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10/02/09 - JACK
SINGER HALL, ECPA, CALGARY, AB
Review by Lisa Wilton (Sun Media):
CALGARY - This country has produced a wealth of talent over the
years, yet there are only a handful of artists who are internationally
known as being Canadian. Seriously, ask 10 foreigners to name Canadian
music stars and at least eight of them will mention Celine Dion,
Shania Twain, Nickelback and/or Bryan Adams. Adams hasn't even lived
in Canada for years (he's called London, England, home since the
'90s) but he's as much a part of the Canadian identity as Tim Hortons
and hockey fights. Even though Adams' music is met with some derision
-- particularly such overly sappy ballads as Everything I Do --
there was little to criticize during his sold-out show at the Jack
Singer Concert Hall last night.
I wasn't sure how well Adams would be able to pull off a solo acoustic
show since his raspy vocals aren't what you'd describe as angelic.
His voice has always seemed to need a full band to hide its limitations.
But the Vancouver-bred star sounded great last night thanks, in
part, to the excellent acoustics of the Jack Singer. He managed
to rock with just a guitar and mic and left the 2,000-strong audience
in stitches with his witty banter.
Clad in a smart black button-up shirt and black jeans, the 48-year-old
singer greeted the crowd with a simple "Hello, Calgary!" before
launching into his first song of the evening, Run To You. It's hard
to believe the man is nearing his 50th birthday as he looks in even
better shape than he did 25 years ago when his breakthrough solo
album, Cuts Like a Knife, was released. Adams says performing acoustically
is a way for him to 'rediscover' his songs. And it was the same
feeling for the audience.
He breathed new life into such tracks as Back to You, In The Heat
of Night, Cuts Like a Knife and Summer of '69, yet they were still
recognizable enough for the crowd to sing along. The set list featured
a good mix of older smash hits, minor singles and newer tracks from
his latest release, 11. The only time Adams wasn't completely solo
on stage was when doppelganger Gary Bright joined the singer on
piano. Even then, all eyes stayed on Adams.
Adams is a consummate performer. He looked comfortable and confident
on stage and kept the crowd engaged with funny and interesting anecdotes
between songs. The adoring crowd listened intently -- at least the
ones who weren't constantly taking pictures on their Blackberry
phones -- as he told them about all the "pubs, clubs and strip joints"
he's played in Calgary over the years. "I saw the best fights ever
in Calgary ... and then the guys would step in," he joked.
For Adams' fans, last night's show was everything they could have hoped for: A truckload of hits, great musicianship and, above all, a whole lot of fun.
Rating: 4/5
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Review by Heath McCoy (Calgary Herald):
'Bryan Adams shines when stripped bare'
Who was that dapper, acoustic guitar strumming gent who showed up Tuesday evening at Jack Singer Concert Hall?
The little waggish dude with the big, raspy voice who came with
a seemingly bottomless trunk full of instantly familiar pop songs,
which he served up all night like comfort food? Yeah, he looked
familiar alright.
Of course, it was Bryan Adams, and yes, after more than 25 years as a household name his face is nearly as recognizable as his tunes. And yet, this was not the guy we’ve come to know.
Here was the easy listening arena-rocker next door playing in the warmer, more intimate surroundings of a theatre. Adams, the top 40 Everyman with a slickly produced hit for all seasons revisiting those hits in their purest form. No band, just him and his acoustic guitar, and, for about half the night, the accompaniment of a piano player.
It was a welcome detour from an artist whose approach has been pretty well unwavering over the decades, for better or worse, depending on your viewpoint.
Without a doubt it was a special affair for Adam's adoring fans who packed the Jack to the rafters.
The 49-year-old Canuck himself seemed invigorated by the stylistic switch-up and he joked with the audience from the moment he polished off his opening number, the 1984 hit Run To You.
Being back in Calgary, Adams teased, always gets him thinking of
his earliest days in the music biz when he played Cowtown's finest
rock bars. "I saw the best fights here", he said with
a smirk. "And then the guys would step in."
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