View Full Version : Barrymore Theatre, Sept. 28th, Madison, WI
sipowicz
09-28-2007, 09:14 AM
SETLIST
on 9.05 (EST)
1. Goodnight Rose
2. Games (solo)
3. Wildflowers
4. Peaceful Valley (Blew Doors WOW!!!)
5. Cold Roses
6. Everybody Knows
7. Rescue Blues (RA on Piano)
8. Two
9. Mockingbird Song
10. What Sin (with long noisy jammy ending)
11. Beautiful Sorta
12 Dear John
13 A Kiss Before I Go
14. The End
15 Freeway to the Canyon
16. Bartering Lines
17 When the Stars Go Blue
_____________________
18 Sylvia Plath (solo piano)
off: 11.02
courtesy of Deviant
Are you guys ready? I am mentally preparing myself, for the craziness that could and probably will be this show...
Anyone want to meet up? My buddy doesn't get off until 7 or so, and I live in J-ville, so I will be getting there right around 8, stupid stupid work and general admin...
Tim Simmons
09-28-2007, 09:19 AM
Was the last he played the barrymore, the final show of 2001?
sipowicz
09-28-2007, 09:29 AM
Was the last he played the barrymore, the final show of 2001?
Yeah, it was the second to last show of the US tour, he avoids Madison like the plague. Don't know why, but he seems too.
Are you guys ready? I am mentally preparing myself, for the craziness that could and probably will be this show...
Anyone want to meet up? My buddy doesn't get off until 7 or so, and I live in J-ville, so I will be getting there right around 8, stupid stupid work and general admin...
we'll be praying for you
sipowicz
09-28-2007, 10:59 AM
Good, I'll need it.
I'll try to not to too hammered and give a good review when I get back from the show.
ewok.online
09-28-2007, 11:14 AM
Good, I'll need it.
I'll try to not to too hammered and give a good review when I get back from the show.
good luck. :upyours
Faded Rose
09-28-2007, 02:49 PM
This is where we all face mecca and pray the show's a real blast for you and for Ryan too.
sipowicz
09-28-2007, 02:56 PM
This is where we all face mecca and pray the show's a real blast for you and for Ryan too.
For Ryan more then me, I mean, really, if he totally doesn't love these next 1-3 shows, tour could be over. Would anyone be surprised???
Faded Rose
09-28-2007, 02:59 PM
For Ryan more then me, I mean, really, if he totally doesn't love these next 1-3 shows, tour could be over. Would anyone be surprised???
No I wouldn't. I get the feeling that if he doesn't pull a good one out soon he'll quit the tour and go home because he's just not handling it. I think his manager needs to give him a serious talking to...if he's got the balls.
I still hope you enjoy yourself.
burgerqueen
09-28-2007, 09:51 PM
good luck tonight, hope everything goes well.
It seems weird to wish somebody good luck to go to a show.
ewok.online
09-28-2007, 10:02 PM
it's probably started by now.
fingers crossed.
ArkhamAsylum
09-28-2007, 10:04 PM
Heard a rumor over at RAA about a version of Peaceful Valley that "blew the doors off", but that's about it so far.
ewok.online
09-28-2007, 10:05 PM
Heard a rumor over at RAA about a version of Peaceful Valley that "blew the doors off", but that's about it so far.
:upyours
hope somebody's taping this.
ArkhamAsylum
09-28-2007, 10:19 PM
Here's a rough setlist so far posted over at RAA.
1. Goodnight Rose
2. Games (solo)
3. Wildflowers
4. Peaceful Valley (Blew Doors WOW!!!)
5. Cold Roses
6. Everybody Knows
7. Rescue Blues (RA on Piano)
8. Two
9. Mockingbird Song
10. What Sin (with long noisy jammy ending)
11. Beautiful Sorta
12. Dear John
13. A Kiss Before I Go (Slower)
14. The End
Sydneyfan
09-28-2007, 10:20 PM
Cheers for that, I'll put it at the top of the thread as well. Let's hope for a longer setlist tonight.
