Adele

Reviews Concert May 19 2011

By Anupa MistryA stadium show, Adele Adkins's very first, was unexpected but warranted for the bona fide British pop star. Though the bowl was halved to provide a more intimate, accessible performance, it couldn't contain the magnitude of Adele's transformation from round-the-way every-girl to polished yet vulnerable star.

Adele has described her new record, 21, as being much more country-influenced than her previous Grammy-winning girl soul debut, 19. So it only made sense that the show began with fans -- men, women, young, old -- trickling in to a pre-show, tone-setting playlist of jangly Southern soul with dashes of hazy, guitar-driven roots reggae. With the spotlight on her accompanying pianist, Adele opened with a few bars of early chart-topper "Hometown Glory" from offstage, before stepping out to deafening cheers for the rest. Her current look -- a simple dress with a strong silhouette, bouffant hair, heels so she's taller than tall -- meets the expectations of exploding success, but her silly, girlish and, at times, hilariously foul banter belies the realness that so many relate to.

Bright flashes from cameras polka-dotted the air as Adele, in good spirits and apparently hoarse from a rowdy karaoke session the night before, ran through most of 21: "I'll Be Waiting," "Don't You Remember," "Turning Tables" and the night's first upbeat arrival "Set Fire to the Rain." Chatting and joking between songs, she revealed her appreciation for the "dirty R&B" of Toronto's the Weeknd, an inherited love of the Cure (before launching into her bossa nova take on "Love Song"), and an on-the-road passion for country blues (evidenced in a cover of the Steeldrivers' "If It Hadn't Been for Love").

These songs were clearly designed to get Adele stadium status; her presence is commanding and the melodies soar. But, at points, a booming sound system muddled the vocals and the inviting, fan-driven nature of her celebrity means sitting around watching isn't as satisfying an experience as it could be. Still, her charm and effortless, gut-wrenching talent strips any expectations for a "show" you might have. And in the end, a triple-threat ending -- Bob Dylan cover "Make You Feel My Love," automatic tearjerker "Someone Like You" and anthemic "Rolling in the Deep" -- brought the stands to their feet anyway.

GET IT!