By: Megan Moss

Artist: Queen & Adam Lambert

Date: Friday 7th February 2020

Venue: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, NZ

It’s another pleasant evening in Auckland, and thousands of Queen fans are filing in from every direction into Mt Smart Stadium. There’s a slightly muted feeling of excitement permeating the air as we all trudge the arduous hill to the main gates. Logistically, getting the masses into this large venue has been locked into a fine art, with entry now being quick and painless. There are great facilities here, huge choices of food carts and fast bar services. Thumbs up, Mt Smart!

It’s always a bit of a sight as you first crest over the top of the stairs at Mt Smart Stadium. My last Queen concert experience was in 2018, and that show was admittedly incredible. Initially dubious of Adam Lambert then, I walked away singing his praises, converted.

My expectations are now high and it’s all a bit exciting. Observing the crowd, there isn’t an overriding demographic here – I saw all ages, young and old, all in anticipation for the legendary rock group. A synth monotone is playing, building momentum before the show, giving you the feeling of impending mayhem.

Looking around, there are audience boxes at the back of the stage with special VIP guests, appearing like aristocrats of old - think Shakespeare’s Theatre - and while I’m sure the VIPS had a magical time up close, I wouldn’t want those seats, as you’d miss too much of the spectacle of a Queen stadium production along with the other fans. Around 15 minutes before official set time, there is some movement from the huge stage, smoke, some changes in tone, with the crowd promptly getting arses into seats.

Purple and gold are the overriding colours on the stage, looking like a huge opulent theatre, crowned with lighted up designs of guitars, drums and Queen crown-and-country emblems crest. It’s all starting to feel a little ethereal, as five minutes before show time, the sky turns a deep shade of purple that matches the regal stage curtains. It’s a kinda Magic! Gradually, the stage is lighting up, a cage opens up, the curtains draw back, and white light pours onto the screaming audience. Enter Brian May, axe in hand, looking like an absolute rock god. May is lowered to stage level, sauntering to the end of the runway, with drummer Roger Taylor thumping out huge beats. May leads into one of his magic riffs that we all love, the intro to ‘Now I’m Here’, and the audience erupts.

Enter Adam Lambert, looking slick in a black tailored suit. Fluttering his eyelashes and wiggling his hips, the audience is lapping it up. A few songs in, he addresses that, no, he is not Freddie Mercury, and proceeds to profess his love for the fallen front man. No matter your thoughts, my feeling is Lambert isn’t trying to copy Freddie’s mannerisms; rather, he was born to carry on the band’s legacy and do something new. Lambert has an incredible vocal range, and over the night he changes his suit another three times, looking utterly spectacular with each new look.

I am struck by the onstage interaction between this new Queen - they genuinely look like they have a love for one another.

Highlights include: Roger Taylor’s punchy vocals on a few songs, including the classic ‘I’m in Love with my Car’; a glorious laser light show; and Dr Brian May, astrophysicist, riding atop a giant meteor. There are screen graphics taking us on a journey through space, over Mars, out to the further reaches of Pluto, with a solar system revolving around May, his guitar screaming out over the vast universe. He’s lowered back from space, re-entering through the atmosphere surrounded by space rocks. (Fun fact: there’s an asteroid named after Freddie Mercury). It’s all just way too cool for school.

More highlights include Adam on a Harley Davidson, and a couple of acoustic numbers from Night at the Opera, ‘Love of My Life’ and ‘39’, where Freddie is once again brought to life by the big screens. Brian and Freddie looked to be side by side at this moment, and I’ll be damned if it didn’t bring a lump to my throat!

The visuals cannot be faulted during this performance, and I appreciate the show is a huge production, but if I could give one criticism, it all seemed a bit quiet volume-wise for Queen – in other words, it was lacking decibels. I would’ve liked to feel that massive low rumble that previous stadium rock shows have provided.

There were amazing songs performed during the night, such as ‘Under Pressure’, ‘Radio Ga-Ga’ and the dramatic ‘Somebody to Love’. Of course, an expected highlight was ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, the eternal rock radio staple. I loved this performance with Adam, and it also featured additional vocal layers from on-screen Freddie, as well as playing in time with the original video from 1975. It kept with the original feel of the song while also bringing it into a new era, of course with its newfound relevance from the eponymous biopic. It was a sheer moment of performance genius. Finishing with the one-two punch of ‘We Are The Champions’ and ‘We Will Rock You’, it was an utterly magic and glorious night.

Thank you, Queen. You truly are the champions! I suspect this show will be on my list of highlights in 2020. Queen play their last New Zealand date at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium on Monday, February 10th. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.

Review Edited By: Jake Ebdale