POP MUSIC REVIEW : Brian May Proves an Able Ruler at the Palace

Former Queen guitarist Brian May’s debut solo album, “Back to the Light,” isn’t a surprise: It’s full of lush, often dated-sounding commercial rockers not too different from the material he wrote with Queen. What was surprising in his L.A. solo concert debut on Tuesday at the packed Palace was his strength as a frontman and singer.

A quiet presence renowned for his groundbreaking, layered guitar harmonies, May has a voice akin to that of a less emotive Roy Orbison. And clearly his 20 years in Queen helped him absorb some of the late Freddie Mercury’s vocal nuances.

Aside from some staged invective-hurling with his hyperactive female backup singers, the set was passionate, varied and well-paced, balancing Queen favorites such as “Tie Your Mother Down” with solo fare and, in a nod to his drummer Cozy Powell, a lively version of “Since You Been Gone,” popularized by Powell’s old band Rainbow.

By the conclusion of the 90-minute performance, May’s warm and low-key stage presence, coupled with his fluid, intricate playing and fine voice, proved conclusively that this guitar hero is much more than merely a set of fast fingers.