Queen and Adam Lambert kick off tour with pomp, vigor and the spirit of Freddie Mercury

Queen and Adam Lambert launched their highly anticipated tour with a spectacular performance in Baltimore, reminding everyone of the unparalleled showmanship and musical prowess they bring to the stage. This tour marks their return to the United States after a four-year hiatus since their Rhapsody tour began.

The iconic band, founded by original guitarist Sir Brian May (also a noted astrophysicist) and the suave drummer Roger Taylor, treated the audience to a 27-song extravaganza filled with powerful songs and heartfelt tributes. Adam Lambert, the charismatic frontman, led the show with humility and magnetism.

The tour's staging was futuristic, featuring chrome accents and robotic visuals on giant screens. The show began with the iconic 1984 hit "Radio Ga Ga," with Lambert donning a silver breastplate and cape, captivating the audience.

While the Rhapsody production had toured Europe the previous summer, this time the setlist had been tweaked and included some surprises like the high-energy "Stone Cold Crazy," played for the first time since 2018, and the theatrically magnificent "The Show Must Go On." Queen also introduced "Is This the World We Created…?" from their 1984 album "The Works," a song that hadn't been performed in the decade that Lambert has been fronting the band. Lambert showcased the purity of his versatile voice during this touching ballad while sitting at the end of a catwalk with only May on acoustic guitar.

The audience, consisting of multiple generations of fans, enthusiastically embraced classic rock radio staples like "Another One Bites the Dust," "Somebody to Love," and the iconic "Bohemian Rhapsody." Lambert's dramatic entrance from beneath the stage during "Bohemian Rhapsody" added to the spectacle, with May sporting a mirrored jumpsuit and the original Queen video for the song used for the operatic passage.

Despite occasional naysayers who view Queen with Lambert as a mere cover band, Lambert's profound respect for the late Freddie Mercury was evident throughout the show. Lambert paid subtle homage to Mercury, and the audience could feel the connection to the original Queen frontman, who passed away in 1991.

Mercury would have likely appreciated the ornate rotating motorcycle that Lambert used during "Bicycle Race" and "Fat Bottomed Girls," as well as Lambert's energetic performance during "Don't Stop Me Now." Lambert also expressed his reverence for Mercury, stating, "We do this with Freddie in our hearts, and I know he's in your heart too."

Brian May took a poignant solo moment on the catwalk, singing "Love of My Life" with a tender voice. He asked the crowd to raise their illuminated phones (a modern version of the old candle-lit concerts) while footage of Mercury singing the ballad appeared in split-screen with May on the overhead video screen.

Joining May, Taylor, Lambert, and bassist Neil Fairclough were keyboardist and musical director Spike Edney and percussionist Tyler Warren. Together, they delivered flawless renditions of Queen's timeless classics.

With mesmerizing lighting, laser effects, Lambert's powerful vocals, and the enduring brilliance of May and Taylor, this Rhapsody tour isn't just a victory lap; it's a testament to Queen's enduring legacy.