Bryan Adams – Live in London 14/12/2022
Written by Kahmel Farahani on December 19, 2022
Bryan Adams wraps up tour in stunning fashion; an ageless performer with a platinum coated songbook.
Words and Pictures: Kahmel Farahani
“I’m so happy to be ending our year in London!”. thus declares a jubilant Bryan Adam from the stage of London’s O2 Arena. Still touring in support of his highly acclaimed 15th studio album So Happy It Hurts, Adams has spent most of this year on the road making up for lost time. Now riding on a critical and commercial high, he is rounding up a year of successful shows that included several nights at The Royal Albert Hall in spring.
Tonight there is no support act and an early start which seems to suit this dedicated crowd just fine. As things kick off with a bang with Kick Ass and Can’t Stop This Thing We Started, its easy to see that the band is taking no prisoners tonight. Newer songs like Shine a Light still sit comfortably along side some of the biggest signals of all time such as the power ballad to end them all, (Everything I Do) I Do It For You. Bryan Adam’s voice is so strong it’s almost unbelievable and at age 63 he is putting singers half his age to shame. The strength of these songs and their ability to connect with the crowd, young and old, is simply stunning.
It’s followed by the Rockabilly dance off of You Belong to me and I’ve Been Looking For You that get the whole 02 up and dancing in the aisles. The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me is the type of upbeat pop rock that he has become most famous with, but when things get stripped down to the bare essentials, on a solo acoustic rendition of When You’re Gone, the sheer talent of Adams as a singer-songwriter is stunning.
Ever the gracious frontman, Bryan Adams pays tribute to his soundman of 43 years and his band. Tonight he successfully manages to shrink the feeling of an arena show to a fairly intimate experience, taking song requests from the audience who take turns shouting songs out or writing it on paper plates. Take Me Back and On A Day Like Today are followed by Rebel and Please Forgive Me. “OK now I have a request” declares a smiling Bryan Adams before the band swings into a tremendous run through of Cuts Like A Knife.
The Encore begins So Happy It Hurts before going back to the classics. Run To You is Bryan Adams at his finest, with big riffs and bigger chorus it’s one of the many highlights tonight and the fabulous lead guitar of Keith Scott makes it even more exciting tonight. “This song takes me back to being in my mother’s basement as a teenager and band practice with my friends – they went “who’s going to be our singer?” I said “I’ll do it until we find somebody. We never found anybody”.
Leading a sea of flashing phone lights in the arena, Adams belts through the unplugged versions of Straight From the Heart and All For Love. By this point we have passed the 2 hour mark well behind and Bryan Adams is now drifting between 2nd and 3rd encore with his trusty acoustic in hand. “One More? Really?” asks Adams. “Well it is that time of year”. Finally ending with a rather beautiful and festive Christmas Time, Adams takes a very well deserved bow. Tonight’s performance was that of a world-class songwriter and the very peak of their powers. Long may he run.
