DATE – 1st September 2025
Words – Graeme Wright
I’ve seen virtually every major Rock artist in the live arena, but Bryan Adam’s has always eluded me until now. This was a little bit different from his usual arena shows, as it was a new album release gig in a more intimate venue, this show being in the Content establishment in Liverpool. As we approached the venue, my missus said “This is Bongo’s Bingo”, which caused some confusion until I realised it was indeed the establishment that hosts the infamous bingo nights in Liverpool. It’s a spacious venue with a big stage, but it’s so rare to see an artist of this size playing outside of an arena that I was genuinely excited for this show.
At Bryan’s request this was a phone free show, so we had to put our phones in a pouch created by a company called YONDR, which meant you couldn’t get at your phone unless you left the arena and went to an unlocking base outside of the venue. I was sceptical about how this would work. Would people be annoyed, after all everyone likes to take a picture at a show don’t they? Well how wrong was I, people at the show were totally focused on the artist, the engagement was fantastic between singer and fans and there were no distractions from a sea of phones taking video footage. I’m a complete convert and as far as I’m concerned for bigger shows and bigger artists YONDR is the future!
Normally these shows usually entail four or five songs and then a signing opportunity, but obviously this would be a bit different. In total the show ran for seventy five minutes (overrunning by fifteen minutes or so.) It was a full electric band experience where the guys played the whole of the new album, took a couple of crowd requests as well as doing an audience Q and A between pretty much every song. It was a wonderful experience, and I’m now an even bigger fan of Bryan and the boys than I already was. The band entered the stage in an almost low key manner to a huge reception, and after introductions were made the band are straight into the title track from the new album, ‘Roll With The Punches’. It’s an absolute banger of a track and Adam’s reveals it’s his favourite from the new record. It’s sharp, punchy and a real throwback to his earlier, rockier material from the eighties. It’s also a lot heavier here than it sounds on vinyl and it’s proper rock and roll.
The band worked with Robert Mutt Lang on this album and it shows, particularly with songs like ‘Make Up Your Mind’ and ‘A Little More Understanding’ which both receive an incredibly impressive airing here. The crowd are so happy to be here, singing and dancing, asking questions and overall just having a rollicking good time. This is how live music should be and I thank both the artist and crowd for this experience. The interaction is fantastic, and the audience even got to choose a couple of old favourites for the band to perform, which in this case were ‘Here I Am’ and show closer ‘One Night Love Affair’ which ends things brilliantly and sends the crowd off into the night on a big high with massive smiles on their faces. A great show from a consummate artist, made special by the Liverpool crowd and I for one will definitely be taking in his arena show next time he’s in town.
1. Roll With The Punches
2. Make Up Your Mind
3. Never Ever Let You Go
4. A Little More Understanding
5. Life Is Beautiful
6. Love Is Stronger Than Hate
7. How’s That Workin’ For Ya
8. Two Arms To Hold You
9. Here I Am
10. Be The Reason
11. Will We Ever Be Friends Again
12. One Night Love Affair
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