While I still haven't quite figured narrowed down what the main purpose of this blog will be, I do know it will likely never be a place for me to review music. It's not that I don't love music or need it as a constant in my life, but it's so personal for me, that when (it's never usually a case of 'if') people ridicule me about my taste, I take it too personally. I'm learning to let go, but it's a process. :-)
Here is something I am not afraid to admit: I love Bryan Adams. And since I am secure enough to admit it, I decided to do a concert review. Now, he's been called cheesy and he's been victim to being overplayed (more than once ), but I love him. His lyrics, while they are cheesy and I could get mushy myself in explaining how his music makes me feel, but suffice it to say that I am a huge, unapologetic fan. When the opportunity to see him on his new Bare Bones tour I jumped on it (refreshing my browser about 100 times at 9:59 until the tickets went on sale). It worked because I got 3rd row, center. Woot!
The view from our seats
I initially invited my brother, but the pull of whisky and the greatest country ever pulled him away. Luckily I have a friend who loves the 80s (maybe a little more than I do) and was willing to join me. Thank you Sheri!!
I stole her picture from Facebook, I hope she doesn't mind!
This tour, a compilation of 30 years of music, is an all-acoustic tour called Bare Bones. It is simply Bryan, his guitar, and a look-a-like who occasionally accompanies a song with the piano. There wasn’t anything to distract you from Bryan at all. In fact, you could see the brick wall that was the back of the building. I loved the simplicity.
Singing his heart out
He played 22 songs, then an encore of 6 songs. They were all recognizable (or they should have been for die-hard fans) including Run to You, Cuts Like a Knife, Summer of ’69, and one of my absolute favorite songs, All for Love (too bad Sting and Rod Stewart couldn’t make it). He comes from the old school recording where what you hear on the radio/Cd/cassette tape/ipod/record is exactly as his voice really is. This means his voice is as raspy and perfect as you imagine (or maybe it’s just perfect to me). He played the guitar like he was born with it as an extension on his body.
Rockin' out with the harmonica and guitar.
Not a hair was out of place, and ladies you can appreciate this, but his black, button-up shirt must have come from Barney’s (or some other store I imagine has perfect quality clothes) and his jeans were perfectly tailored to his great legs. The lighting was very dramatic, with either a blue or strong red background, or just a black background with bright lights on him. He has this unbelievable smoldering side-glance that he has obviously perfected over the years. Mix all this with his raspy voice and true-to-life lyrics and the evening was near perfect. (Perfection would have been achieved if he had whisked me away on his private jet to a tiny island only inhabited by us and his guitar.)
You heard me say sexy and smoldering right?!
He didn’t waste much time between songs, which is what allowed for 28 songs to be sung in 2 hours. The stories he told were short and sweet and he was able to tease the audience a little. Of course, having an audience full of 30+ something hicks made that part easy for him. Without knowing that he’s been doing this for 30 years, it was obvious he is doing what he was meant to do and lucky for him, he enjoys it.
He has a great smile. *swoon*
Note: I am totally and completely spoiled by my DSLR, so I apologize for the shit quality of the photos. We really weren't supposed to take pictures, but by the time the encore rolled around, everyone had their cameras out. Still, I didn't want to keep using the flash and so I ended up with the shit you see above. The first picture was taken with my iPhone and the others were taken with a Sony Cybershot that is about 100 years old.
