American Idol legend and touring frontman for Queen Adam Lambert brought the first stop on a delightfully spooky two-week run to Oakland‘s Paramount Theater last month. Titled “The Witch Hunt Tour,” the short run of shows was the singer’s love letter to the Halloween season.
Known for his spectacularly ostentatious performances, Lambert brought his signature flair to the historic theater. The bombastic night began with the singer entering the stage in a jewel-studded cloak, flanked by the backup dancers who would accompany him throughout the set. In a fitting start to a devilishly fun night, Lambert covered Redbone’s “The Witch Queen of New Orleans” to an already buzzing audience. Following that was Adam Lambert’s own “Superpower” and Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust.”
In fact, over half of the songs on the setlist were covers, each one a different eerie number highlighting the haunted camp of the show. Lambert’s command of classics like “Enter Sandman” and “Wicked Game” was a testament to his unquestionable vocal skill and stage presence. That he could take such beloved songs and make them entirely his own demonstrated his enduring star power.
One of the highlights of the night was Lambert’s mashup of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus” and Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer”. The seasoned performer was positively dripping with charisma as he moved effortlessly across the stage and through each uniquely spine-tingling song. A later rendition of Lambert’s own “Whatya Want from Me,” was a crowd favorite, as evidenced by the audience’s echo as they sang along to the enduring 2009 hit.
With a new solo single and hints at another Queen tour, Lambert’s star proves to be as bright and enduring as ever.
Adam Lambert in Oakland, CA
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