05/01/00 - CIVIC CENTER, CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI

Review by Ryan MacPherson:
I was listening to Magic 93, a local radio station here on PEI, on a November evening, when an announcement came on that there was a "big concert announcement" on the air at 7 o'clock the next morning. Well I of course couldn't wait that long to find out who it was! So on the internet I go, and of course the first website I check out is bryanadams.com, and sure enough there is a new Canadian tour listed. I'm holding my breathe at this point, praying for a Charlottetown gig to be including, and there it was, the 2nd night of the tour, Bryan was playing the Civic Centre on January 5th! After waiting near 20 years to play PEI, Bryan was coming back for his 2nd show in 2 years! I freak out!

The tickets went on sale November 27th, so the night before the tickets went on sale, my sister Tanya, her boyfriend & I crashed at his grandparents house. We got up at around 2 in the morning (which basically meant we didn't sleep) & got ready to head into Charlottetown to wait in line. A friend of ours is a cab driver in town, so we called him to see if he'd mind driving past the Civic Centre and let us know if there was many people waiting yet for tickets. To our surprise, there wasn't a single one.

We did this a few times before finally heading in around 5 in the morning. When we got there, there were only 5 or 6 people in front of us. I was really disappointed with the lack of enthusiam by the fans, espiecally compared to Bryans last visit here in '98 when they started lining up the morning before tickets went on sale, & it sold out in 2 hours. Anyways, this also meant that all 3 of us would get a free copy of Bry's new book "Made in Canada", seeing that it was given to the first 50 people. Usually ones to stand during concerts, we decided to go with seats this time around, front row, a little to the right of the stage.

It was FREEZING the night of the concert...not quite as cold as the night we had to stand outside in -40 Celius for an hour waiting for the doors to open to the Tragically Hip - but cold enough. As soon as we got in the doors, we went and got our free Made In Canada books, then it was off to find out seats. I went in with my best friend (we sat together), my sister, her best friend, & our cousin (them 3 sat together...Tans boyfriend couldn't make it, so her friend took the ticket).

After what seemed like an enternity, the lights dimmed, and a few minutes later Bryan, Keith, & Mickey took the stage to a thunderous ovation. They kicked off the show with an amazing versions of "back to you", follwed by "can't stop this thing we started", "18 til i die", then everybodys favorite, "summer of '69". The show lasted just over 2 hours, and featured all the goodies. Bryan kidding around the audience. Keith having the house in awe of his unreal guitar work. The young girl picked by Bryan to help him out on "when you're gone" (who I heard interviewed on the radio the next day BTW, she was extremely excited!).

Although it wasn't nearly as good as Bryans other gig at this same Civic Centre just about 2 years prior as a 5-piece, it was still an incredible show. Bryan had the crowd in the palm of his hand the entire night, & he didn't disappoint. After the band left the stage for a final time, and the lights came back on, Brett & I met back up with the girls and we were out. Another amazing show by Bryan, Keith, Mickey, & co. 24 hours later, I'm on the ice playing hockey on the exact same surface that Bryan & the boys stood only a day earlier :)

Please come back to PEI again Bryan!!! We love you!!!

Setlist: (Not entirely in order)
How Do Ya Feel Tonight
Back To You
Can't Stop This Thing We Started
18 Til I Die
Summer Of '69
It's Only Love
Everything I Do
You're Still Beautiful To Me
I'll Always Be Right There
Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?
Remember
Cuts Like A Knife
C'mon C'mon C'mon
Getaway
On A Day Like Today
When You're Gone
I'm Ready
Heaven
Before The Night Is Over
I Don't Wanna Live Forever
Blues Jam
The Only Thing
Cloud #9
Run To You
Somebody
The Best Of Me
Please Forgive Me

® 2003 18 Til I Die.co.uk. All rights reserved.
Web site comments to admin@18tilidie.co.uk

My ticket :)