Bryan Adams thrilled with an energetic Vienna concert

And his fans can rely on Bryan Adams: He thrilled with a powerful, playful performance where music, not show, set the tone. In line with the tour motto "Roll With The Punches 2025," the 66-year-old served up hits with punch alongside his three fellow musicians, even the ballads were brimming with energy that evening.

No support band, starting shortly after 7:30 PM: What might seem plain was actually beneficial to Adams' performance, who had visited the Albertina earlier in the day. The pop star and part-time photographer took on the role of a warm-up act himself with aplomb - solo on a small podium at the mixing desk. With three acoustic pieces, he immediately got the hall cooking, the songs felt "Straight From The Heart" and the call "Let's Make A Night To Remember" made around 11,000 people cheer.

Bryan Adams in Vienna: "Kick Ass" after Acoustic Prelude

After this prelude, it was "let there be guitar, let there be drums, let there be bass" (as Adams said) and the quartet did justice to the song "Kick Ass": It was a proper rock session. Even the radio-friendly hits were embedded in a rich guitar and drum sound, presented on a simple stage that managed very well with just a video wall in the background. The light show was primarily provided by thousands of blinking LED wristbands handed out to visitors upon entry. During "Roll With The Punches," a giant boxing glove floated above the heads - that was it for special effects.

There's no need for frills and long speeches ("Hello, my name is Bryan" and a tribute to Tina Turner before the former duet "It's Only Love"), when you have killer tracks like "Run To You," "18 Til I Die," and "The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You" on the setlist and deliver them with verve (even the ballad "Heaven" had edges). Adams, by the way, in excellent voice, knows and appreciates his roots: "Blue Suede Shoes" was added to the end of "You Belong To Me," followed by a hearty "Twist And Shout" (The Top Notes).

Unity with Individual Splashes of Color

Guitarist Keith Scott, drummer Pat Steward, and drummer Gary Breit have been accompanying Adams for years, working as a unit with room for individual splashes of color (such as a furious guitar solo) through almost 30 songs without a hitch until the grand finale with the party hit "Summer Of '69" (a riff for eternity) and "Cuts Like A Knife." During the acoustic closer "All For Love," the hall could once again prove their lyrical confidence (which was lacking during the opener "Can't Stop The Thing We Started"). Early start, early finish: This allowed more time to catch one's breath after Adams' best Vienna concert to date, as he himself said.

(By Wolfgang Hauptmann/APA)

(APA/Red)

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