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WHEN you hear the term "tribute band", it's easy to think of a modest covers band playing on a tiny stage in a free gig at your local bowlo.
In that sense, the term "tribute band" seems totally inadequate when describing Queen: It's A Kinda Magic.
The band's gig at Newcastle's Civic Theatre on Wednesday night was a stunner.
A big lighting and sound rig, plus a video screen, made for the sort of major production you'd expect from a frontline international touring band.
But it was the authenticity of the Queen sound, the superb musicianship of the four-member band, and the vocals and showmanship of frontman Giles Taylor, as Freddie Mercury, that punters will remember most.
The show replicated Queen's 1986 World Tour concert.
In the opening number, It's A Kinda Magic, Taylor perhaps sensed the reserved Wednesday night crowd was hardly in weekend mode.
So in just the second song of the night, Radio Ga Ga, Taylor ordered everyone up out of their seats, reminding them that this was not a theatre event ... "this is a rock concert!".
It was an audacious play so early in the night.
But it worked, and before they knew it, sheepish punters were standing with hands raised and chiming in on cue: "All we hear is Radio Ga Ga (clap-clap), Radio Goo Goo (clap-clap), Radio Ga Ga (clap-clap)".
The hour-long first set continued with Play The Game, Killer Queen, Fat Bottomed Girls, Tie Your Mother Down, Headlong, Bicycle Race, Don't Stop Me Now, and Crazy Little Thing Called Love.
The only criticism? A meandering drum solo. Yawn.
The second, and longer set, comprised I Want It All, It's A Hard Life, You're My Best Friend, In The Lap Of The Gods, Seven Seas of Rhye, I Want To Break Free, Hammer To Fall, Save Me, Under Pressure, Somebody To Love, We Are The Champions, and We Will Rock You.
The encore featured the unexpected Love Of My Life and the inevitable highlight, Bohemian Rhapsody, a tour de force to hear played live and in its entirety.
Taylor's costume changes (including performing I Want To Break Free in drag) and his faithful recreations of Mercury's strutting, camp posturing and gesturing were fun and done with a wink.
But such was his voice and piano skills he could have performed the show seated and straight in a suit and nobody would have complained.
He was that good.