Sydneyfan
09-28-2007, 11:09 PM
18 songs tonight including encore.
taparoo
09-28-2007, 11:31 PM
sweet. Judging by the length looks like Ryan was feelin good tonight?
raer7385
09-28-2007, 11:51 PM
sweet. Judging by the length looks like Ryan was feelin good tonight?
finger's crossed
foggy
09-28-2007, 11:55 PM
Sounds like a good one. :upyours
ewok.online
09-29-2007, 12:28 AM
awesome. :upyours
Sydneyfan
09-29-2007, 12:37 AM
from ewebs:
Just got back from the show.
from Goodnight Rose on through Rescue Blues, i was convinced this was going to go down as the greatest show i've seen in years. ryan and the band seemed to be totally digging it, and their playing was on fire. Peacefully Valley tore the roof off the place. After Cold Roses, someone said, "Thanks for coming to Madison," and Ryan smiled in response saying, "It's great to be here, you have no idea", then making some reference to last night.
It has been mentioned that RA was still distracted by the monitors tonight though.
ewok.online
09-29-2007, 12:46 AM
was there any idea as to the tone of the reference to last night?
because if he's sorry about the whole thing, i feel better.
Sydneyfan
09-29-2007, 12:49 AM
was there any idea as to the tone of the reference to last night?
because if he's sorry about the whole thing, i feel better.
No, not at this stage. If I see anything, I'll post it for you. :upyours
ewok.online
09-29-2007, 12:50 AM
No, not at this stage. If I see anything, I'll post it for you. :upyours
thank you, ma'am. :upyours
sipowicz
09-29-2007, 01:01 AM
Ok, so here is what I will say. It was a good show, but not great. Peaceful Valley was INSANE, holy crap. I was right in front of Ryan about 3 people back, so I could get a good sense of how he was.
He and the band seemed in a good mood for a while, Ryan rocked so hard his boot heal came off so he was in socks for a few songs, also he was chatty, which is always good. But then...during Two, he replaced "No good ever comes from it, honest" with, "If we had good sound guys, we could play a good show, I promise." I kid you not, the band all looked like thier cat just died. Worry was all over the stage... After the song he bitched about the moniters and what not, and honestly, after they got 'fixed' the sounds was worse for me, but whatever. After a few songs, the band got happy again and all seemed alright, and then, like, the mood changed again and that was it, Ryan was done, can't explain why, it just happened.
He did address the MN show as, 'Playing in a Beer Hut." So, don't expect him there ever again.
He really started getting chatty again, which was great. I will say this, they need to stop playing 'What Sin' live, it doesn't work, no one knows it, besides, well, us, and its too long, I really feel he lost the audience after that.
The show was good, not great, and with a one song encore, Ryan was totally done with Madison. Makes me glad I didn't go to the Chicago show tommarrow like I was planning. I need a Ryan break.
taparoo
09-29-2007, 01:06 AM
Jesus Christ. Let the monitors be. Yikes. Thanks for the review :upyours
sipowicz
09-29-2007, 01:10 AM
Jesus Christ. Let the monitors be. Yikes. Thanks for the review :upyours
No prob'. And I agree, it totally ruins the flow of the show, tonight after he was bitchin', someone yelled, "It sounds fine," and Ryan goes, "You know, I can't hear myself, and it's not about you, it's about me," which honestly, was funny, but like I said, the sound got worse for me after he 'fixed' it.
ewok.online
09-29-2007, 01:18 AM
He did address the MN show as, 'Playing in a Beer Hut." So, don't expect him there ever again.
if he means "had the feel of playing in a county fair beer tent" then he's correct. thus is minnesota.
i almost wish he would start drinking again so he would be too drunk to notice the monitors and just play, like back in the day.
ewok.online
09-29-2007, 01:20 AM
"You know, I can't hear myself, and it's not about you, it's about me."
oh damn! he went there.
