Queen + Adam Lambert celebrate Freddie Mercury
Adam Lambert wanted to address what he called the “big pink elephant” in the room.
“I’m not Freddie Mercury,” the former “American Idol” star told the capacity crowd assembled to see him perform with Mercury’s old band, Queen, on Sunday at the SAP Center in San Jose. “I (expletive) know — because there is only one Freddie Mercury.”
OK, it’s good to know that we’re all on the same page when it comes to that topic. No one can fill the shoes of Mercury, the amazingly talented vocalist who led Queen to the top of Mount Rock before dying at age 45 in 1991 from complications from AIDS. And, wisely, Lambert makes it abundantly clear that he’s not even really trying to fill those shoes.
Instead, he embraces his role as singer in what is, at its core, a highly paid tribute act (although Queen guitarist Brian May later took to social media to blast my use of that term when he saw this review online). And the market for the band is booming right now, in large part due to the overwhelming success of the Mercury/ Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
“Can we celebrate Freddie and Queen together tonight?” Lambert asked the crowd.
Yes, we can. And we did, for some two hours, as Queen + Adam Lambert nicely motored through a generous set list built from fan favorites, rock radio staples and hits. Granted, that’s a lot of time to spend listening to a cover band — even one featuring two members of the original outfit — but people seemed to enjoy each and every number.
The project works on many levels, including, perhaps most importantly, the vocals. Sure, Lambert — as has been made abundantly clear — is no Mercury. Yet, it’s hard to imagine finding anyone better for the job. He’s a powerhouse on the microphone, blessed with a wide vocal range and superb technique, and he handles all those challenging singing parts with style.
It’s a partnership that works for both parties. It provides Queen with a front man and Lambert with the opportunity to showcase his talents in arenas full of fans. Sure, Lambert is also a solo artist. But his connection with Queen certainly ensures his place in the spotlight. The collaboration dates to when drummer Roger Taylor and May appeared on “American Idol” in 2009, when Lambert was a contestant, and really took off with the first Queen + Adam Lambert tour in 2012.
As expected, the crowd in San Jose ranged from sixtysomethings who might have originally owned 1975’s “A Night at the Opera” on eight-track tape to teens who might have just learned about Queen from watching “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
But they all seemed to be in agreement on one thing: The music sounded pretty great as Lambert, the two longtime Queen rockers and their sidemen opened the show with “Now I’m Here” and continued through such gold nuggets as “Somebody to Love,” “Keep Yourself Alive” and “Killer Queen.”
Sunday was one of the first events at SAP Center since the venue adopted a clear-bag-only policy, and apparently not everyone was prepared for it. Those who came to the venue with other types of bags were unable to bring them inside and had to check them for a $5 fee before entering the building.