I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: September 10, 2021] Almost Queen

S.’s co-workers invited her to see Almost Queen with them late in June.  She agreed, thinking it would be a fun night out.  As September approached, she realized that the friends had a slightly different plan for the evening than she did, and realized that she couldn’t ride down with them.  So she asked me to come along.

I was game, of course.  I have never intentionally paid to see a tribute band before.  But since this was a band that I would never be able to see live (Queen last played in New jersey in 1982–although the version with Adam Lambert had played here more recently), I said why not.

I was intrigued that a cover band had two opening acts, also cover bands: Philadelphia Freedom, The Elton John Tribute and The Unforgettable Fire: The U2 Tribute.

However, the combination of Friday night plans and Friday night traffic meant we got to the Stone Pony during the final two U2 songs (“One” and “Bullet the Blue Sky”–a rather odd final song I thought).  They sounded good from the street, but I have no real opinion of The Unforgettable Fire.

The place was PACKED and there was no vaccination requirement (good grief).  This is my third Summer Stage show in a few years and honestly, unless there is something really amazing playing there, I don’t think I’d go back.  The crowd is just terrible–filled with drunken Jersey dudes and dudettes.  If this was a band I really wanted to see I’d have been really annoyed by them all.  Fortunately, this was a fun tribute act and I was happy to just kick back and enjoy.  We somehow managed to find our group (amusingly, I told S. to have her friend hold up her phone and wave it.  Immediately someone did and we followed the light only to realize that it wasn’t her friends, but the person standing right next to them–weird).

So it took a little while for them to get the stage set up, but out they came by around 8:30.  A giant drum set with a huge gong and a Roger Taylor guy in the seat, a guitar player who looked just like Brian May (or Brian May’s hair anyway) and a bassist who may have looked like John Deacon (no idea what John Deacon looks like).  Then a weird remix version of “We Will Rock You” started playing over the speakers and then Freddie Mercury came out and started singing along to the remix.  He was dressed in a fancy jacket and looked just the part (at least from where we were).

I guess this was actually the “fast version” of “We Will Rock You” which I guess I’d never heard before.  And to get this out of the way: Joseph Russo as Freddie Mercury; Steve Leonard as Brian May [or as they joked Brian Maybe];  John Cappadona as Roger Taylor; Randy Gregg as John Deacon [or as they joked John Decoy].

I’ve never been a huge Queen fan, although I certainly like a lot of their songs.  I was fairly certain I would know every song that they played.  And then they opened with a song I did not know: “Let Me Entertain You.”   It was rocking and fun song and a perfect introduction.  I was impressed with Freddie’s voice and mannerisms (he really got the Mercury thing down) and the band sounded quite good (although the overall sound was bit muddy but I blame that on the stage).   Midway through, Freddie removed the coat and sang  the rest of the set in the classic wife-beater and leather arm band.

The rest of the set was a mix of songs I knew really well and songs I didn’t know all that well.  “Killer Queen” was followed by Freddie at the piano singing “You’re My Best Friend.”  Russo was such a fun Freddie.  I don’t know what Freddie was like during live shows but Russo’s accent and stated “darlings” was perfectly campy without being over the top,.

We all sang along for “I Want It All” and then they played “Hammer to Fall” as song I didn’t know.

Then they introduced John Cappadona who sang the Roger Taylor-penned “I’m in Love with My Car,” a song I didn’t know at all.

My initial exposure to Queen was through The Game, which I bought on vinyl and played all the time.  They played “Dragon Attack,” a song I never imagined they’d play, I was pretty delighted to hear it.  Steve Leonard did some impressive soloing and I think it was at this time that the band left and allowed him to do a Brian May-like solo moment.  This was weird tome.  I assume May does some kind of showoffy solo during the Queen sets, but this seemed a bit superfluous.  I’d have rather heard “Bicycle Race.”

Then they played “Another one bites the Dust.”  I never imagined that hearing that bassline live would sound so cool.

