The Queen is saved !
by kellnlew on 7/8/19Choctaw Grand Theater - DurantIf you go in wanting to hear an incredible voice applied to a fantastic catalog of music, you are at the right show !
No more results on this page
MARC MARTEL IN CONCERT:
From his days with acclaimed Christian rock outfit Downhere to his current gig filling in for Freddie Mercury on the Queen Extravaganza tour, Marc Martel has remained a jaw-dropping performer revered for his pitch-perfect vocals and commanding showmanship. Martel’s uncanny performances of Queen favorites like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Somebody to Love” have proven he can sing with the best of them, and he brings the same passion and expertise to his solo shows. Just as likely to cover ‘90s gems like Jesus Jones’ “Right Here Right Now” as he is to play cuts from his 2014 solo debut Impersonator, Martel is a dynamic performer who keeps fans on their toes with soulful sets that draw from his impressive past.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
Montreal-born Marc Martel was raised in the music-intensive environment of the church where his father led worship and his mother directed the choir. In 1999 he and a group of classmates at Saskatchewan’s Briercrest College and Seminary formed the band Downhere. The group toured on behalf of the college for four years, and after graduating they relocated to Nashville and signed with Word Records. The band released 10 albums and racked up several Juno and Dove Awards before going on hiatus in 2013. Martel launched his solo career in 2011 when he auditioned for the Queen Extravaganza tour with a video of himself performing “Somebody to Love”. The impeccable performance went viral and impressed original Queen drummer Roger Taylor enough to earn Martel a spot on the band’s 2012 tour. Following the highly anticipated 2014 release of his debut solo album Impersonator, Martel once again joined Queen in late 2015 for another round of performances.
If you go in wanting to hear an incredible voice applied to a fantastic catalog of music, you are at the right show !
Marc is more entertaining than I even expected. The sound is very close to Freddie and Queen and he does a great job doing all these songs justice.
This was the best concert I have ever been to. Marc’s energy was amazing!! Freddie Mercury would have been so proud!!!!!
I’ve seen several tribute bands and this has got to be one of the best. They focus on the sound and not imitating the original. Marc is super talented!! Great show!
Not a huge fan of Queen, only about half of their music actually, but this group was excellent musicians and played over 25 hit songs. They were definitely worth the money I paid to go. I would go back and see them again. Marc Martel was wonderful.
Though I don't believe in reincarnation...at some moment I had the feeling Marc is the reborn Freddie. It was absolutely gorgeous... Marc AND the band!
An amazing tribute to Queen! Marc Martel is a charismatic performer and along with the band, they did a terrific job of engaging the audience and thoroughly entertaining us. Played all of our favorites along with some surprises. We would go again and again!!
The guys were really good. They didn’t try to ack like Queen they just played the great music.
Marc gave the Ultimate Queen Experience. It was so thrilling and exciting to see my little girls enjoy themselves so much. My 12 year old knew more of the words than most adults. Both had the time of their life.
The overall experience was fun, however the performance left a lot to be desired it was strictly the lead singer trying to hype the crowd while the rest of the band just stood there.. perhaps if the venue had GA access instead of chairs in the front row we would have liked it more. The band and singer are amazing and definitely did justice to the songs.
Marc sounds just like Freddie Mercury. The concert was great...very glad I went.
Marc Martel and the Ultimate Queen Celebration are fabulous. Martel's vocal range is amazing. If you close your eyes, you would swear that you are hearing Freddy Mercury. He was excellent on the rock songs, and just as great on "You Take My Breath Away" and "Love of My Life." It was a long concert that we didn't want to end. If you have a chance to see the group, or Marc Martel on his own, don't miss it.
Non-stop Queen songs, excellent musicians, solid/stellar performance & great for the entire family!
Marc Martel put on an amazing performance at Choctaw! One of the best shows I’ve been to! Venue is great!
Marc Martel absolutely amazing. I have been to many concerts in my life. His is the first one that gave me chills. His on stage personality, interaction with the audience was beyond compare. Drove a total of 8 hrs round trip and would do it again!
I was exceedingly impressed with the the singing. I thoroughly enjoyed the performance . 👍🏽👍🏽
Really enjoyed the performance. Mark has an excellent voice and he and the band brought back great memories of Queen!!
Absolutely fantastic - would go every month if I could!!!
The show was really loud, and the band overpowered the lead vocals, but that was OK. Unfortunately, they had these huge white lights shining into the audience from behind the stage, which the lighting guy controlled. He proceeded to tap his fingers on these switches to every beat of the music, blinding the audience and making it impossible to see the performers on the stage. I literally had to shield my eyes from the lights, and watch the video screens, which were so blown out from all the light, that you could barely even see them. I asked him to dim or stop those lights but he refused. Halfway thru the show, most people in my section had left. I spoke to the manager of the arena, and she requested that he do something with the lights, because they had had over 40 complaints, but still he wouldn't stop them. Finally, just before the encore, the owner of the casino was able to make him turn off those stupid lights. So then he began to tap on the 2 9-light displays and 4 powerful strobe lights. It was AWFUL! I loved Queen and their music, and think this band could really be something special. It is very unfortunate that this idiot was able to ruin the show for so many. The venue and their staff were very nice, friendly, and helpful. Too bad it was not their people running the show.
The concert was awesome! Marc Martel was definitely rocking the crowd! He truly had the Freddie Mercury essence throughout the whole show! So many Queen songs were performed. When Marc performed "Bohemian Rhapsody", my fave Queen song, I knew then that Freddie Mercury was smiling down on him. :) We even got surprised with his opera style of singing. Definitely recommended! My sister and I thoroughly enjoyed the show!!