TCN’s Dave Gasson gives us a closer look at how the incredible Bryan Adams concert in Zagreb went!
On Thursday the 8th of November, 2017, the much loved Canadian rocker Bryan Adams performed at Zagreb Arena as part of the ”Get Up” tour. The concert opened with the lights turned down low and all members of the band, dressed in matching jeans and black jackets, running on to the stage. Raising his guitar and encouraging the audience with hand clapping, a theme throughout the show, the natural showman Bryan took center stage and went straight into the opening numbers.
The concert was upbeat throughout and the tone was set with the first song ”Do What Ya Gotta Do”, swiftly followed by ”Cant Stop This Thing” from the 1991 hit album Waking up the Neighbours, followed by ”Dont Even Try” rolling effortlessly into one another before he stopped to greet the crowd.
”Thank you for coming. I know some of you have got work in the morning, but, er, it doesn’t matter. We’ve got some old songs; we’ve got some new songs. This one’s called ”Go Down Rocking”, which is the theme of the night – go down rocking.”
The stage set up and lighting was very much back to basics with a subtle spotlight primarily focusing on the 50’s style sleeked back hair, buttoned up suit jacket and vintage guitar playing Bryan Adams as he stood center stage, and, much to the crowds’ delight, when he was high tailing it from one end of the stage to the other.
Here was a well rehearsed band doing what they did best; no need for all the frills.There were no backing singers or stage filling horn section or huge tv screens to the sides. Instead, there was just one large video screen behind the set that played either a live screening of the concert or the pre recorded video release. During the encore, Bryan sang a cover of the Eddie Cochran rock ‘n’ roll classic ”C’mon Everybody” and the cameras panned the crowd with a monotone stream of the dancing, singing and swaying crowd .
Smoke was only used once to create a wonderful spectacle for his US chart topper, ”Heaven”, the third single from his 1984 album, Reckless. With a video backdrop of rolling clouds, low blue lighting from above, the crowd singing passionately and smoke drifting over from the piano and filling the stage, it created a very atmospheric and dramatic scene.
With a huge back cataologue of hits from 13 albums to choose from, the set list offered up huge variety. It skillfully weaved new and old, ballad and rocking, accoustic and electric. It allowed Bryan to raise the crowd up for some high rocking and bring them down with some classic ballads. The stadium was filled with the sounds of anthems such as ”Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?”, ”Please Forgive Me”, ”18 til I Die”, and ”Can’t Stop This Thing We Started” which were performed with remarkable energy and panache. He also offered a more rousing and raunchier rendition of the recorded version of ”Summer of ’69”.
The talented Bryan Adams teased the crowd a little as he was introducing the hit ”It’s Only Love”, which he dueted on the original version with Tina Tina.
”Tonight, ladies and gentlemen… she is not here, but it’s ok, we have a secret weapon; we have Keith Scott on lead guitar”. The Fender Stratocaster maestro duely supplied a superb electric guitar solo, reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix, concluding by swinging his guitar over his shoulder and catching it perfectly.
Throughout his show Bryan continued with good dialogue and regularly interacted with the audience. Whilst introducing a rockabilly song, he explained to the crowd that he wanted them to ”shake your ass, but I don’t know how to say it in Croatian”. He then leant down in to the crowd, listened to some fans and emerged saying ”mrdaj guzom”. This received huge a round of applause, laughter and cheers.
During his most popular tracks, he often paused in silence, held out the microphone and seemed to enjoy and revel in the crowd singing. ”I love it when you sing; Man I love it!”
”All for Love”, from the soundtrack of the 1993 film ”The Three Musketeers,” and originally with two other legends, Rod Stewart and Sting, was sung as an acoustic solo for the final encore and the stadium was brightly illuminated with camera phones. The band, Mickey Curry on percussion, Gary Brexit on piano and keys, Norm Fisher on bass and the impressive Keith Scott on lead guitar, all returned to take their bows and salute the crowd.
Calendar of forthcoming music events and festivals in Pula and Zagreb:
Morgan James – 16.12.17 – The Boogaloo Club
Rod Stewart – 02.02.18 – Zagreb Arena
Roger Waters – 06.05.18 – Zagreb Arena
Festival dates confirmed for Pula:
1st GoatHell Metal Fest ~ 21.06.17 ~ 24.06.17
The first metal festival to be held in Pula! The confirmed line up so far includes Sinister, Chaos Engine Research, Mortal Divinity, Old Night, Tranquillizer and Dropthehammer with many more to be added. Website and ticket info available soon.
16th Seasplash Festival ~ 19.07.18 ~ 22.07.18
One of the longest running festivals in Croatia brings together reggae/dub/punk/ska/ dancehall/dubstep/drum’n’bass/hiphop/breakbeat/jungle and delves deep into bass culture.
7th Dimensions Festival ~ 30.08.18 ~ 02.09.18
Soulful electronic music spanning across various gendres, including House, Techno, Disco, Jazz, Funk, Soul, D&B and much more as well as an amazing opening night concert held at Pula Arena.
11th Outlook Festival ~ 05.09.18 ~ 09.09.18
The largest Soundsystem Culture festival in Europe, Outlook brings together the biggest names from the most vibrant and cutting edge dance scenes around. This festival is preceded by an exceptional opening night concert held at Pula’s amazing arena.
