The rock icon is back on the road supporting his latest studio LP
Last night at the newly re-branded CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, rock icon Bryan Adams started the new leg of his So Happy It Hurts Tour. The run is in continued support of the hit songwriter’s fifteenth studio album of the same name which arrived last March via BMG. The anticipation in the room was palpable, and Adams stoked the atmosphere with pre-show video clips and a convertible flying around the arena. Yes, you read that right. Yes, that convertible from the album cover. And yes, here are photos below to prove it.
Bryan brought the noise right out of the gate, kicking things off with “Kick Ass” from his latest LP. He sprinkled in three other tracks from the record throughout the set – “Never Gonna Rain,” “I’ve Been Looking For You,” and the title track. With a back catalog like Bryan’s, introducing new music into a set filled with hits gets more and more difficult with each new album, but he manages to pull it off.
Adams, 63, would proceed to kick ass for 23 more songs. While it may not be 28 like when we covered his last tour, but it’s still much more than the average concert. Highlights included hits like “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started,” “18 ‘Til I Die,” “Somebody,” and “The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You,” plus the seminal “Cuts Like A Knife” and his signature anthem “Summer of ’69.” The opening riff of “Run to You” sent chills down your spine and ignited the crowd, while ballads “Heaven” and “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” sounded powerful.
A few tracks got the acoustic treatment. The full band performed “Here I Am,” with a lighter touch, and Bryan took on “Straight from the Heart,” and “All For Love” on his own. The latter two tracks closed out the evening.
Sadly, missing from the set was one of my favorite cuts – “I’m Ready” – but, with a bevy of big hits to choose from, unfortunately you just can’t play ’em all.
At one point, Adams turned to the crowd for song recommendations. He played “Never Gonna Rain” from his new record, and “The Boys Night Out” which he hadn’t dusted off since 2015. It was a fun moment that saw Bryan’s rockstar status become a bit more accessible.
Bryan Adams still has it, that much is certain. We’re not sure he ever really lost it, actually. At this point in his career, playing over 20 songs a night speaks volumes. The fact that he’s still churning out solid rock songs and packing arenas are testaments to his staying power. Nearly 40 years after the release of his debut album, its clear that he has transcended generations. And with essentially four decades of smash hits, his body of work has undoubtedly secured him a place in rock history.
Bryan Adams’ current tour will hit 25 more cities across the U.S. this summer, with stops in New York, Boston, Tampa, Denver, Phoenix, San Francisco and more. The run wraps on Thursday, August 3 in Seattle at Climate Pledge Arena. Tickets are on sale now HERE.
Adams recently nabbed his first GRAMMY® nomination in over two decades. He took home the hardware in 1992 for his hit single “Everything I Do (I Do It For You).” His last nomination came in 1998. This year his up for Best Rock Performance for “So Happy It Hurts.”
On January 18, Adams revealed two brand new live music videos for his hit tracks “I’m Ready” and “Cuts Like a Knife.” The latter is the title track of his seminal 1983 album, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. To commemorate the milestone, Adams recored the album live at the historic Royal Albert Hall in London on May 11, 2022.
Bryan Adams broke out in 1983 with the release of his seminal album Cuts Like A Knife. The following year, Adams catapulted to superstardom with the release of his masterpiece Reckless. The album spawned six singles – “Run To You,” “Heaven,” “Summer of ’69,” “Somebody,” “One Night Love Affair,” and “Its Only Love.” All six songs cracked the Top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, a feat only accomplished by Bruce Springsteen (Born In The USA, 1984) and Michael Jackson (Thriller, 1982).
Throughout his career, Adams has amassed 20 Juno Awards. In 1992, his ballad “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” garnered the GRAMMY® Award for Best Song Written For A Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media. In 2006, Adams was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. In 2011, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
