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Bryan Adams - 'Live At The Royal Albert Hall 2024'

This is Bryan Adams, this is a live album, when you put those two things together you get brilliance.

Man with open mouth wearing Royal Albert Hall model as glasses. Text: Bryan Adams Live at Royal Albert Hall 2024. Black and white.

If you read my review of Bryan Adam’s previous three-night live album in issue #105, you’ll know that I thought it was a cracking box-set with one small caveat. Although it contained live recordings of all three albums in The Royal Albert Hall – ‘Cuts Like A Knife’, ‘Into The Fire’ and ‘Waking Up The Neighbours’ – only one was performed in front of a live audience (‘...Neighbours’). It seemed a little unusual for such a world-renowned performer and it would seem that thought was shared because Adams’ latest live box-set sees everything played fully live.

This year saw Adams decide to repeat his experience from 2023 when he played three nights at TRAH with each night dedicated to a different album; for 2024, it was ‘Reckless’ (to celebrate the 40th anniversary), ’18 ‘Til I Die’ and ‘So Happy It Hurts’. The line-up for these shows was the same as for last year’s trilogy with the ever-awesome, legendary Keith Scott on lead guitar, Gary Breit on keyboards, Pat Steward on drums and Sol Walker on bass.

The first disc covers the seminal ‘Reckless’ album and it came as a relief when I pressed play to hear the audience as ‘One Night Love Affair’ kicks things off. It always been a favourite and though he doesn’t play it as often as others, it’s always a joy to hear. The songs are not played in track-list order, which I fully appreciate but some purists may have preferred them as they were recorded. You get the full ten tracks from the album with all the expected Scott fretboard wizardry and crowd participation sing-alongs and clap-alongs. What might surprise some is the inclusion of two extra songs, the original title-track and ‘Let Me Down Easy’, both of which never made the final album. The last surprise is that Jim Vallance was in attendance and it was nice of Adams to give him his moment. I hardly need to remind anyone of the colossal hits that Adams and his merry band tear through.

Next up comes the ‘...Die’ show and I remember the tour well and fondly. It opens with the title track and once again the audience are immediately apparent. The band are on fire again and it was a joy to hear some of Scott’s funkier and filthier times with tracks like ‘Do To You’ and saucy ‘(I Wanna Be) Your Underwear’. The rendition of ‘Let’s Make It A Night To Remember’ raised the goosebumps on my arm with the closing crowd participation section and ‘The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You’ provided the impetus for a bit of air guitar. For the first night, you got two extra tracks, but for ‘...Die’ you actually get one less with ‘Black Pearl’ omitted.

The third disc covers Adams’ most recent album. Given there is a wider tour next year and no TRAB residency, it is safe to assume that it also brings to a close this series of three-night concerts. As with the other two shows, this third night contains another twelve tracks, this time all the songs on ‘...Hurts’. Once again not played in album order, you get the lively ‘Just About Gone’, the boisterous ‘Kick Ass’, the groovy ‘Just Like You’, the Gospel infused ‘Never Gonna Rain’ and inspiring ‘Lift Me Up’ (both complete with Gospel Choir) and the title track with a floating blow-up car.

This four-disc set comes with a Blu-Ray that contains all thirty-six tracks from the three shows. As would be expected, the presentation side is fairly basic with the Adams and his band on stage. There are a multitude of different camera shots and I am pleased to say the editing avoids that super-quick shot changes that spoil so many live videos. You get a superb mix of close and wider shots to really give you a chance to see it all.

This is Bryan Adams, this is a live album, when you put those two things together you get brilliance. He may have lost a little rasp but he still knows how to put on a fabulous live concert that ensures everyone has the time of their lives. “Kick-ass rocking music” from a “kick-ass rocking band” – I think that covers it.

Reviewer: Dave Scott

Label: Bad

Genre: Hard Rock

Issue Reviewed In: 109

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