I didn’t know “Brighton Rock”, but I sure knew “Fat Bottomed Girls” and everyone sang along to that ridiculous and fun song.  Freddie went back to the piano for “Don’t Stop Me Now” and then they surprised me by playing “Radio Ga Ga”  I’d always thought this was a really stupid song but gosh did it work live–with the clap alongs and the goofy lyrics, it was a lot of fun.

They went back to rocking with “Stone Cold Crazy” and then Randy Gregg introduced “I Want to Break Free” by saying it was a song that John Deacon had written for Freddie.  It was remarkably touching.  As was them reminding us that this was around the anniversary of Freddie’s 75th birthday and we all gave a shout-out to Freddie.  We also sang happy birthday to one of Randy Gregg’s friends.

I’ve lost track of the solos by this time but sometime around here Freddie did the “Ay-Oh” call and response which was fun primarily because of how perfectly he sounded just like Freddie.  And for how long he held one of those notes–very impressive.

He sat back at the piano for “Somebody to Love” and I waited for the long high notes neat the end.  He hit the note but I thought he’d hold it for longer.

Then Freddie brought out an acoustic guitar and called out Doug Delescavage who played Elton John in Philadelphia Freedom. [The rest of that band: Bernie Gavlick bass, Justin Malinowski drums].  He was wearing a sequined outfit with spectacular glasses and a terrible wig/haircut and he played piano while Freddie sang “Crazy Little Thing called Love.”

Then they dedicated “Under Pressure” to the Thin White Duke.  Much like with “Bites the Dust,” this bass line is so iconic, that I almost got chills hearing it live.  It was really neat (especially since it didn’t turn out to be “Ice Ice Baby”).  They called out Bono from The Unforgettable Fire to sing the Bowie parts,  [The rest of the Fire: Mick Normoyle (the Edge), Craig Keill (Adam Clayton) George Levesanos (Larry Mullen Jr)].  Bono is played by Anthony Russo who looks remarkably like Bono (is it just the slicked back hair and glasses?).  But the best thing of all, the best thing all night, in fact, was when they explained that Freddie Mercury and Bono are actual brothers {possibly twins].  Anthony has been Bono since 1995 (!) and Joe has been Freddie since 2004.  Imagine what their holidays are like–their proud mom trying to explain what they do.

They ended the main set with a ripping “Tie Your Mother Down,” a song I didn’t know but which was really good.  And then they left for an encore break.

I did wonder if the would play “Bohemian Rhapsody.”   It seemed like they much more of the rocking songs and I wondered if they would dare to try it.  But dare they did and I realized I would have been disappointed if they hadn’t.  Of course the crowd sang every word, so it was hard to hear how good the band was (and if they even bothered trying to hit the high note) but they played it right through (with an actual flubbed guitar note) and then Roger Taylor hit the big gong at the end.  And I love a good gong..

It seemed like they could end there but not when you have two more anthems to play.  And soon enough they were playing “We Will Rock You” properly and, even more properly, they segued that into “We Are the Champions” which got everyone singing and swaying.  It was a very satisfying ending.

And just before the lights came on and we headed out to the streets the band came up to the front of the stage to take a bow and as they played God Save the Queen, Freddie was wearing a proper long red robe and a crown.  The pageantry was excellent.

And so was the music.  They played the songs really well and the harmony vocals were spot on.  I also imagined how much fun it must be to play someone like Freddie Mercury.  I doubt I’d go to another tribute band again, although if there was one playing close and it wasn’t too expensive I might consider it.

SETLIST

1. We Wil Rock You (fast version(
2. Let Me Entertain You
3. Killer Queen
4. You’re My Best Friend
5. I Want It All
6. Hammer to Fall
7. I’m in Love with My Car
8. Dragon Attack [with guitar solo]
9. Another One Bites the Dust
10. Brighton Rock
11. Fat Bottomed Girls
12. Don’t Stop Me Now
13. Radio Ga Ga
14. Stone Cold Crazy
15. I Want to Break Free
16. Ay-Oh
17. Somebody to Love
18. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
19. Under Pressure
20. Tie Your Mother Down
    encore
21. Bohemian Rhapsody
22. We Will Rock You
23. We Are the Champions