The iconic band Queen were provided their flowers when tribute band 33 1/3 Killer QUEEN Experience took the stage at The Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria, VA, on Saturday, September 18th. I had seen another Queen Tribute band in the past, and furthermore, my son is a massive fan of Queen, so our attendance at the show was necessary.
33 1/3 Killer Queen Experience opened the show with “Fat Bottom Girls.” The group’s lead vocalist Justin Gonzalez was in pristine form with his vocals. One of the most enjoyable things about Gonzalez’s performance was that he never tried to sing like Freddie Mercury, and instead, he made the songs his own while being backed by his live band. Throughout a ninety-minute set, the 33 1/3 Killer QUEEN Experience hit all of the songs you would want to hear during a Queen experience.
I would also like to give the band credit for not just doing a Hits show and introducing my family and I to some Queen songs that I wasn’t familiar with, such as “Hammer To Fall,” “Keep Yourself Alive,” and “Prophet’s Song.” One of the evening’s best moments occurred when Tony (a group roadie) took the stage to perform “We Will Rock You.” Now, if you are curious about what made this so special, Tony is only ten years old.
If I had one gripe with the show it would be that my favorite song by Queen, “Princes of the Universe,” wasn’t on the setlist. However, the band’s energy, musicianship, and family-friendly entertainment more than made up for the omission.
Final Grade: B+
This weekend is about celebrating the King of Pop, Mr. Michael Jackson, and his legacy. For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to highlight his debut solo album, “Got To Be There,” which was released on January 24th, 1972.
Fifteen years after his untimely passing, the King of Pop’s music continues to resonate with us, a testament to its timeless appeal. As we honor his heavenly birthday this past Thursday, I wanted to pay tribute to him with ‘Loving You’ for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
When we reminisce about the potential of lead singers who could have been iconic solo acts, the name Sisqó immediately springs to mind. The front man for R&B quartet Dru Hill, Sisqó, stormed onto the scene in 1999 with his solo debut ‘Unleash the Dragon.’ The success of the singles ‘Incomplete’ and ‘Thong Song’ propelled Sisqó’s solo debut to sell a staggering five million copies in the US alone, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry.