On Saturday, November 23rd, 2024, some of Queen’s greatest hits rocked Paraguay. Hard. Innuendo Queen Tribute Band took the stage at JazzCube – one of my favorite Asunción watering holes. Unfortunately, I had to sit in a corner at the back of the venue because nearly every table was reserved in advance. The place filled up quickly! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I was not let down. Neither was anyone else in the audience. People were having a great time – and so was the band.
Innuendo Queen Tribute Band is a popular local band that performs the discography of the iconic UK band Queen. If you know anything about Queen, you know that it’s nothing if not original. Very few bands have ever matched their creativity and complexity. Lead vocalist Freddie Mercury (now deceased) was one of the most recognisable frontmen in all of rock music history. His dramatic, flamboyant style and 4 octave vocal range make him a difficult character to imitate musically.
I was initially concerned that Innuendo Queen Tribute Band would have a hard time emulating Queen’s energy and unique sound. These fears were assuaged in the very first seconds of the show. Immediately I could tell that the band members were musicians of the highest calibre. Of special note were the powerful vocals of lead singer Julio Franco. He matched Freddie Mercury with almost perfect precision. And he did so with grace and style.
The other band members were also great. Danfer Ciudad rocked the house with energetic riffs and more than a couple of guitar solos. Alejandro Garcete on keyboard, Javier Vera on drums, and Fernando Sequeira on bass each brought something special to the performance as well. The Innuendo Queen Tribute Band was an absolute unit in terms of synergy and overall musical talent.
Songs performed included ‘We Will Rock You,” “We Are The Champions,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and my personal favorite “Under Pressure.” It turned out to be a crowd favorite, too. Even the bar staff was cheering! When it came time for the band to wrap up, the crowd shouted “Uno mas! Uno mas!” And so the band kept playing. And playing. And playing. There must have been five more songs before the curtains finally closed. The audience simply wouldn’t let the band stop!
It was a great show. And the Innuendo Queen Tribute Band was unbelievably talented. JazzCube was the perfect venue, and provided high quality drinks and food for very fair prices. I am consistently wowed by how much fun I have at JazzCube, especially when they feature live music. JazzCube in Villa Morra is one of Paraguay’s hottest spots for a night out in the city of Asunción. They feature bands, musical artists, and other performers nearly every night of the week.
Danfer Ciudad, guitarist and vocalist for Innuendo Queen Tribute Band will be performing on Thursday, November 28th, 2024 with Arriband at Sacramento Brewing Co. (Santisimo Sacramento 655). They mostly cover Argentinian rock music. The show starts at 10pm.
