I had a wonderful time in Jacksonville, Florida Sunday night March 5th with about 7000 others watching Queen + Paul Rodgers. (I live in Tallahassee, Florida’s Capitol, a 2.5 hour drive away.) This was my first Queen concert ever -- after 30 + years of listening -- although I did snag Brian’s autograph in back of the Astoria in London in May 2004 after the Ian Hunter show!

I got there a few hours early – free parking! – and managed to wave at Paul and Brian in their limos on the way in. IMHO it was worth every penny to see Brian and Roger resurrect the Queen catalog for live performance. Freddie was poignantly remembered with a number of video clips, in particular for Bohemian Rhapsody.

Opening Lights: It’s A Beautiful Day
1. Reaching Out (Rodgers Solo)
2. Tie Your Mother Down
3. Dragon Attack
4. Fat Bottomed Girls
5. Take Love (new Queen + Paul Rodgers song) (I hope this means there’s a new album!)
6. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
7. Brian May Solo: 39,
8) Love of My Life
9. Hammer to Fall (w/ band)
10. Feel Like Making Love
11. Let There Be Drums (Roger Taylor solo)
12. I’m In Love With My Car
13. Brian May Electric Solo: Brighton Rock, etc...
14. Bad Company
15. Another One Bites The Dust
16. Those Were The Days of Our Lives
17. Radio Ga Ga
18. Can’t Get Enough
19. The Show Must Go On
20. Bohemian Rhapsody
ENCORE
21. We Will Rock You
22. All Right Now
23. We Are The Champions
CLOSING. God Save The Queen

The Jacksonville paper had a rather negative review of the show. I doubt they even got the attendance numbers right to start with..... I think the DVD and CD title put it right: The Return of the Champions. Thanks Brian and Roger (and Paul) for bringing back Queen!

Brian and Roger both have great solo albums -- why not roll out some of that material? e.g. "Driven by You" from "Back to the Light"