Bryan Adams thrills fans with career-spanning set

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on November 10, 2022.

Herald photo by Al Beeber The spotlight shines upon Bryan Adams and his band as the Canadian rock icon hit the Enmax Centre stage on Tuesday, entertaining a packed house with two hours of hits.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

They braved subzero temperatures Tuesday to hear Canadian icon Bryan Adams and surely left “so happy it hurts.”

A packed Enmax Centre crowd showed their love to the 63-year-old Adams for a rousing two-hour set that featured two encores.

It was his first show here since 2006.

Adams, dressed in black short-sleeved shirt, jeans and running shoes, told the raucous crowd “I’m going to try to do as many songs as I can remember” after kicking off the night with three tunes that launched the audience into full-speed party mode.

Adams opened with “Kick Ass,” followed by the rollicking fan favourite hit “I Need Somebody” before putting the show into overdrive with “Somebody.”

The show, slated for an 8 p.m. start, opened about 20 minutes late as fans filed into the arena. A floating plastic car hovering above the crowd had many taking photos before Adams and band hit the stage.

Throughout the night, Adams engaged with the audience, taking requests and even asking a group on the floor if his face was on the wooden sticks they were carrying.

His set list covered a range of songs from the various eras of his career including one tune “Here I Am” from the 2002 film “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron” for which he provided songs.

During his set, Adams showed his virtuosity on a couple of acoustic numbers including “When You’re Gone,” his voice and musicianship shining brightly in the glow of the spotlight basking upon him as he stood alone at centre stage.

Adams did a solo version of his duet with Tina Turner “It’s Only Love”, turning toward the side of the stage and teasing audiences saying “she’s not here” before launching into the number which featured a riveting solo from his longtime bandmate and lead guitarist Keith Scott.

Songs such as “18 til I Die” and “Summer of ’69” had the 5,000 or so fans of all ages on their feet and screaming. During slow ballads, cellphone flashlights lit up the darkened arena like Bic lighters of old, the light moving in sync to the music.

Adams spent a portion of the show taking requests from fans, doing the songs “Hidin’ From Love,” “Cloud Number Nine” and “Please Forgive Me.”

For his encore, Adams didn’t just perform a couple of songs, he rolled off five more.

He opened with “So Happy It Hurts” from the album released earlier this year and followed it up with his 1984 smash hit “Run to You” which arguably prompted the the most deafening audience response of the night.

But as some fans began filing for the exits, Adams continued his relentless aural party with three more tunes including “Alberta Bound,” changing the province to “Lethbridge.” Next was the classic “Straight from the Heart” and after opening with a reprise from “Shine a Light,” which he’d performed near the start of his set, Adams and band closed with “All for Love.”

And audiences filed out of the arena into the frigid air of the night feeling the love for this international star and Canadian rock hero.

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