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30/08/03 - MOLSON AMPITHEATRE, TORONTO Review by Uma: At around 2:30pm, Karen and her sister picked me up. We drove to the subway station and then took the subway downtown. Then we took the streetcar to the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) grounds. We spent about two hours just walking around and then we ate. I wasn't too impressed by the CNE...the only thing that I was really interested with was the fact that they were selling CDs and books for really cheap prices, so we looked at those. Then at about 6:00pm, we started to cross the grounds and headed towards the Molson Amphitheatre. When we arrived, we realized that everyone was lining up and that the lines were huge. It didn't make much sense to me because I knew that all the seats were assigned, except for the front section which I was still confused about (more on that later). So we talked to security and they said that there was another line around the corner. So we started towards it and on the way, saw a smaller line for a little entrance which had a banner that said "American Express Front of the Line Entrance" and it said that you had to present the card to get in. I had purchased our tickets in that pre-sale and so we should have been able to get in through there, but the card I used is my dad’s and I hadn’t known that I had to bring it with me. Karen's sister had one, but we didn't know if it had to be the same one that the tickets were purchased with. So we headed towards the other long line. While we were standing there, I looked down and realized that the little folder for the tickets said “front of the line” and therefore, was like a proof of purchase. So once again, we walked back to the American Express entrance. While in line, I realized that they were checking everyone's bags. I wasn't able to hide my camera anywhere on me (I had been trying to figure something out all day), so I had it in my fully packed bag, underneath a handkerchief that I had borrowed from my mom's room (yes I know, weird idea, but you really couldn't see the camera). As we approached the front of the line, I was worried about both the camera and us being able to get in through this entrance. Finally I realized that they would go through my bag and would definitely make me throw out my water bottle. So when I was two or three people away from the front (and security could see me), I opened my bag and pulled the bottle out as a little diversion. When I reached the front, I was a little bit soft spoken and quiet when I said that my dad had bought the tickets and that the little folder was the only thing we had and could we get in? The guy smiled at me and nodded and then said that we could. He told me to throw out the bottle and that was it. Another security guard scanned my ticket in and then let me through. Neither checked my bag, but they checked Karen's, her sister's and everyone else. I came out lucky and was ecstatic! Heh. After we all got through, we went down and visited the "Swag Shop". I picked up a 02-03 tour t-shirt (finally I have a BA shirt :D) and I was tempted to buy another one that I liked, but $45 is a lot of money for just one. We walked into the venue (which is half covered, with the back portion in the open air) and sat in our seats, which were further from the stage than I had thought, but decent. I realized at that point, that the show had 100 level seats. With this venue, they either have 100 level seats at the front, or they clear the area and make it general admission. But when I searched for tickets (during the pre-sale and afterwards), you couldn't buy either type and so I was constantly confused about it. Now I figure that the seats were probably obtained by winning contests or by being a part of the fan club (?). Anyway, that irritated me. As well as the fact that every two rows were shifted (instead of each one, like they usually do so that you can see the stage between the two people in front of you), and so when I sat straight down, all I could see was the person in front of me. Standing wasn't much fun, both because the seats are only slightly raised for each row and because I'm short. But it was alright...the same as it would have been if I were in a general admission section. The only downside to that standing and being short thing was that it cut down the number of pictures I could take, but then it let me have more fun that way anyway. Anyway, at 8:00pm, the opening act came on. Chantel Kreviazuk was great. It was just her and the piano the entire set, and she was amazing. I loved her stuff before, but seeing her live was great. Two thumbs up for her. Finally at 9:00pm, Bryan and the boys came on. I went nuts. I was so excited for the show all day and I was really jumpy before the show started. But honestly, it was amazing. I love the five piece band because the sound is fuller (that's with me comparing it to the DVDs) and Bryan's on the guitar as well, which I liked a lot :D
