Even before live entertainment with limited audience sizes began returning to the Las Vegas Strip last year, we at Las Vegas Weekly were among those speculating about the potential for livestreaming shows from Vegas during the pandemic. We wrote about it. But for a variety of reasons—mostly related to money—it didn’t happen in a big way.
Adam Lambert, always known for doing things in a big way, is going to give it a shot. The powerhouse vocalist known for a breakthrough run on American Idol and as the current singer of Queen continues his headlining engagement at Venetian this week, and he’ll broadcast his October 29 concert live via Looped. Tickets for the stream are available at adamlambert.net.
It’s the first time an artist has offered a ticketed livestream for concertgoers at any venue at Venetian or Palazzo, and it’s likely one of the first such endeavors on the Las Vegas Strip.
“I feel very lucky to have fans who travel internationally and like to come to my shows, and Vegas is an amazing place to be performing from in that regard,” Lambert, who played a series of shows with Queen at Park MGM in 2018, tells the Weekly. “A lot of them can’t get into the country right now, and a lot of others just don’t feel comfortable traveling in our country. It just seemed like a great thing to do to give more fans some of this experience.”
The pandemic postponed the Vegas dates Lambert had on the books last year, which were to be part of some big tour plans behind fourth studio album Velvet, released in March 2020. The timing was disappointing, because “I put so much energy into it and I’m so proud of that album and I really wanted to share it,” he says. “But after that feeling wore off, it was, OK, let’s get back on the horse and figure out a way to stay creative.”
That positivity sparked a lot of writing and collaborating—and eventually the creation of a musical Lambert is keeping under wraps but which is expected to evolve into a concept album. Even without more info, we wouldn’t mind seeing a stage version come to Vegas.
“I don’t know where it’s going to go yet,” he says. “I love performing and I love writing, and artists shouldn’t limit ourselves to one type of thing. I love exploring new avenues and journeys, and for me, this one is very exciting. It’s something I’ve always thought about.”
Lambert also isn’t finished singing with Queen. This version of the iconic British band was set for a residency at London’s O2 Arena to kick off a European tour last year, plans that have been pushed to 2022. He’s in touch with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor and says, “We’re all itching to get back on the road together. [Queen] is like a battery, a life force when we’re doing it, and I miss it.”
ADAM LAMBERT October 22-23, 27, 29-30, 8 p.m., $71-$172. Venetian Theatre, 702-414-9000.