Sydneyfan
09-29-2007, 01:20 AM
Thanks for the review. Sounds like it was not exactly a kiss and make-up show though.
It also sounds to me like he thought the 65 minute MN show was justified.
mockingbirdluck
09-29-2007, 03:20 AM
whatevs dude. this show melted faces. seriously. i cannot tell you how much some of these songs rocked ... peaceful valley, cold roses, what sin, bartering lines ... and he played mockingbirdsong. and everybody knows. and sylvia plath. freeway to the canyon was a dagger to the heart with ryan on guitar solos bringin down the house. and the outright beauty of the slower tunes could've turned coal to fucking diamond. this show was sick. it was dirty. it was everything i wanted to see.
one more thing ... after talking so much about minneapolis being the beer hut (or as neal put it, "the drive thru beer inn"), ryan says, "this next song's not on the list." and then they launched into "everybody knows," which i was so glad to hear. but then i realized, he was singing it about minneapolis:
you come to me in the worst of places...
you and i together, but only one of us in love
and everybody knows
it was pretty rad. (of course, i feel sorry for the people who were at the minneapolis show.) but this was a big F.U. to cnn and all the people so quick to judge him because of a bad show.
that whole thing started when someone yelled "thanks for coming to madison!" and ryan answered with "trust me, it's good to be here." then some dude goes "what the hell happened last night, ryan?" and thus begins the talk of the beer hut and some cardinals in-jokes. then ... everybody knows.
but anyway ... the cardinals at the barrymore ... it was an amen to my prayer for a great show this evening. we got one. oh, we got one. thank you ryan and the cards.
taparoo
09-29-2007, 04:30 AM
Good to hear. Thanks for that man
ferris wheel junkie
09-29-2007, 04:31 AM
sounds like it was awesome.
:)
Sydneyfan
09-29-2007, 05:03 AM
one more thing ... after talking so much about minneapolis being the beer hut (or as neal put it, "the drive thru beer inn"), ryan says, "this next song's not on the list." and then they launched into "everybody knows," which i was so glad to hear. but then i realized, he was singing it about minneapolis:
you come to me in the worst of places...
you and i together, but only one of us in love
and everybody knows
it was pretty rad. (of course, i feel sorry for the people who were at the minneapolis show.) but this was a big F.U. to cnn and all the people so quick to judge him because of a bad show.
that whole thing started when someone yelled "thanks for coming to madison!" and ryan answered with "trust me, it's good to be here." then some dude goes "what the hell happened last night, ryan?" and thus begins the talk of the beer hut and some cardinals in-jokes. then ... everybody knows.
Well, good to see he is taking a mature and professional approach to live performing and his fanbase in general then. I was worried there for a little while.
Sydneyfan
09-29-2007, 06:46 AM
btw, do audiences ever get tired of getting blamed and/or insulted for the personal shortcomings of a performer? CNN should do a poll on that question sometime........
thefed
09-29-2007, 07:35 AM
it's not about us, sydney; it's about HIM!
Sydneyfan
09-29-2007, 07:49 AM
it's not about us, sydney; it's about HIM!
:P What was I thinking?
Being a musical genius makes you special.
thefed
09-29-2007, 08:36 AM
his life must be so hard.
ewok.online
09-29-2007, 08:42 AM
i almost wish he would start drinking again so he would be too drunk to notice the monitors and just play, like back in the day.
dear person who felt this deserved negative reputation.
See Here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm)
Faded Rose
09-29-2007, 08:48 AM
ewok - you took the words out of my mouth.
I thought we were a fan board - everyone to his/her own opinion but let's quit knocking the guy for a while please.
thefed
09-29-2007, 08:50 AM
:violin :rolleyes
ewok.online
09-29-2007, 08:54 AM
:violin :rolleyes
i ain't complaining because i lost rep points.
i couldn't give a fuck less.
it's the sheer humorless aspect of someone taking it too seriously.
plus, i have a little right to make jokes towards him, he did just insult my whole state, after all.
thefed
09-29-2007, 08:59 AM
whatevs dude. this show melted faces. :lol
ewok.online
09-29-2007, 09:01 AM
i am in no way trying to discount the show.
i'm just trying to make a point that a harmess quip on a messageboard isn't the end of the world.
eh, whatever. i give up.
time to go make coffee.
