Ryan Adams & The Cardinals @ Town Hall, NYC 12/6/06
It's all about sobriety and Diet Cokes for Ryan Adams these days. And these days find Ry at Town Hall with The Cardinals for a sold-out three-night run of shows. Last night was the second of the string, with Norah Jones's side project The Little Willies opening. Adams went with a "no-repeat song" policy for the residency, which god knows he has the material for, but is probably more fun to play than to attend. But as he said "this is my wish, not yours ... but you can be in it."
Don't get us wrong; Ryan could sing his way around most out there, and he's nothing if not a performer. (And how many dudes could wear patent leather platforms and hair in top-head ponytail and still get compliments on his jeans?) But when you're hoping for Heartbreaker, it's a bummer to get the jam band treatment. But what could compare to that 1AM Bowery gig?
Still, the night was full of great moments, whether it was Ryan responding to a call of "DJ Reggie What The Fuck?!" with "Aww snap, someone be calling my name!," or a killer rendition of "Harder Now That It's Over." And the Cardinals sound like a well-oiled machine, slipping from Ry's alt-country to his Dead worship with ease. (The set closed with a great "Stella Blue," getting a good cheer from the Deadheads in the house.) The cam was acting up, so no still shots worth sharing. But here's Ryan on a mellowed "Firecracker."
If the vid quality doesn't bother ya, check out last night's take on "Cherry Lane" here, and "Dear John" (with Norah Jones) here. And when some loud and obnoxious fan got kicked out and yelled to Adams for help (don't think Ry grasped the situation at that point), it's a good thing the laughter and WereWolph's babbling banter drowned out the offending fan's yell of "Summer Of '69!" No one wants to see that.
SETLIST
01. "What Sin"
02. "Nobody Girl"
03. "Harder Now That It's Over"
04. "September"
05. "Meadowlake Street"
06. "Freeway To The Canyon" (Neal Casal on lead vox)
07. "Trouble On Wheels"
[Set Break]
08. "Easy Plateau"
09. "Firecracker"
10. "Goodnite Rose"
11. "Trains"
12. "Cherry Lane"
13. "Dear John" (w/ Norah Jones)
14. "Stella Blue"
So much to chose from, Ryan. But with 11 albums up on his site in the past few months alone, how many Ryan albums do you want to see next year? Let us know with your Gummy vote.
Posted at 2:28 PM in Concert, Video
Tags: Norah Jones | Ryan Adams
damn. wish i was there. no songs from the shit - holy shit?
Posted by: li at December 6, 2006 3:32 PM | ReplyScore = 0
i have a mad man crush on ryan
Posted by: matt at December 6, 2006 3:45 PM | ReplyScore = 0
i have a mad man crush on ryan
Posted by: matt at December 6, 2006 4:04 PM | ReplyScore = 0
thanks for the post but somethings wrong with the video.
oh wait, sorry. i figured it out.
RYAN ADAMS IS AWFUL!!!
Posted by: jotoole at December 6, 2006 5:51 PM | ReplyScore = 0
i hate ryan adams more than everyone else around these parts hates clap your hands say yeah.
Posted by: matty ice at December 6, 2006 8:47 PM | ReplyScore = 0
i considered hitting that show...wish i had now
Posted by: sat75 at December 7, 2006 5:34 AM | ReplyScore = 0
are you in town, justin? should have gone! last night's setlist was even better:
Come Pick Me Up/When The Stars Go Blue/Oh My Sweet Carolina/Love Is Hell/This Is It/Afraid Not Scared/La Cienega Just Smiled//Hallelujah/Wish You Were Here/Judy Garland/Blue Sky Blues/Games/My Winding Wheel/Willow Jane/29/The Rescue Blues
Posted by: amrit at December 7, 2006 8:20 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Last night's setlist was great, but he ended at 10:35. The crowd was kinda sucky, so I think it wore him down and he got fed up. Too bad. It had the potential to really blow our minds, but instead landed with a thud.
Posted by: Qbertplaya at December 7, 2006 10:18 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Great site! Great show. Do you have an email contact for asking more in depth music related questions?
Posted by: Ace at December 7, 2006 2:18 PM | ReplyScore = 0
An amazing show. The duet with Norah was spectacular!
Posted by: Jessie at January 6, 2007 7:24 PM | ReplyScore = 0