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07/11/03 - GENERAL MOTORS PLACE, VANCOUVER, BC Review
by Andreas
Kristensen:
Ya know… since this was my 8th Bryan Adams gig (and 2nd
one in Vancouver!) I didn’t think he could play any better… didn’t
think a crowd could be more excited. Didn’t think I could still be this excited
about that special Friday November 7th night as I am.
And this is not even
overly-just-got-home-from-a-gig feeling. Even Mr. Adams himself seemed as though
he truly was surprise by the crowd and atmosphere in his former Hometown. He said
“Thank you for making me feel so welcome”, and while the night went
on with a few nostalgic stories of how he wrote his first song in a house in Kitsilano,
another about his brother and him – it was; the best atmosphere and respons
I have ever seen at a Adams concert. 
(Above)
A packed GM Place People of all colors, ages, classes,
styles etc was there and lots of of them I heard talking about “Bryan is
our homegrown boy” another goes “I used to go see Adams when I played
the local clubs”, and another going “After all these year we still love
Adams, cos he still rocks as our B.C. boy”.
Picking up my ticket (row
4!!) at the FanClub on Carrall street, I realized what the big buzz was about…
Michelle (F.C. Director) greeted me, while running in and out of the office being
so excited and busy about this gig; told me how fans all the way from England
and Japan had been coming too. This was going to be big!
I expected the b-stage
on a break, since GM Place is huge though; he had not used it at the few last
big gigs as in Toronto for example. 
Bryan
had just come in on a flight (public) from London this morning (Thursday), now
going for the Kelowna gig) and I told Michelle how my cool Canadian customs experience
had taken a turn, since I talked to the young woman (still excited!) who stamped
Adams passport just one hour before I came through from Europe. They were all
exicted about the concert, and how I love those articles in the Vancouver Sun
and Vancouver Province the day before the gig. Great stuff! Cool insight and interview,
on the new album – produced by Adams only this time, and story on Adams’
still a Vancouver boy.
Local people had been saying for ages “wouldn’t
it be cool if both hometown rockers Colin James and Bryan Adams did a gig together
once – because they have similar melodic guitar rock-style”. And wow
he was good too.. He kicked off his 45-min set with the anthemic “Five Long
Years” and played energic with his 4-piece band. 
We were introduced to volunteers, Salavation Army, Canadian Armed forces on the
stage after a very intense 5 min- piece on the monitors showing how much the forest
fires in the interior BC had destroyed, this past warm summer in BC. What a great
thing… 10 CDN dollars of all these BC and Alberta gigs tickets goes to fire
relief, and in the Province it said Adams raised 120.000 bucks alone at the Vancouver
gig. Fantastic eh!
Zara: THANK YOU for everything you are awesome! All luck
in the future; and remember “smile” eh! Cindy from Victoria; it was
interesting hanging out with you again and let’s do it all again for the
next gig eh (thanks for those C. James titles!). Zara’s mom; you’re
fantastic, thanks for the warm words; glad you had such a great night. Michelle;
wasen’t it great great eh! You’re the best FC director one could wish
for – see you next time! Dee, Noreen and Fran: I am so happy you guys came
through ok (!), too bad about the hometown gig; but the most important thing is
you guys are ok!!!! Hannah, the best ever to hear you had a night to remember
in Kamloops – see you next time!
See you all – the whole group for
the next BC tour – alright!!
Going from US custom
cos of my Houston transfer flight I hear two Custom agents saying “I heard
the Bryan Adams hometown-return concert was amazing”… I can only agree! So
many gigs.. so many nights.. but this… this was the best ever.
That’s
all I can say now… wordless, spechless – STUNNING! Stay
Reckless,
Andy. Setlist:
One Night Love Affair
There will Never Be Another Tonight
Here I Am
18 Til I Die
Can’t
Stop This Thing We Started
Let’s Make A Night To Remember
Back To
You
Summer Of '69
It’s Only Love
Everything I Do
Cuts Like
A Knife
When You’re Gone
The Best Was Yet To Come
Heaven
Somebody
The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You
Cloud #9
Run
To You
The Best Of Me
This Time
Straight From The Heart | 