They started off with "One Night Love Affair" which surprised me because even though I knew they opened with that in Detroit two days earlier, I hadn't expected them to do it again. But that was great because I love that song. Next up was “Rock Steady”, which I noted less people knew...not sure why though. I’m not sure when Bryan stopped to talk to the crowd and say hello. But he did mention that it was good to be back. He also said that earlier that day he had been told that they were the first band to play the Molson Amphitheatre when it opened in 1995 and so it was great to be back. He mentioned that he had been in Toronto for the past few days and he thanked Toronto for being so wonderful to him. I was so happy that they played "Here I Am" next because I was worried that they wouldn't because apparently they didn't play it in Detroit and I love that song. During “Let’s Make a Night to Remember”, Bryan had us singing the chorus back to him like on the live DVDs, which was fun. "18 'Till I Die". Karen and I went nuts the minute the opening chords were played and then the entire crowd rose to their feet and was dancing and singing along. I was so happy because that's my anthem (and I'm sure, many other people's) and since we're finally seeing Bryan when we've both turned 18 this year, it was a great feeling. I loved it. At the end of "Can't Stop This Thing We Started" (through which, again, the crowd was excited), Bryan did his "can't stop it" routine with the crowd shouting it back. It was great :D Bryan switched to his acoustic guitar and they played "Back to You" and "Summer of '69" like the MTV Unplugged album versions. I had been waiting so long to see Bryan live and to experience the "Summer of '69" feeling and I was amazed. The feeling and sound of the entire audience singing along and singing the song back to the band was just exhilarating. I loved it. Before the show started, I kept talking about the fact that we were going to be able to hear Keith Scott playing and that it was going to be absolutely incredible. One of the songs I was waiting to hear him play on was "It's Only Love". That song just rocked and Keith's solo was what I expected and more :D Bryan also did the “and that’s all” part at the end with his arms out. Heh. When Bryan returned to his acoustic guitar again, he started talking about how the next song he was going to play was a piano song, but was originally written on the guitar. He said that it had only taken him an hour to write. He played the opening chords of “Everything I Do, I Do It For You” and the crowd cheered, but then he stopped and said that was it. Everyone laughed and he said that he took it to Mutt Lange and asked him to add a chord or two, and that this was the result. Then they played the song and once again, the crowd singing along was great. Another favourite song of mine because of the crowd participation was “Cut’s Like A Knife”, during which the crowd did the ‘na na’ parts and Bryan had us doing that for quite a long time, longer than that on the “Live at the Budokan” DVD. They turned all the microphones on the stage towards us and the sound was incredible. Next up was the part of the show when Bryan turned the houselights on and looked for someone to sing “When You’re Gone” with him. He picked one girl and since she was taking forever to get to the stage, he started playing his guitar and singing that song that goes (I forgot the name) “there she goes, just a walking down the street, singing do a didi didi dum didi do” while the band picked up and played along with him. It was funny and the audience started singing with him. He stopped after a moment and asked security to help her get to the ladder and on to the stage. When she finally got up there, we found out that her name was Julie and that she was studying psychology at York University. After that fact, Bryan pointed towards the rest of the band and mentioned that they may need some help (or something along those lines). LOL. Bryan kept the lyrics sheet to himself at first, but then gave them to her. She kept saying that he didn’t want to hear her sing, but finally they sang the song. Halfway through, he grabbed the paper out of her hands and threw it away. Of course, they did the ‘booty dance’ too. Heh :D “Please Forgive Me” sent shivers down my spine and the crowd was stunning during this song as well. The atmosphere during the song was breathtaking because the stars had come out and were shining and it was just Bryan playing his guitar and everyone singing along. They played that new mid-tempo version “Heaven”. I was slightly disappointed because I absolutely love the ballad version, but it was still quite good. The feeling and emotion was still there :D Both “Somebody” and “The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You” had the crowd going nuts and dancing and singing along. Then again, all the up-tempo songs did… Bryan then introduced the band and everyone bowed while the crowd clapped and cheered. They said thank you and left the stage, only to return for an encore. Of course, a lot of the people in front of us left thinking the show was over. Ordinarily I tell people it’s not, but this