Bryan Adams – Xcel Energy Center – St. Paul MN – July 3rd 2023

Live Nation and Xcel Energy Center presents Bryan Adams So Happy It Hurts tour with special guests Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

We had this concert on our books since it was announced. We had not seen Bryan Adams since the CHS Field show with Def Leppard in 2005.

Joan Jett is always a great band to see. Last time I saw them was at the Stadium Tour. Not the best place to see them so tonight is a better change. The sound was horrible last time. That said she started with a new tune Shooting into Space from her new ep Mindsets. Solid tune that makes me curious about the EP. The great thing about Joan is she does not ignore the Runaways. We did get Cherry Bomb and You Derive me Wild. In between those two she did the classic Do You Wanna Touch (Oh Yeah), one of my all time favorite songs. If You’re Blue, Rear View Mirror and Whiskey Goes Good were included in the set from Mindsets. The rest of the set was a greatest hits closing out with Bad Reputation. If Joan is in town go see Joan Jett. It was 40 years ago I first saw her hanging outside the stadium so I could listen. When going to the limo she waved at us.

Bryan Adams is a staple in my music life. Growing up with MTV and classic rock he has alway been there. It has been quite some time since he has done a full rocking show here in the cities so I was very excited to see the show. He is on tour for his new album So Happy It Hurts. As soon as it came out it was in my playlist. He still does it the old fashioned way. Let’s make a record then tour. Kick Ass was the opening number. He then just kicked it into full gear. Can;t Stop this Thing We Started, Somebody, Take Me Back – I Love this one. Please forgive Me. One Night Love Affair, Shine A Light,  and Heaven. Of course that one had everyone signing along. He then did a tribute to Tina Turner It’s Only Love. As I was sitting there I saw Brian Setzer on the side of the stage with his wife Julie. Julie and I graduated together. He then introduced Brian and they did You Belong To Me and I’ve Been Looking For You. We all were loving this then Bryan says let’s do Rock This Town! Hell yeah. Yet another band to see when ever they are around is The Stray Cats or Brian Setzer. So when they finished that Bryan kept saying “Let’s Do One More!” so they went into I Fought the Law. It was so cool to see this one time jam on the tour.

As I was listening to Bryan sign I was amazed how pitch perfect and wonderful his voice still sounds. He has this voice that is instantly recognizable. He then went into Here I Am from the Spirit soundtrack. He does have a few soundtrack tunes out there. Everything I Do, I Do It For You was next. Someone said this was a horrible song but we see what it did for his career. Back To You, 18 til I Die and Summer of 69 were next. It is just a huge greatest hits show. So he is also doing fan requests. He just asks the crowd what do you wanna hear? Tonight we got Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman? and Kids Wanna Rock. I totally forgot about Kids. Best part I still remembered all the lyrics! Funny can’t remember something from last week but I remember that from 40 years ago. He then closed the Cut Like a Knife, So Happy it Hurts, Run to You, Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, Straight From The Heart and All For Love.

Overall the show was one of the highlights of the year. Great music and a great time. Check out his new album and check out the tour if it is in your town!