Bryan Adams review – clinically dispatched hits still thrill the masses

“Look, his eyes are moving!” exclaims a child in Row L, transfixed by the enormous backdrop of Bryan Adams. It’s true. Stare at backdrop Bry for long enough and his eyes dart, his eyebrows raise and his mouth even falls open to reveal comedy goofy teeth. The Canadian megastar isn’t known for his sense of humour, but later he claims not to remember half of his 13 albums and even refers to himself as a “numpty”.

It’s not quite laugh-a-minute, but these glints of comedy – along with his striking war photography and veganism – suggests there’s more to him than a lumpen rocker who’s played arenas so long he could do them in his sleep.

This latest jaunt celebrates the 30th anniversary of Reckless, the album that made him a global superstar, now repackaged with seven extra tracks, all performed here. Adams’ big drums and power chords were already dated in 1984 – a romantic, nostalgic rock for folk to cling to while the world went hip-hop and electro. If he lacked the artistry of Springsteen, his penchant for big musical brushstrokes and lyrical cliches still connects with the masses, who are visibly thrilled by the clinically dispatched 26-song setlist, featuring all his copper-bottomed hits.

Couples hug during Heaven. Everything I Do (I Do It For You) seems to last longer than the 16 weeks it spent at No 1. At least When You’re Gone – the 1998 duet with Mel C, perhaps the best song that he’s written – is acoustically remodelled. There’s an oddly incongruous moment when the stirring Run to You is illustrated with a voyeuristic film of high-heeled, stockinged legs: sadly, there’s no sign of comedy backdrop Bryan, with eyebrow raising to the roof.