We love concert reviews, so we selected some choice ones to share with you this week, including Adele in London; Nickelback in Toronto; Garth Brooks in Lafayette, La.; Queen + Adam Lambert in Glendale, Ariz.; Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie in Raleigh, N.C.; and Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias in Miami.
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, file – Adele
Performing “Hello” at the 59th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
Adele @ Wembley Stadium in London, England, June 28 – “Adele’s dislike of touring seems especially surprising because she is such a natural on stage. Despite constant protestations of nerves, punctuated with cheerful obscenities, she comes across as relaxed, chatty and charismatic, and always deeply engaged with her music and her audience.” – Neil McCormick / The Telegraph
Nickelback @ Budweiser Stage in Toronto, Ontario, June 27 – “The 19-song set was sparse with new material and heavy on the hits. But through it all, Kroeger, guitarist Ryan Peake, bassist Mike Kroeger and drummer Daniel Adair were content to let the music do the talking. It was a far cry from the earlier Nickelback tours, with enough flames, pyrotechnics and explosions to make Rammstein momentarily jealous.”– Jason Macneil / The Toronto Sun
Courtesy Honda Center – Garth Brooks
Honda Center, Anaheim, Calif.
Garth Brooks @ The Cajundome in Lafayette, La., June 23 – “For someone who jokes about his age (55), his “gut” and sore knees, Brooks is a ball of energy on stage. He sings, plays guitar, runs, jumps, works the sides and back of his circular stage, almost as much as the front.” – Herman Fuselier / The Daily Advertiser
Queen + Adam Lambert @ Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz., June 23 – “While his voice lacked some of the grit that Freddie had (the way Mercury could still sound tough and macho even when he was being fey and operatic at the same time), he could hit those high notes and did an excellent job being the world’s best Queen karaoke singer.” – Ashley Naftule / Phoenix New Times
Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie @ Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh, N.C., June 24 – “The concert was a bit delayed due to thunderstorms, but it was worth the wait to see Buckingham’s unique guitar fingerpicking style and hear his harmonies with McVie. The sound was lush and layered, and if you closed your eyes, you were almost at a Fleetwood Mac show.” – Leah Moore / The News & Observer
John Davisson – Pitbull
“93.3 FLZ’s Jingle Ball,” Amalie Arena, Tampa, Fla.
Pitbull/Enrique Iglesias @ AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Fla., June 23 – “Slipping in and out of styles with such ease is what allows Pitbull to surge past his status as a Miami favorite. Nothing is sacred to this man, and that’s part of the appeal, the fun, and the plan to win with every demographic. He will surprise by having something for everyone. … [Iglesias] rocketed from one end of the stage to the other, letting the audience do most of the heavy lifting for the majority of the show. While they sang, he went to his go-to move, which was Jack on the bow of the Titanic, arms out, yelling some shit about being king of the world.” – Angel Melendez / Miami New Times