Here in Las Vegas is it currently the time for the National Finals Rodeo. The stereotypical cowboys come into town and there’s no escape from the smell of a barnyard. Not to mention the floods of country music blasting in your ear drums.
For a pop music lover like myself, it’s rough to find an escape. Though, I was lucky enough to find one! This weekend was the 94.1 mix FM Mercedes in the Morning’s: Not So Silent Night staring Rob Thomas with special guest Adam Lambert.
It’s been about 5 and a half years since I last saw Adam Lambert on his Glamnation Tour. The most recent album The Original High has been dominating the airwaves locally so this really felt like a great time to see Adam in a new light outside of the American Idol stereotype.
Having 5 years under his belt, now fronting Queen, I was expecting quite a bit of a change from 2010. Boy, was I right! The musical versatility that only comes with experience SHINED with a mashup of the Trespassing title track and the Queen classic “Another One Bites The Dust.”
Unfortunately, the set that Adam put on was only 45 minutes long so it didn’t give much time to really soak in his genius. Then, “If I Had You” started up. Never did I think such a composition could change so dramatically that it changes genre completely. Adam Lambert does reggae! The only thing missing was a proper set of dreadlocks and you would have been completely transported to the Caribbean.
Then it was time for intermission. From the example of the first set, I noticed the audience was a majority demographic that was completely stiff and didn’t dance what so ever. I was dying on the inside. “The Original High” is an album jammed packed with perfect songs that make you move! Get loose at a concert. It’s not like these people will ever see you again…let alone in Las Vegas many of these people won’t even remember.
The headliner was Rob Thomas. As a child of the 90s, I never thought much of Matchbox Twenty. Though, when I thought about it, Adam Lambert and Rob Thomas are the definitive definition of pop musicians. They have crossed all boundaries and genres to have a collective demographic from early teens to senior citizens. What is more pop than your music touching everyone? Speaking of that musical versatility, Rob Thomas came out with a perfect rendition of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance.” It’s almost like he was trying to send a message out to the Glamberts out in the crowd that he too has glam in his soul. I really started to get into it at that point. Then, he came out with the hit of 1999 “Smooth.” As a child who grew up in the southwestern US the sounds of Santana were a major part of my childhood. Santana has a residency here, the only downside is he didn’t join in!
Rob Thomas and Adam Lambert are the perfect pop pairing and if ever do anything together again… don’t miss it!
Tis the season for some great concerts and this for sure was one for the books.