Tim Simmons
09-29-2007, 10:03 AM
You think thats bad, you should see the negative rep I got from the "SHould Ryan quit touring thread".
ewok.online
09-29-2007, 10:05 AM
You think thats bad, you should see the negative rep I got from the "SHould Ryan quit touring thread".
i believe it, man.
sipowicz
09-29-2007, 10:27 AM
whatevs dude. this show melted faces. seriously. i cannot tell you how much some of these songs rocked ... peaceful valley, cold roses, what sin, bartering lines ... and he played mockingbirdsong. and everybody knows. and sylvia plath. freeway to the canyon was a dagger to the heart with ryan on guitar solos bringin down the house. and the outright beauty of the slower tunes could've turned coal to fucking diamond. this show was sick. it was dirty. it was everything i wanted to see.
one more thing ... after talking so much about minneapolis being the beer hut (or as neal put it, "the drive thru beer inn"), ryan says, "this next song's not on the list." and then they launched into "everybody knows," which i was so glad to hear. but then i realized, he was singing it about minneapolis:
you come to me in the worst of places...
you and i together, but only one of us in love
and everybody knows
it was pretty rad. (of course, i feel sorry for the people who were at the minneapolis show.) but this was a big F.U. to cnn and all the people so quick to judge him because of a bad show.
that whole thing started when someone yelled "thanks for coming to madison!" and ryan answered with "trust me, it's good to be here." then some dude goes "what the hell happened last night, ryan?" and thus begins the talk of the beer hut and some cardinals in-jokes. then ... everybody knows.
but anyway ... the cardinals at the barrymore ... it was an amen to my prayer for a great show this evening. we got one. oh, we got one. thank you ryan and the cards.
Thats great you loved the show. I agree that Peaceful Valley and Bartering Lines ripped. But I wouldn't say, "whatevs dude. this show melted faces."
Anyway, glad to hear you dug it.
sipowicz
09-29-2007, 10:27 AM
dear person who felt this deserved negative reputation.
See Here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm)
Well, I thought it was funny.
ewok.online
09-29-2007, 10:30 AM
Well, I thought it was funny.
:D:upyours
KrzyIrish69
09-29-2007, 10:58 AM
does he have the same sound crew traveling with him throughout the tour?
Toehead
09-29-2007, 10:58 AM
Sounds great. Hope he keeps it together long enough to perform here (Kansas City) on Tuesday night!
burgerqueen
09-29-2007, 11:06 AM
I'm glad to hear there was a good show. And even though it sucks for the people at the MN show, I kinda like how he mentioned it and explained himself a bit. It doesn't make everything ok, but at least a little more understandable.
And of course it's all about him, it's always about him. That's no shock.
mockingbirdluck
09-29-2007, 11:20 AM
well the show melted MY face. for sure, man. i understand why people can be critical on him, but damn, so many people here make it sound like the guys just ripping his fans off by playing "the saaaame setlist" or "complaining about sound." seriously, i don't give a flyin flock of seagulls. i'm there for the music. and the music was superb. and if i get a little extra entertainment from the jokester batman fanboy on stage, then God bless him and God bless me for it, cuz he makes me laugh.
one more thing about the sound issues ... as i understand it, ryan is a perfectionist and wants nothing more than to sound RIGHT for his audience. if he doesn't sound right, he is upset. i know he quipped last night that it was all about him, but honestly, ryan and the cards go up there every night (or nearly) and play songs from the pit of their gut. and whether WE notice it or not, sound plays a pretty big role in how the band "feels" their tunes.
