A Night with Dave Stewart and Bryan Adams at Prudential

WJRZ's own Barbara Farragher had a double shot of 80s Day-Glo over the weekend, seeing Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and Bryan Adams at Prudential Center. Written below is her account of the incredible night. 

As I sat in the box (thanks to a longtime friend whose company invited me) I was mesmerized by how Dave Stewart recreated his former group. What also fascinated me was the group of millennials in the box with me who didn’t know who Dave Stewart was! One of the guys asked,” Is that Bryan Adams?” It was difficult for me not to giggle Blank faced, he said, “What do they sing?” When I said, ‘Sweet Dreams (are made of this).” He let out a big,  Ohhhhh!”

The other Gen Xers in the box rolled their eyes, but I hesitated because as the set went on, I was pleasantly surprised to see the four concertgoers, twenty years my junior, totally get into the music!

The tried and true hits from my youth were impossible to resist, and the band won them over as Stewart led his band through a tight setlist.

With an all-female band, sisters were indeed doing it for themselves as Stewart looked on with glee! Ellie East on drums, Indiara Sfair on harmonica, Julia Lamb on bass, Yasmin Ogilvie on saxophone, and Hannah Koppenburg on keyboards, brought the “Eurythmics Songbook” to life, and a host of industry veterans filled in ably for the mighty Annie Lennox, who has retired from touring. Vocalists Vanessa Amorosi, Judith Hill, and Stevvi Alexander raised the rafters, much to the delight of an enthusiastic crowd!

We all danced and they sang and the millennials even commented, “They are tremendous!”

I think back to when my mom turned me on to Carole King, Harry Chapin, Neil Diamond, and so many others. I attribute my love of music to my parents playing everything from rock to folk to classical all the time in our home and car.

If Bryan Adams was intimidated by the standing ovation of his opening act, he didn’t let on. His no-nonsense band delivered more hooks than a tackle box, with “Run to You,” “Cuts Like a Knife,” and a moving tribute to Tina Turner during “It’s Only Love” as the highlights. Adams has defied the ravages of time in both his appearance and voice. His gorgeous, Spanish-themed “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman” had us swaying with our flash-lit mobile phones producing a carpet of twinkles that kept us warm for that cold winter ride home on the Parkway!