Kim from Bar River upstages Bryan Adams (19 photos)

Not a whole heck of a lot has changed with Bryan Adams since the release of his first self-titled studio album in 1980.

But for the 4,400 Saultites at the Essar Centre last night, that's just fine by them.

Okay, a few things have changed.

The Canadian rocker-dude has won 18 Juno Awards, two Grammy Awards and one MTV Video Music Award.

His songwriting has also garnered him three Academy Award nominations and five Golden Globe Award nominations.

Not to mention that Adams was awarded the Order of Canada in 2006, the same year he was inducted to Canada's Walk of Fame.

And in 2002 he was invited to photograph Queen Elizabeth II as part of her Golden Jubilee celebration.

But the nuts and bolts of what made a nation, and ultimately the world, fall in love with Bryan Adams way back in the 80s remains intact.

The 49-year-old jeans-and-t-shirt-clad Kingston, Ontario native dealt the Sault a two-hour set of no-nonsense rock and roll.

With such hits as Summer of '69, 18 Till I Die, Somebody, Run To You, Cuts Like a Knife, Straight From the Heart and The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me is You included on the set list, it didn't take long for audience members to give in and stand up.

And up they stayed.

His boyish charm, unassuming demeanour and amusing anecdotes, recounting his unsuccessful excitement-seeking at the Bushplane Museum and the Sault Canal may have had something to do with it.

Two lucky ladies even got to share a bit of stage time with Mr. Adams.

YES FM radio personality and Badside singer/hottie, Melissa "Lissa" Krahnke, was the first volunteer picked to sing Melanie C's part on Baby, When You're Gone.

"I'm drawing a blank right now because I love you," she said when Adams asked whether she knew the words. "I can't even remember my own name."

"You're a radio DJ and you don't know the song?" he replied.

The pressure and excitement ultimately proved too much for Krahnke.

Or maybe it was the less-than-neighbourly chorus of booing that erupted when she announced she was from Sault Michigan.

Adams stopped the song about 20 seconds in, politely asking her to return to the audience.

It was proud Bar River girl Kim Cyr who was chosen next.

"I'm not saying I'm any good," she told Adams. "But I know all the words."

Not only did she know all the words, she had all the moves and personality of a seasoned rock star.

And Adams, with a grin of amusement on his face, allowed her the limelight as she flirted with him, played the audience and cavorted with guitar player Keith Scott.

Her performance was so perfect, one would think she was a plant.

Overall, Adams' performance was a flawless demonstration that simplicity, energy and an incessant love for what you do can maintain even a 30-year veteran's relevance, highlighting the fact that so many other offerings feel plastic and contrived.

Even the few skeptics in the audience would have to agree, Adams' performance was one heck of a good time.