last night ryan complained that his monitors were blaring his vocals so loud he couldn't hear what key he was singing in. (which gave birth to a pretty funny line: "i can sing pretty much on key when i'm not full of the booooze"). granted, once they turned them down a little bit, we lost a little of his voice, but not much. but if it helped him sing those songs how HE wanted them sung, so be it. who am i to bitch and moan.
i'm not trying to be a ryan apologist or anything, but give the guy a break. that show was incredible. and if it wasn't for you (in the universal sense), then maybe you ought to wipe away a few of your biases the next time you go see his show (if you decide to go see his show next time he comes around). just sayin.
sipowicz
09-29-2007, 12:27 PM
i'm not trying to be a ryan apologist or anything, but give the guy a break. that show was incredible. and if it wasn't for you (in the universal sense), then maybe you ought to wipe away a few of your biases the next time you go see his show (if you decide to go see his show next time he comes around). just sayin.
I know what you are trying to say, but seriously, that didn't come off great. I guess the way I look at it, I can review the show any way I feel like it. I agree, the show was good and there were moments that were just, well, "Melted my face." But I can say what I thought, and criticize and comment here and there without feeling bad. I have no biases, I took off work to go to the show and payed 35 bucks, so I did go to have a good time, and will continue to go to his shows, with no biases.
mockingbirdluck
09-29-2007, 12:53 PM
I know what you are trying to say, but seriously, that didn't come off great. I guess the way I look at it, I can review the show any way I feel like it. I agree, the show was good and there were moments that were just, well, "Melted my face." But I can say what I thought, and criticize and comment here and there without feeling bad. I have no biases, I took off work to go to the show and payed 35 bucks, so I did go to have a good time, and will continue to go to his shows, with no biases.
I wasn't referring to you, man. I was referring to the "you" in a universal sense ... I have no problem with people having different opinions about the same show, but I felt the need to be a voice of positivity since so many people on this board and others seem so happy to just rip the guy these days. And maybe he deserves some of it, but maybe he doesn't. I can't tell you how many posts I've read here and elsewhere that claim how happy people are they chose not to get tickets to a show this time around. They boo the setlists w/out having heard the show. And had they heard it, they'd realize these aren't just standard run-of-the-mill versions Ryan has been playing. These are unique to the venue. And so the setlists remain similar, but the shows are completely different one night to the next.
But after rereading my post, I see how one might take offense at what I wrote at the end there. I didn't mean for that at all. Anyway, I'm glad your face melted some too. ;)
After all, that's why we go, right?
ninecasey
09-29-2007, 09:29 PM
Hey, I'm new to this post and I wanted to chime in. I was at the show last night at the Barrymore and I thought it was AMAZING. Now, unlike many of you on these boards, this was the very first time I have seen Ryan live and I was more than aware of his tendencies during past concerts. Yes, I did begin to get a tad worried when he was trying to fix the monitors but I felt he handled himself very well and even tossed out some humor into the proceedings, which ultimately let some of the air out of the balloon. Besides, I thought the audience was extremely respectful and even encouraging--anything to help him complete the show on his terms.
As for me, it gave me everything I wanted and more. I wasn't expecting to see a heavy rock and roll styled show but I am thrilled I did. I was surprised at how many guitar solos Ryan took (I really hadn't thought of him as a lead guitarist so much), some songs that happen to not be my favorites were completely re-invented for me ("Peaceful Valley" is everything everyone else on this board has made it out to be. Utterly incendiary.), and it showed me who The Cardinals are as a fully contained band and not just "Ryan's backing musicians" (whatever that song that Neal Casel sang was just gorgeous!).
It completely showcased Ryan's songwriting gifts, vocal agility and the full band was tight as a drum from vocal harmonies, twin guitar leads, rock solid rhythm section and a ghostly slide guitar that hovered and haunted the proceedings. Man, if this is what The Cardinals can do and what Ryan may have in store once this transition from "Ryan Adams and the Cardinals" to "The Cardinals" is complete, then we are in for it in the best possible way.
