Painted Like the Wings of Butterflies - Queen + Paul Rodgers = Me Wanting More Queen

The show must go on...

When Paul and I were in Holland, we were flipping through the late night porn at the hotel and discovered a Queen special. At that point, Queen was already touring Europe with Paul Rodgers. There were some interviews and concert clips. Overall, we thought it sounded pretty cool and that we'd like to see it.

When they finally hit America, we learned that it would only be two shows. One west coast in Hollywood and one in nearby Jersey. Quelle chance!

Overall, the show was poorly run by the fine folks at the Continental Airlines Arena. They didn't have enough security at the door and it was a bit chaotic getting in. It was a sold out show and very crowded. Our seats were great, though, similar to what we had for Weezer/Foo Fighters, directly across from the stage, a few rows up.

Before the show, they played a really obscure dancey Queen song from the 80's, loudly, as though this was to be an indication of the start of the show. However, they didn't bother to turn off the lights! "What's this song called?" I asked Paul, the avid Queen fan. "It's called 'Turn the fucking lights out!'" So then they did. Ane even more bizarrely, the lights started moving around and through the speakers the audience was treated to sounds of....

Eminem. Fucking Eminem. "Lose Yourself." You know, that gay song from "8 Mile?" I looked around and noticed I wasn't the only person completely confused by this.

Next thing I knew it was over (thank God). And they started out with "Tie Your Mother Down," which was Paul's pick for first song (he snooped, I'm sure). There were big screens on each side and for some reason, the camera guy wanted to give Brian May a colonoscopy. The crowd was treated to the Brian May Ass Cam, just about all night.

Speaking of Brian May, he did his own set. He played "39" and "Love of My Life" (*puking*). Later in the show, he played "Friends Will Be Friends" and stood on this platform behind the drum set in front of a big screen. On the screen, they projected stars. It sounds kind of cheesey, but it looked cool on the big screens. It looked like he really was playing in outer space. Roger Taylor played "I'm in Love With My Car" and sang most of "Radio Ga Ga." He also played some song about Nelson Mandela and his crusade against AIDS. Way to bring us all down, there buddy.

The dickslap sitting next to me chose these parts of the show to get up and go to the bathroom or get more beer. I swear he got up six times, no exaggeration. The third to last time he told us that it would be the last time. When he got up again, he told us that that would be the last time and I, being the smartass that I am, pointed out that he said that last time. And of course, he got up yet another time after that. Each time he got up, he touched my arm. I wanted to kick him in the nuts.

The only thing more annoying than that was that there were way too many Paul Rodgers songs. I'm probably in the minority for not liking this, though. People really seemed to like them. I don't. I'm just not a huge fan of Bad Company or any of the other 50 bands this guy was in. After they played the yucky "Feel Like Makin' Love" *puking again*, Paul leaned over and said, "I really hate Paul Rodgers." And after "Alright Now," I leaned over and said the same thing.

One of the cooler moments of the show had to be Bohemian Rhapsody. It started out with Freddy on the big screen and his vocals, but the band played through it. Everyone seemed to like it. Brian May came out wearing the shirt that Freddie wore on the video tape of his performance. It may have been the one from Live Aid, but I'm not 100 ure. The other thing that I liked about the show was that they started the encore with "The Show Must Go On." I always liked that song.

So yeah, I guess I'm glad I got to see this. I went into it to see the band knowing that it wouldn't be quite the same. Too many Paul Rodgers songs might keep it from being one of my top 5 favorite concerts ever. But hey, there is a lot of competition. I guess I would have just preferred more Queen songs. There were so many that I love that they didn't play.