'One Night of Queen' concert review

I'll start by saying I have never been an over the top Queen fan. I know people who swear by them and I saw plenty of ‘em Tuesday night at the Brown Theatre. I am familiar with quite a few of the popular songs but as high school kid of the 90's, my first real thought when I think of Queen is the scene from Wayne's World when Wayne and Garth rocked me with "Bohemian Rhapsody" in the AMC Gremlin. Oh yea, there's also the ass kicking "We Will Rock You" that you can thank every competitive sporting event in history for ruining for me... thanks. I quickly found out what I missed from a live Queen show when Gary Mullen and the Works of jolly old England hit the stage.

When it comes to cover bands I'm always skeptical of what I'm in for and my first question is usually; will they do the original band justice? Are these tribute bands riding the coattails of their idols merely for monetary purposes or is a true love that makes them get out there and perform numbers from bands of the past? With a little help from friends, I learned to look at these cover bands as a window into the past of something that I can't experience anymore, if I was even old enough to have enjoyed it in the first place. Gary Mullen is one of those die hard Queen fans, telling the story of a show that can no longer be told by the originals. Back in 2000, Gary’s love of karaoke led him to a television show in the UK called "Stars in their Eyes" performing as Freddie Mercury and won the competition. With his band "The Works," One Night of Queen was born and have toured the world ever since.

The concert itself was supercharged from the beginning; Gary embodied Freddie Mercury in voice as well as in action. From his flamboyant dancing around the stage to participation with his audience, he was Freddie to a T; it was uncanny really! Again, I'll say, I'm not a diehard fan but if I would have closed my eyes, I could hear no difference from an actual live recording of Queen. The band was spot on performing "Somebody to Love", "Under Pressure" and many other classic Queen tracks. Like many other tribute shows, the crowd ranged from baby boomers to young children. While the kids may have just been brought by parents who forgot to get a sitter or if they were just trying to turn them on to some different music, a good time was had by all. It amazes me how excited people get and makes me realize that at one time they had a special relationship with the music if you will. Like how I feel when I put on the Weezer blue album; the bliss (and pains) that were high school memories come rushing back and its 15 years ago all over again.

As I have been asked to review two tribute shows from the past now at the Kentucky Center venues maybe I should compare the shows; I think not. It would be difficult to really pit the two shows against one another from only my stand point; the Pink Floyd Experience had a far better light show but Pink Floyd was known for their light shows. Gary Mullen had a phenomenal stage presence that really brought Freddie Mercury back on the stage for many; the Pink Floyd Experience didn't have that action but only because David Gilmour and Roger Waters didn't really move from their stage stations of space rock. I think I've made my point that the two shows from roughly the same era (at least overlapping) simply cannot be compared to one another. They both brought something very valuable to the table; they bring important music of the past to the attention of younger generations while letting others a chance to relive a time they fondly remember.

Review: Pink Floyd Expereince @ KY Center 2/25

I started the night off at the Kentucky Center Bar to ease away a hectic day at work as well as to acclimate myself to the widest age range of Pink Floyd fans I have ever seen in a room together. There were 6-year-old kids wearing worn out Dark Side t-shirts as well as guys so old it just may have completed their life if they played something obscure like "Interstellar Overdrive." All these different folks gathered together to see/hear songs they’d likely never see the original band play together again.

As the lights flickered at Whitney Hall and shortly thereafter dimmed, the band walked out on the stage; without my glasses and from a wonderful ten rows back, dead center, the lead guitar player looked remarkably like a early 90's David Gilmour; I was stoked! The band started off with “Learning to Fly” which wouldn't have been my first choice at a Pink Floyd show but may have been a regular starter for the post Waters Pink Floyd. The Pink Floyd Experience then rolled right into my favorite album, Animals, and got the show started properly with “Pigs”. It was at this point; I knew they weren't really trying to deviate from the perfect recipe that is note for note Floyd... I was a little afraid of that. When they did deviate it brought freshness to the room as they lay claim to the stage as a successful Pink Floyd cover band. The sax player, while a remarkable woodwind player, approached the "high five" area of the stage a few too many times in my opinion and it may have been different if the other members of PFX did that occasionally during a solo but who am I to argue, people love those sax players!

Where I got my kicks was with the light show. The subtle billow of the fog machines made for an awesome texture when the lights danced across it. 200,000 watts of light strobing and changing colors is what they claim but I’m not counting watts at this point… I’m marveling at the circular display screen depicting WWII bombers, corrupt world leaders and US currency during “Money.” Those lights and video really added to the “experience” aspect and visualized what you always heard in Pink Floyd lyrics; pure bliss!

I don't think anyone will disagree that Pink Floyd had their heyday in the Seventies and over the course of the evening they played a 70's heavy mix of Floyd albums such as Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Wall. I was very pleased they didn't leave out the 60's entirely and added a couple tracks from their first two albums. If you judged by the amount of raised hands and leaps from seats, I'd say the songs from The Wall went over best with DSOTM being a close runner up.

I gotta say that if a band can tour around the world and put on a spectacular light show just playing Pink Floyd songs... more power to 'em! Pink Floyd were
Incredibly talented musicians; I have no problem putting on any Pink Floyd album and listening to it from start to finish... well, maybe Ummagumma as it was so experimental I don't even think Roger Waters would cue it up. I know every band probably says "It's awesome to be here Louisville, and we're definitely coming back here!" but with this band, I really believe it... c'mon, the locals were flying out of their seats just to get the energy out of their bodies, not to mention to touch the giant flying pig... Good experience indeed!