I truly hope he felt the show was successful and that he returns to Madison again. I don't see many concerts but this was one of the best I have seen and exactly what I needed.
FrigidRoses
09-29-2007, 09:35 PM
Glad you enjoyed the show.
foggy
09-30-2007, 03:00 AM
Ryan Adams woos with bad boy charm in return to Madison
Dear Ryan, please don't beat me up in the parking lot without a kiss
Emily Denaro on Saturday 09/29/2007
I was introduced to Ryan Adams by a friend who phoned me after one of his NYC concerts exclaiming, "I just saw Ryan Adams, the guy who used to freak out at concerts because of drugs and stuff. But I just saw him play a show sober while wearing moon shoes and a Pebbles pony tail on top of his head!" A few months later, my friend crossed paths with Adams in a deli and had a cordial conversation. The guy throws tantrums, wears moon shoes, eats bagels, and writes great music?! Is he single?
I was revved to go to Adams' show as it was, but after the buzz surrounding the recent Minneapolis gig, I thought, "What's this wanker's problem?"
The Barrymore was already pulsating with Adams when I got there -- ten minutes after the time stamped on the ticket. The stage was dark as night, with a grizzly sized disco ball hanging above the drummer. Twinkling lights, similar to those on the ceiling of the theater flickered behind the band on the backdrop. Normally, shows at the Barrymore are shiny and white lit, but Adams was basked in a dark glow of blues, reds and greens. It was evident from his shaggy haircut and face hiding antics that the focus was not the man but the music.
The audience -- which rumor has it included chanteuse/actress, Mandy Moore -- was under his thumb for the first segment of the show. Nervous onlookers were silent during songs, allowing only music -- instead of drunken babble and a pissed off frontman -- to bounce off the walls. One could practically hear insects scurrying during the harmony rich "Peaceful Valley," which earned my vote for most beautifully lush tune of the night. Perhaps every artist should scare the hell out of his fans now and again?
As the concert went on, it was clear that the moody brooder folks expected was absent and in his place was a jocular, happy dude.
"That's not how you play the song, Neil. What the fuck?!" Adams yelled like a pissed off teenager to guitarist Neal Casal, beginning a long line of sarcasm. Even when Adams was displeased with his sound, he kept it humorous. When he wanted the vocals turned down at the front of the stage, he remarked, "I can pretty much sing on key when I'm not full of booze. It's not about you [the audience], you are fine. It's about me. I can't understand what the fuck I'm singing!" When the crowd yelled their love and hate, he faux cried with Casal: "Wah! Stop yelling things at me! Wah!," ending the weeping with a cacophony of giggles.
When it comes down to it, Ryan Adams is a human being. He's a perfectionist, sure, but he also has integrity. No one wants their output to be anything but the genuine product, be it a song or a tray of cupcakes. Sure, people can argue that if they spend cash on a ticket, they deserve a good show. But the same goes for haircuts, and everyone has gotten one that's turned into a mullet.
Throw Ryan Adams a little slack. This is a guy whose bad day becomes a ticker tape item on CNN. He wants what the audience hears to be perfect, not some contorted version of his sound. Call it whiney, call it anal retentive, but really, it's more like caring. Adams is the first artist I've come across whose desire to do it right musically outweighed his desire to be superficially fawned over.
The well executed show lasted approximately two hours and featured a smattering of different styles and material, including the honey voiced Neal Casal's feature "Freeway to the Canyon." The sultry "What Sin Replaces Love" channelled the bluesy side of Adams, amid more classic rock and alt country standards. Even an experimental jam was thrown in for good measure. Adams jokingly proclaimed it was his newest single, "Tuba Sandwich."
