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Bryan Adams; The Storm

 ((Great Western Forum; 17,505 seats; $ 22.50 top))

By ADAM SANDLER

Promoted by Avalon Attractions. Bryan Adams Reviewed May 15, 1992.
 
Band: Keith Scott, Dave Taylor, Mickey Curry, Tommy Mandel, Bryan Adams; the Storm: Gregg Rolie, Kevin Chalfant, Josh Ramos, Ross Valory, Ron Wikso.
 

Bryan Adams has apparently perfected the art of pop song-crafting. His recent two-hour show at the Forum was filled with power chords and catchy hooks, and all of the tunes have had extensive runs on radio.

But it takes more than pop-radio hits to make a concert work and Adams failed to reach any level above mediocrity.

His static stage presence and trite, riot-related between-song remarks contributed to his failure to score even with those on the floor, who were standing more out of visual necessity than inspiration. The majority of those in the loge seats remained planted throughout.

Although a blistering rendition of "Touch the Hand," from his current A&M album "Waking Up the Neighbours," served to slightly pick up the energy level, the bulk of Adams' power ballads fell short.

The brakes were further applied by the tiresome albeit Grammy-nominated ballad "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" against a hokey, forestlike backdrop.

The band's use of a tiny platform in the right-center of the house floor was apparently designed to leave the audience with a money's-worth feeling, as Adams devotees were permitted to flee their seats and surround the miniature stage.

But it was too little, too late, being used just prior to the encore numbers, which included "Summer of '69."

Opener the Storm is Interscope Records' contribution to the 40-and-older supergroup resurgence.

Despite the significant contributions by its members in an earlier era, band is only slightly more than a '70s throwback quintet, with its ex-Santana and Journey personnel serving up a tasteless brew of watered-down new songs and reheated old ones from their respective former bands.