It has been said that music is the best time machine in the world. Sometimes, you hear the first few bars of a song and it immediately teleports you back to a different or better time in your life. As I walk around the Honda Center in Anaheim, California to see Bryan Adams, a red-blooded Rock and Roller from my youth, who has a new tour called "So Happy It Hurts", which is also the title of his latest album, I take note of the fans, and think "wow, who let in all these older folks, until I passed by a mirror and looked at myself, and said HEY!! I'm one of those older folks too.

If you have great memories of 1983 and beyond, you have to see this show! Bryan Adams brings the hot sauce and is absolutely the Real Mccoy of Rock n Roll. He is energetic, full of that fire still, and skillfully conveys that driving bass line to his deserving and enthusiastic crowd.

Bound to the stage in his blue jeans, T-shirt, and signature leather motorcycle jacket, holding his big Gibson Hollow-body gold-top, he immediately brought all of his fans to their feet with one of his newest tunes call "Kick ass" from his newest album "So Happy It Hurts”. As Adams began to deliver song after song after song with no let up in sight, he takes his adoring crowd from newest to oldest tunes, with some of his greatest hits, like "Somebody" and a rousing new upbeat version of "Heaven" strategically intertwined throughout the set.

At 64, Adams comes across a stand up guy, who cares about people and seems very genuine, and truly connects with his audience. There is great banter throughout the evening, and he presents music that he wrote for his father who passed away a few years ago, and also dedicates a song to his 95 year old mother who wanted to be in the crowd that evening but was unable to attend. Adams has sold more than 100 million albums during his career and has 25 top 15 singles in Canada, the USA and UK.

His audience is on their feet nearly all evening long in appreciation of the amazing music and memories he brings to the stage. With great graphics playing on a huge screen behind the stage, the audience is treated to some very poignant graphics during "Shine a Little Light".

Adams' band does a remarkable job keeping up with him, who seems to have boundless energy. Keith Scott brings incendiary guitar riffs to the table, and shreds on his well-worn stratocaster with ease and perfection, his fingers moving so quickly we thought they would catch fire! His drummer Pat Steward pounds away in perfect syncopation, never being overbearing but adding that extra "something special" to every song. Even better, there was a ton of singalong moments between the roaring audience and the band. What you see is what you get, meaning all live instruments, which nowadays feels like a rarity.

Adams pulls out his biggest hits towards the end like "Run To You' and my personal favorite "Cuts Like a Knife" which was the first Bryan Adams album I ever owned, and I have to say, I literally played the HELL out of that album!!

When it comes to real, live, foot -stomping Rock, Adams has it in spades! His voice is still raspy perfection, the music fills your body with invigorating adrenaline, the message of music and fun is still clearly in his grasp,and of course brings back those older memories,..but in all truthfulness, it makes me want to start listening to his new album as well because this master of guitar and rock, still holds the key to writing great music.

Give his newest album "So Happy It Hurts" a listen, and I am sure you will agree that this guy was put on this earth for only one reason,..to bring happy, fun,and enjoyable music to people and put smiles on their faces! Last night after the concert, I couldn't figure out why my cheeks were sore,..i guess it was from smiling so much and it was true to the title of the album.

Review by: Todd Sher

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Photos by: Brandon Younger

Bryan Adams Plays a Career-Spanning Set at Anaheim's Honda Center