By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)
I could have gone to see Queen with Paul Rodgers back in 2005/6, but I honestly did not like this pairing. If I did go, I would have been disappointed. My impression of the Youtube videos of this pairing were not positive, and the reviews I read supported my thoughts. To leave the island must mean I really must love the band to death in order to hear their music live and unfiltered. They had to represent my youth. Back then, there were only two bands I took an immediate liking to: Queen and KISS.
Ever since I heard about Adam Lambert taking on the mantle, I wondered: could he? I avoided watching American Idol but when I heard about Queen and KISS appearing, I could not resist. I saw that Lambert has the stage presence needed to pull off being there with the greats.
Flash forward to now, he’s come a long way to be there in a big venue concert. To see Brian May, Roger Taylor and their support crew of Rufus Tiger Taylor, Neil Fairclough and Spike Edney is finally a completion of a quest. To see them play with Lambert may well be like discovering a Holy Grail that can bridge generations together on stage. At this Vancouver, B.C., concert or anywhere else, travelling afar to experience this special kind of magic is well worth it.