The evening finished with Adams solo on piano for a dirge-like “Sylvia Plath,” a single light draped on him like moonlight in an alley.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There's also quite a few pics at the gallery link.
http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=9191
foggy
09-30-2007, 03:19 AM
Here's the pics: (taken by Emily Denaro)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/strangeways/rymadison9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/strangeways/rymadison4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/strangeways/ryamadison5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/strangeways/rymadison7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/strangeways/ryanmad2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/strangeways/rymadison6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/strangeways/rymadison10.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/strangeways/rymadison3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/strangeways/neilmadison8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0803/strangeways/ry1madison.jpg
taparoo
09-30-2007, 03:41 AM
Great pics, thanks!
Faded Rose
09-30-2007, 12:38 PM
Thanks for the post and the pics. Very nice.
littleamen
09-30-2007, 12:44 PM
Cool pics, foggy.
That's the same shirt he wore in MPLS. I figured he would have burned it for being bad mojo or something.
foggy
10-02-2007, 06:33 PM
Here's another review:
‘Easy Tiger’: Ryan Adams on Fresca
by Katelyn Price
Monday, October 1, 2007
Playing to a sold-out crowd Friday night at the Barrymore Theatre, rocker Ryan Adams and his band, the Cardinals, brought a little bit of North Carolina to their enthusiastic Madison fan sector. The notoriously temperamental musician, known for his sometimes drunken onstage antics, was on his best behavior, joking with the audience and quenching his thirst with nothing but a can of Fresca.
Reportedly sober for the past year, Adams is on tour for his new album, Easy Tiger, arguably his most cohesive and polished work to date. Whether or not because of his recent sobriety, he executes each track with a stunning clarity that he also manages to bring to his live performance.
Adams and his band (guitarist and singer Neal Casal, bassist Chris Feinstein, drummer Brad Pemberton and Jon Graboff on pedal steel guitar) played some of the highlights from Easy Tiger, including “Goodnight Rose,” “Everybody Knows” and “Two,” as well as older favorites such as “Rescue Blues” and “When the Stars Go Blue.” During their rendition of the lilting ballad “Peaceful Valley” from their album Jacksonville City Nights, Adams and band members gave a spot-on a capella performance of the refrain, and then continued on to pound out more ear-pleasing harmonies in “Cold Roses.”
In the hands of a lesser artist, Ryan Adams’ songwriting style could easily be termed “desperate whining,” however, he manages to mold often melodramatic lyrics into achingly sweet ballads with his soaring, quaking vocals and bold guitar riffs. His charged performance Friday left little to be desired. The relaxed ease with which Adams and his band played together was confidence inspiring, especially considering the highly improvisational nature of his music.
The visual aspect of the band’s performance was by no means to be ignored. They shared the stage with a variety of props, including a backdrop of blinking Christmas lights, a jack-o-lantern, a dangerously large disco ball and a life-size cardboard cut-out of Big Bird. Dramatic low-key lighting often had the musicians in darkness with only their shadows visible against a back screen. For his reluctant encore solo (having reappeared only after almost five minutes of pleading applause), Adams, accompanying himself on piano, sang “Sylvia Plath.” The roaring rock-and-roll atmosphere of just a few moments before shrunk to that of an intimate cabaret as the crowd fell completely silent — some taking the moment a bit too far by holding up cigarette lighters — leaving nothing but the sound of Adams’ wistful crooning.
If anything were lacking in Adams’ performance, it would be a genuine connection with his audience, and perhaps a sense of his desire to be there. Often times, it seemed as though he was playing to himself, rather than to his listeners. The exchange of energy between a performer and audience that makes many concerts so memorable was absent at times, and the delay with which he acknowledged his fans’ request for an encore was somewhat alienating. But given how misery and general moodiness seem to fuel the irresistible way he makes music, devoted listeners will take whatever they can get.
FrigidRoses
10-02-2007, 06:42 PM
Thanks foggy.
All my clowns aligned :lol
burgerqueen
10-02-2007, 08:22 PM
a big bird cardboard cut out? What the hell? :lol
Raining in Baltimore
10-02-2007, 09:43 PM
Yeah, there's a cut out of Big Bird between some of the amps behind Ryan...it's moderately terrifying...
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