'Just cry for nearly two hours': Are Adele's concerts a bit of a downer?

Kiwi fans were jumping for joy after scoring tickets to Adele's sold out Auckland shows last week. But be warned - many may leave her concert in tears.

Fans rushed to get tickets to Adele's shows last week, with her first two shows selling out in a record breaking 23 minutes, and a third doing the same less than an hour later.

But will a show described as "depressing" be worth the high prices and stress waiting for Ticketmaster to load?

Adele is bringing a very intimate with her. Based on videos on YouTube, the 360 degree staging that will be set up at Mt Smart Stadium means it will just be her on a podium right in the middle of the crowd, with her band somewhere to the side.

We all know she can deliver the hits, with a powerful voice known the world over and a growing arsenal of ballads she brings to the table. Fans can expect roughly 16 songs with hits selected from all three of her albums.

If you are going purely to hear her live, your in luck. Reviews have been glowing about her vocal performance. Fans who splashed out on the $700 tickets can be rest assured that she is "worth every penny".

READ MORE:
• Is Adele planning a fourth NZ show?
• Adele's whopping $20m Kiwi payday

However, it is her knack for on stage banter that has earned Adele the most praise on her tour.

Described by The Guardian as being able to "hold court like an East End pub landlady, with a fouler mouth and better anecdotes", the singer has gained plenty of attention for her impromptu antics.

She has helped multiple audience members get engaged, told off one fan who was trying to record the show and even gave twerking a go.

Most recently, she freaked out when a bat flew into her Mexico concert, and sparked a bit of a frenzy last week by suggesting she might be pregnant.

Her off-the-cuff remarks gained attention as they are the only light parts in what seems to be an otherwise depressing concert. A Los Angeles Times reviewer noted how Adele sang her two upbeat songs together - Water Under the Bridge and Rumour Has It - and then told the crowd they could "just cry for nearly two hours".

It does mean anyone going expecting a banging good time may be disappointed, as many critics have pointed out the amount of sad songs that make up Adele's set.

Her Glastonbury set was criticised for ending on the romantic ballad Someone Like You opposed to something more uplifting.

Despite the criticisms, reviewers all agree her core audience always seems to go home happy, no matter how depressing it gets.

Adele will be in New Zealand for three sold out shows on March 23, 25 and 26 at Mt Smart Stadium.