time…Anyway, they came back and played “Cloud #9”. They had the crowd waving arms and dancing. Throughout the concert, I was waiting very impatiently for “Run to You”. I was just dying to hear Keith play the guitar parts and basically just to hear it being played live. When they started playing the drum and bass/keyboard part of the beginning, I got really excited. But Keith took forever to start playing and as we all clapped along, I started yelling out “come on! Start already!” Heh. Finally they played it and wow. Basically, it was just fantastic. Wow. Bryan put down his guitar and just sang during “The Best of Me”. He climbed down the ladder and entered the crowd. He hugged and shook hands with the people in the first couple of rows and moved all the way across. At one point he took someone’s camera and took a picture with it. He also headed back to the ladder, but then changed his mind and went back for more. Eventually, he went back to the stage to finish the song. They said goodbye once again and left the stage. This time we all thought it was over. Some time during the encore, fireworks started going off behind us and so we would turn around and look out past the people sitting in the non-covered areas and watch them. The fireworks were still going on after they left the stage and so Bryan returned once more by himself. He said that since the fireworks were still going on, he’d play another song for us. Bryan had his acoustic guitar and sang “Straight from the Heart”. That was the most magical part of the show and one of the things I’ll remember the most. It was the beautiful sky, fireworks, Bryan and his guitar and the crowd silent as he sang, only singing along softly. Absolutely beautiful and a great way to end the show. Although prior to the show we talked about it, we didn’t end up staying afterwards to see Bryan leaving and hopefully meet him. Karen was moving to university early the next day and our parents are a bit too overprotective to let us stay out that late :S The show ended at 11:00pm by the way, but we got home at around 1:00am. It’s the day after and I’m still in shock that I actually went to the show and the excitement is still with me. I’ve been to five concerts now and this was by far, the best one. I really want to go see Bryan again and so now I’m thinking of getting tickets to Watershed and going. I would love to go to one at a venue with less seating (if any at all) and have general admission tickets. I want to experience Bryan and the boys again and again. The show just rocked. Definitely, if you haven’t seen them live before, the next time the opportunity arises, go and see them! You’ll never forget it!
Setlist: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Review by Jane Stevenson: More impressively, not many artists who were huge in the '80s and early '90s, can still pack 'em in like Adams did last night at the Molson Amphitheatre where he played to a sold-out crowd of 16,000 during his first performance in the city in three years. The evening started out as a no-frills affair, with Adams and his four-piece band -- including long-time guitarist Keith Scott and drummer Mickey Curry -- nonchalantly taking the stage before launching into One Night Love Affair from Adams' massively successful 1984 disc, Reckless. From there, the performance, which ran just under two hours, took about five more songs to really get going. The concert's rousing middle section saw Adams effortlessly deliver one anthemic rocker after another: Can't Stop This Thing We Started, Back To You, Summer of '69, and the highlight of the night, It's Only Love. It should also be mentioned that Scott's animated guitar solos ignited the audience on more than one occasion with the band's entire sound crisp and full. Adams even managed to make his most famous -- and perhaps most nauseating -- ballad, (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, digestable by playing it primarly on the acoustic guitar. FIREWORKS Other standouts like Cuts Like A Knife, Heaven and Run To You needed no reworking whatsoever. The fireworks going on the background at the CNE towards the end of the show didn't hurt either. Looking as slim and boyish as ever in his trademark T-shirt and jeans, Adams took mischievious delight in bringing up a cute female fan from the audience to join him on When You're Gone. Last night's version of the duet, which originally featured Mel C. -- a.k.a. Sporty Spice -- singing alongside Adams, saw Julie, a Pickering native studying psychology at York University, give it her best hip-wiggling shot. And even if she couldn't really sing, nobody seemed to mind. Least of all Adams. "Some people say musicians have a stupid job - I actually thiink it's a pretty good job," he said with a grin afterwards. |
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® 2003 18 Til I Die.co.uk. All rights
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Thanks to Joanne and Uma for the setlist info. All pictures taken by Uma.
BA plays to a sellout crowd of 16,000 in Toronto.
The K-man
BA taking it straight to the heart |
