There was an interesting energy in the Centrium in Red Deer on November 22nd. Despite having a moderately sized arena of their own, fans in the city typically have to drive to Calgary or Edmonton to catch shows from major artists. However a new trend is starting, especially with Canadian artists, to visit some of the smaller markets. For this tour, Bryan Adams is bypassing Alberta’s major cities and instead performed in Grand Prairie, Red Deer, and Medicine Hat. You could feel the excitement from fans as they packed the home of the Red Deer Rebels ready to revisit the career of one of Canada’s greatest musicians.
Adams is currently on tour in support of his 2015 Get Up album. The show was dramatically different from his last appearance in Calgary in January 2015, which marked the 30th Anniversary of Reckless. Instead of focusing on one album, the 2.5 hour concert was a mix of classics and new.
Looking sharp in jeans and a suit jacket, Adams and his band – including long time guitarist Keith Scott and drummer Mickey Currie – launched into the new song Do What You Gotta Do before immediately going back to the 90’s with Can’t Stop This Thing We Started. It was a perfect mix – a hit parade of songs like Run To You and It’s Only Love with Get Up tracks like Go Down Rockin and We Did It All fitting in well with the classic material.
With nearly 4 decades under his belt, Adams knows how to work with the audience. His statement "I love to hear you sing" was heartfelt. He talked to fans in the audience, brought kids up to the stage to hand them guitar pics, and jumped off the stage to grant a fans request for a hug. Then he would jump back into the music, the instantly recognizable intro to Summer of 69 bringing the thousands in attendance to their feet to sing. Towards the end of the show as the audience cheered his appreciation, he commented "You know I have 13 albums right? This is the halfway point of the show."
Although Adams had a large screen and some effects, it has been his own charisma and the music that continues to fill arenas worldwide. In the past, he has done solo acoustic tours, and when the band left Adams alone with his guitar mid-set for Here I Am and a stripped down version of When You’re Gone it was beautiful. Adams ended the night in a similar manner – solo acoustic for a cover of Alberta Bound and stunning renditions of Straight From The Heart and All For Love.
When you think of Iconic Canadian singer-songwriters, Bryan Adams is one of those at the top of the list. I have never seen him have a bad concert of phone it in. His Red Deer show added another place to the many that he has left fans feeling happy and excited to see him in person and sing along to songs that for many have been a soundtrack to our lives. It’s a special thing, seeing him in concert, and one that every Canadian should experience at least once.
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Contributor Jason Clevett |
Locale Red Deer |
Person Bryan Adams |
Topic Concert Review |
Photo Gallery Bryan Adams |
