It’s only a little over three months ago that Bryan Adams played a sold out show up the road in the cavernous Utilita Arena in Newcastle so such a swift return took many by surprise especially as tonight he was playing in the more intimate setting of the Boiler Shop.
As an independent artist now, Adams is his own record label, manager and publicity machine. The buck stops with him on everything. In a rather unique way, Adams arranged a handful of club shows to promote his brand new album, Roll With The Punches released literally two days earlier. To get a ticket for the show, you had to buy the album and judging by the fact that this tour sold out within seconds suggests he’s shifted a fair few albums in the process.
Tonight was all about his new album, so that’s what we got. The whole thing from start to finish and virtually no one came expecting a Greatest Hits type of show and it worked all the better for it.
Kicking off with the title, Adams was off to a flyer delivering the Rock ‘n’ Roll uppercut to set the of the show. “Make Up Your Mind” is classic Reckless era Adams, an up-tempo, driving beat, tasty riff and ever so catchy chorus.
In between songs, Adams took questions for the audience on just about every subject with plenty of laughs and jokes delivered and received bringing a real sense of intimacy to the show that’s just not there in arena. Best of all, it was so clear that Adams and his band, featuring long-time guitarist Keith Scott, was having a blast as he returned to his club roots.
Arguably the highlight of the new record “Never Let You Go” soared on the back of a huge chorus that had the crowd singing like it had been in his set for years. They’d clearly done their homework.
With one song in the set reserved for an oldie, Adams took requests from the crowd with a barnstorming “There’ll Never Be Another Tonight” winning out and raising the roof. A quick romp through Frankie Valli’s classic “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” removed what was left of the roof.
“Love Is Stronger Than Hate” and “Will We Ever Be Friends Again” are classic Adams ballads with the latter a misty eyed reminisce of younger days of lost love.
As a marketing ploy, this was sheer genius from Adams but it certainly helped that his 16th studio album, Roll With The Punches may well be the best he’s released in years.
Note: No photo passes or phone photography available at this show. The photo is from his show at Utilita Arena, Newcastle on 20th May 2022.
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