The phrase 18 Til I Die is the biographical entry of Bryan Adams Twitter account. It could also be the motto of many of the 1,000 fans who attended the pop stars concert Wednesday at the Uptown Theater.
Entertainment Spotlight
Bryan Adams at the Uptown: An evening of hits, stripped down
Bryan Adams acoustic show provides a trip down memory lane.
September 20
By BILL BROWNLEE
Special to The Star
Focusing on Adams commercial heyday from the 80s and 90s, the concert allowed members of the audience to relive their youths.
Adams boyish good looks and husky voice enhanced the convincing trip down memory lane. Recurring themes of young love, fond remembrances of past achievements and a relatively sanitary sense of rebellion reinforced the evenings wistful atmosphere.
Accompanied only by pianist Gary Breit, Adams performed 25 songs in 100 minutes.
Run To You, the first selection, set the tone. Adams recreated the instantly recognizable opening riff of the 1984 hit on an acoustic guitar. Imbued with dramatic yearning, Adams radio-ready voice enthralled the eager audience.
The economical format emphasized the songs expert craftsmanship. A sturdy tunesmith, Adams writes earnest and uncomplicated songs that merit their enormous commercial success.
Im going to try to remember as many songs as I can tonight, Adams said. Ive got 30 years of music to remember.
Most of his choices were solid. Hearing old favorites such as Cuts Like a Knife provided a surge of delight akin to receiving an unexpected phone call from a long-lost friend.
The massive hits (Everything I Do) I Do It For You and Heaven had fresh appeal when stripped of their bombastic and dated production. Relatively overlooked gems such as Here I Am were just as agreeable.
A handful of selections didnt fare as well. The minimalist approach revealed that Im Ready and This Time are little more than riffs held together by the attitude Adams invests into each piece.
Adams insistence on recreating the original material as faithfully as possible seemed like a missed opportunity. Hearing a new arrangement of at least one big hit might have added an interesting twist to the otherwise unvarnished concert. Yet in his role as a human jukebox, Adams appeased his fans.
The concerts most potent moment came during a rousing rendition of Summer of 69, a catchy celebration of nostalgia. While smiles abounded among the joyous audience, it was mildly disconcerting seeing hundreds of people fervently singing along to the line those were the best days of my life.




