It’s a Kinda Magic

Queen – It’s a Kinda Magic, a theatrical tribute to one of the best rock bands to come out of the UK. Could this tribute band pull off the magic that was Queen? Would the lead singer be able to emanate Freddie’s showmanship? What would be their opening song – It’s a Kinda Magic? We Will Rock You?

As we walked up all those stairs to our seats in the Gallery section of Massey Hall, I thought about the last Queen concert I saw many years ago at CNE Stadium and what a show that was. When we finally reached our destination and sat down, I saw that I was part of a mostly 39-something crowd, looking to relive the magic of Queen live. Music and music videos played as we patiently waited for the show to begin. Then the preamble faded and the lights dimmed. The band came on stage and the magic began.

This British tribute band pulled it off. The show opened with One Vision, and you’d think this was the real thing. They recreated all the Queen classics you were waiting to hear. We sang along as Freddie (Craig Pesco) walked, pranced, and did his thing during this high-energy performance. He brought the audience to their feet more than once.

The middle of the show was a touching tribute to the late Freddie Mercury with the song Save Me. As the band performed, a nostalgic video depicting Mercury through the years played on a giant circular screen.

The audience enjoyed Queen’s classic video of an army of naked women riding ten speed bikes during Bicycle Race. Pesco was successful in recreating Mercury’s showmanship when he got in touch with his feminine side. He bore “rubber breasts”, a revealing blouse and a long-haired wig during his cross-dressing performance of I want to Break Free, reminiscent of the Queen video where all the band members dressed as women.

The sound was off at times and Roger Taylor (Brett Millican) was hard to hear when he sang I’m in Love with My Car. They also seemed to be pushing Peter Freestone’s book about the life of Freddie Mercury. Freestone was Mercury’s personal assistant for the last 12 years of Mercury’s life.

The unforgettable night ended with Bohemian Rhapsody as the encore. Pesco let the audience take lead vocals during much of this song and the audience loved it. They rocked us, did A Crazy Little Thing Called Love and found Somebody To Love. The amazing performance proved that indeed, they are the champions.

Queen – It’s a Kinda Magicended their world tour with a three-day Toronto run on Sunday, October 16. Freddie Mercury may be dead and gone, but Craig Pesco and the rest of this band are able to keep the Queen magic alive. Can’t wait to see them on their next world tour!

You missed it this time around, but don’t fret you can keep checking the website to see when the tour starts again - www.queen.itsakindamagic.com

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