Seeing this footage of the Queen Extravaganza playing such a small venue, with more to come, doesn't it make RT's coments, when first talking about the project during auditions, that he was putting together an arena sized Queen tribute show seem a bit false.
As with all things Queen of late, he seems to have jumped the gun. They are playing small venues to small audiences. Yes it is a successful show, but no more so than a lot of other tribute shows and certainly not at the same level as The Austrailian Pink Floyd.
Yeah, arena-sized shows was jumping the gun, but he seems to be starting modestly and growing as needed. The 2012 North American tour was clubs and theaters. The 2013 North American tour was mainly theaters and a couple of arenas. The first UK tour seems to be clubs and theaters again.
Also, the Southampton gig at The Brook was a late addition to the tour, but the SAS Band often does gigs at The Brook before their Xmas or charity event shows, like it's a kind of dress rehearsal, so I figured QE might be using it the same way. Since Roger started making TV and radio appearances to promote the tour, 2-3 venues have been upgraded to bigger theaters because the original ones sold out.
Just back from the Birmingham show. Mixed feelings, not helped by having the published time being 7pm (doors opened about 7:15) but the show not starting until 8:50.
OK, keeping it brief, the band were good, the lead singer was great. The only place I thought the female singer worked was taking Bowie's part for Under Pressure.
But in what way was this show any different from any number of hard-working tribute acts? I was expecting a production worthy of being the 'official' tribute. I was expecting lighting which would evoke some of the 70s tours, I was expecting maybe some of Freddie and Brian's costumes, I was expecting at least the drum riser to be three steps high!
So, for me, a good (but not great) show, but not living up to the sales pitch.
Sorry to hear that, NicTheBeard
I had not seen this article, pardon the repeat if it's already posted here somewhere.
http://www.theregoesthefear.com/2013/10/preview-queen-extravaganza.php
[QUOTE] [b]NicTheBeard wrote:[/b]
But in what way was this show any different from any number of hard-working tribute acts? I was expecting a production worthy of being the 'official' tribute. I was expecting lighting which would evoke some of the 70s tours, I was expecting maybe some of Freddie and Brian's costumes, I was expecting at least the drum riser to be three steps high!
[/QUOTE]
The lighting and videos that they use are VERY similar to what Queen is using now -- check out the Queen + Adam Lambert performances. So they're evoking current Queen vs. 70's Queen. Roger said in interviews that he thinks dressing up as Queen members is cheesy and he wants the focus to be on the music, so that's why there's no Freddie costumes. As for three-step drum risers, hopefully, they'll grow into bigger and bigger shows and we'll see those one day!
Some great videos from the Liverpool show...
Intro and WWRY (fast). Song starts at 2:25
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPaMSe1jxyE
I'm In Love With My Car & Bohemian Rhapsody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HC36yXerJw
8 minutes of clips from WWRY (fast), Killer Queen, I Want To Break Free, Dragon Attack, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Don't Stop Me Now, It's A Kind Of Magic, Bohemian Rhapsody, Under Pressure, and I Want It All
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMG8k_cMSOU
Lots of people recording video in Liverpool!
Fat Bottomed Girls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIxwKK1znNw
Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon & I'm In Love With My Car
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxCq7wOnDZg
Somebody To Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxCq7wOnDZg
I love how much the audience is singing a long in these videos! I wonder if it's like that at all the UK shows or if Liverpool was just exceptional.
I watched the vids last night and also noticed how the Liverpool audience was what a Queen audience should be!
AdamMethos, I don't know what you've been watching or what gigs you've been to. The lighting and video screens the Queen Extravaganza are using look nothing like what Queen used with Adam Lambert. That rig was 60 feet wide and had 180 Mac 101's hanging in six mobile units. The idea being to replicate, to some degree, the late 70's and early 80's lighting rigs Queen used and were famous for.
I'm sorry but 50 lamps hanging on three static trusses does not come close!
[QUOTE] [b]Vocal harmony wrote:[/b]
AdamMethos, I don't know what you've been watching or what gigs you've been to. The lighting and video screens the Queen Extravaganza are using look nothing like what Queen used with Adam Lambert. That rig was 60 feet wide and had 180 Mac 101's hanging in six mobile units. The idea being to replicate, to some degree, the late 70's and early 80's lighting rigs Queen used and were famous for.
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Sorry, I wasn't more clear. I didn't mean the hardware -- you're right that QE uses much smaller/simpler rigs than Queen does. I meant similar design in the lighting colors used for songs and graphics used on the video screens.
For example, both Queen + AL and QE use fuschia lighting for Crazy Little Thing, purple for Kind of Magic, red/orange for Bites the Dust, blue for Somebody to Love, etc. Also similar video graphics on songs like flying stars on Kind of Magic, bouncing soundwave on Bites the Dust.
QE is like a Mini Me version of a Queen show. haha
New QE recording coming tomorrow, folks...
Adam, I'm sorry I miss understood what you meant. Yes the colours used for the songs are similar. So yeah you are right, the QE is a mini me Queen show in that respect.
I thought the rig that Queen+ AL toured with was the best they'd used since the early 80's and much better than the lighting during the PR years.
[QUOTE]
[b]inu-liger wrote: [/b] New QE recording coming tomorrow, folks...
Great!!!
[/QUOTE]
I just got back from seeing QE at Leicester, the band were great and the place looked pretty full. Attendance may have hit its limit for fire regulations, in the UK we're not allowed to pack people in solid anymore (and a good thing too).
EDIT: I got Jennifer and Marc (sp?) signatures on my ticket. The entire band were signing stuff and selling merchandise by the door on the way out about 10 minutes after coming off stage.
[QUOTE] [b]tsskiller wrote:[/b]
Hey, I'm doing the hard work. You have no idea how much I get nervous at security at these venues, even though I know the procedure. I believe that keeping an archive of the shows I go to will help kindle memories of the concerts when I get older.[/QUOTE]
There pretty much weren't any security checks at Leicester. Yes there were security people around (only one or two though), but no-one got searched on the way in tonight that I saw.
