The Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts came alive Saturday, Oct. 11 with the sounds of the ‘70s band Queen — including the memorable guitar work of Bryan May and voice of Freddie Mercury — covered by Big G, or Greg Wright, and Dean Yates, with band members from both of their groups including Mary Lyn Halley, Dr. Dan Hanson, Cathleen Tyson-Day, Vic Ricardson and Miranda Pjesky.
The co-op band was a result of Yates reaching out to Big G to do a special night of music for Queen lovers. Yates said that he was on a trip in Colorado when he heard a Queen group, and he couldn’t stop thinking about it. He was able to purchase a Fractal for his amp, which mimicked the iconic guitar sounds. For the vocals, he enlisted Big G, who was able to hit the needed high notes. Yates and Wright practiced together to imitate the memorable sounds of the famed British rock band, and the result was an incredible experience with mind-blowing vocals and guitar work.
The Amarillo bands of Dean Yates and Insufficient Funds teamed up with Big G & Tradewinds for a Queen tribute concert Oct. 11 at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts.
The Amarillo tribute show engulfed the audience in a full-blown time-travel concert that featured hit songs such as “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Show Must Go On,” “I Want it All,” and “Under Pressure,” with more and of course, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Queen fans sang along and recorded much of the show, sitting in the front, middle section.
Yates performed some amazing riffs on lead guitar, while the keyboard artist and other musicians did their magical work. Big G belted out some haunting vocals easily and without a flaw. Yates also flew through a difficult solo piece with a ukelele, which showed his meticulous picking skills, and the small but enthusiastic crowd responded.
Greg Wright, aka Big G, hits some high notes while performing Queen songs at a tribute concert Oct. 11 in Amarillo.
The show was sponsored by several entities including Center City, and proceeds were donated to Club 55+, formerly Amarillo Senior Citizens Center, which is actively fundraising to complete the interior of their new home on 2404 SW Sixth Street.
At the intermission, Tom Scherlen, a board member of 55+ Club, spoke to the crowd about the group’s mission, to rescue senior citizens from the loneliness some have during their lives after spouses or friends are gone. Scherlen emphasized the need for the center and how they plan to bring it back to what it was in the past: a meeting place for seniors to learn, enjoy each other’s company, make new friends and stay active.
Dean Yates performs a difficult solo piece during a Queen tribute concert Oct. 11 in Amarillo.
The 55+ board members sold tickets to a $1,000 treasure chest of gift cards, which was later awarded to the lucky winner. Scherlen promised to have other events, including music, for the group to help them succeed in their goal of opening the center.
Yates later donated $1,000 to the fund to help the 55+ Club get their new home redone in the interior.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Big G & Dean rock venue with sounds of Queen’s classic hits