|
27/07/02 - BIG TOP ARENA,
KINGS DOCK, LIVERPOOL Review by Greg Nixon (Daily
Post):
As an advert for Liverpool Museum, it was a great night. As a showpiece
for arguably one of rock's most under-rated songwriters, it was an awesome event. Surely
Bryan Adams and his band had no idea what they were in for when the Canadian rocker
asked for volunteers to join him on stage and help him out with a song. Cue
Christine from the audience, all in pink and white and an employee at the museum
"just round the corner". The pair launched
into "When You're Gone" and Christine gave it her all, leaving the star
of the show lost for words. Just one of a number of
memorable moments as Adams and his men churned out hit after hit. You
couldn't help but get the impression that Adams was enjoying this as much his
audience. The volume was cranked up as he started
the show with his latest single "Here I Am", followed by "Back
To You". By the time the first strains of "Summer
Of '69" ripped from Keith Scott's guitar, the crowd was on the verge of exploding After
almost two hours Adams brought the show to a railroading climax with "The
Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You". And
still there was more for his breathless fans - an encore of "Cloud Number
Nine", "Run To You", "The Best of Me" and a funky version
of Elvis's "Little Less Conversation" left the Summer Pops believing
that - for one night only, perhaps - there really was only one King of Rock'n'Roll.
And he is Canadian. ********** Review
by Jane Johnson:
Having arrived mid-afternoon, I expected the area around the
arena packed with people waiting to get in. It was empty. No queues! We even drove
right into the carpark and parked about 50ft away from the stadium. Amazing.
Gates
opened at 7pm and support group came on at 8pm - VEGA 4 (or the Vague 4 as my
mate named them). Nothing spectacular there cos all we wanted was Bryan to come
on. Although the singer did get all brash and walk out into the audience and climb
up the tent supports.
Eventually the waitng was over and he came out. Dress
in jeans and a black shirt with "Lead Singer" on the back (the others
had their bits printed on also). He began with Here I Am and I think you know
all the set from previous reviews. He's shaved off the beard and looked absolutely
yummy.
WYG was done with Christine from Liverpool, who just happened to work
in the museum on Albert Dock (which was where the stadium was). Whilst she was
getting to the stage, Bryan played "Do Wah Diddy" and he made a comment
singing "Looked good, cant sing". She was mediocre voice wise but made
up for it by dancing round quite well. She had her hands all over him which didnt
seem to bother him in the slightest and when she'd gone he said "Some days,
I love my job better than others."
He did one encore of 4 songs and finished
with the Elvis cover. Then it was all over.
We went round to try to get backstage,
something I have never ever tried to do before. The gig was quite small and they
had a special tent for VIPs. There were millions of stewards and no one would
let us in, telling us that he'd gone straightaway. I didnt believe this and we
hung on for a while. Christin (the girl who sang WYG) was also waiting and there
werre only about 6 of us there, but they wouldnt let us in. Eventually, she was
taken back and a couple others but not us unfortunately, but they were still insisting
he had gone. So, we went round to the other exit where the cars were parked and
waited there with about 15 others. One woman got quite friendly with a steward
and about an hour later he told the group that he would be coming out. So, then
a gold Merc with blacked out windows came out - and drove straight past all of
us and out the gates! I know I shouldnt moan only waiting an hour, compared to
the time some people wait, but I will moan. I couldnt believe he'd driven straight
past us, without even a wave out the window. I was VERY disappointed. It wasnt
as if there were loads of us there.
Concert was brilliant though, but the
after bit killed my high! | 
