adam Lambert returned to sing a duet of “Under Pressure” with Roger, followed by “Love Kills,” (a Freddie solo number), then “Who Wants to Live Forever.”

And then the moment we were all waiting for — a Brian May guitar solo, which featured riffs from “Brighton Rock.” (Also during the show, I don’t remember when, but there was a tease of “White Man.”) After the solo, Adam Lambert took front stage again and sang Brian’s hit, ‘Tie Your Mother Down” (which was sung by Freddie on “Day at the Races”).

After “Radio GaGa” Adam broke into a sexy little number called “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and then the grand finale of “Bohemian Rhapsody” which was off the hook with their modern stage show. They had a monstrous “Q” lit up with the tail of the “Q” leading all the way out into the audience. Inside the “Q” there were video segments throughout the show. A second drum kit was set up in the front for some of the softer numbers. The light show was mind blowing and there were raised platforms on each side of the stage where Adam Lambert and Brian May would perform.

Throughout the night band members did several costume changes and Brian May looked like the true guitar god he is when he was wearing a gorgeous gold poncho, reminiscent of the white one he wore during ‘Night at the Opera” days back in the 1970s. And Roger Taylor still looking as cool as ever, looking like Mr. Rock ‘n’ Roll in all white and dark sunglasses. And at this time I’d like to give a shout out to Spike Edney on keyboards.

Queen encored with “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.”

Definitely a night to remember! My husband brought me two t-shirts — a sexy tank with the Queen crest in red foil and a tour shirt with Adam Lambert. I am ECSTATIC!

Adam Lambert (vocals), Roger Taylor (drums) and Brian May (guitar)

Adam Lambert

After the show, am I in heaven?