Much like the band's frontman, Ryan Adams, himself, Friday night's sold-out Cardinals show at the Uptown was short, dark and depressing.
I'm tempted to make this post merely a photographic supplement to the hilarious and vitriolic review my Star counterpart Tim Finn filed early Saturday morning, which has garnered an amazing 61 comments as of this writing. Well done, Tim.
From what I've heard, Adams makes few live appearances at which he does not behave in some way that is frustrating to his audience. This was the second time I've seen him. Late 2007 at the Uptown was the first, and my only complaint was that he jabbered too much between songs, but he played for a good three hours and allowed actual concert lighting to be employed, unlike Friday's show, which was ridiculously poorly lit. (But then again, I heard that on that same '07 tour, in some other town, he'd stormed off the stage after 40 minutes. Just one of many famous Ryan-Adams-is-a-douche-live stories I've heard.) The dude is so neurotic and self-loathing that he is almost incapable of putting on a drama-free performance. He probably does need a nice, long break from music, at least from playing live. Because if you've got a great backing band, an awesome original song catalog, a beautiful venue full to capacity of people who have paid 42 bucks a ticket to see you, why the fuck do you have to go and spoil it?
At 8:45, when the band came on to the dopey strains of Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract," chosen, no doubt, for irono-absurd effect, I should've known there'd be trouble. But when the show ended just past 10, after the band had played only 15 songs (and, in the middle, taken a stupid and confusing 10-minute intermission) and given no encore, and the lights came up and the fucking Doobie Brothers song "What A Fool Believes" began playing through the fucking PA, I nonetheless found myself struggling to grasp how disrespectful and disappointing the whole thing was.
I turned around to see how the women behind me were reacting to this staggering slight. During the show, one of these girls had repeatedly and drunkenly shouted out demands for the lights to be brought up so she could see HRH Adams' pretty face. Instead of a picture of outrage, what I saw was a content-looking lady sitting there calmly, singing along with the Doobs. Minutes later, in line at the men's room, I made the mistake of voicing my disappointment to the guy next to me. "That was disappointing," I said. "Yeah?" the guy intoned in a drawly accent, sounding surprised. "I thought it was good -- short. Short but good." This fellow and I then proceeded to the next available urinals, which happened to be right next to each other. As we were relieving ourselves, the man began shouting. "Oh God! Not a kidney stone! Not now!" He was not actually passing a kidney stone. He, like the woman behind me who was upset by the lowness of the lightning but had no problem with the fact that instead of an encore we got Michael McDonald's hooty falsetto piped at us -- and like anyone else who went that night and was not at least a little bummed out by the show -- was 100 percent INSANE. And apparently, what Ryan Adams has learned, is that when your fans are all insane, you can do whatever you want.
This would include stopping after the fifth song and announcing "It's time for the evening joke with Jon Graboff" and having your pedal steel player get up and tell an intentionally bad joke, which you then chat about with your band mates for five more minutes while you tune one of the two dozen or so guitars that you need for this barely hourlong performance. It also includes hanging a gong behind the drum set and setting up a piano to one side of the stage and not using either of them. And it especially includes having animated conversations with people in the wings, presumably your roadies, anytime you're not singing.
I love Ryan Adams' music, I do. And that's why it's heartbreaking to see the artist himself disrespect his own work so much. Probably the greatest act of sacrilege at this show was when Adams chose to play his brilliant, gorgeous hit "Come Pick Me Up" only seven songs in. Normally, fans would come expecting to hear that -- maybe, if they were lucky -- in the encore, right? So, people are jumping out of their seats and cheering and swaying and singing along. Meanwhile, up on stage, instead of putting any feeling or soul into the performance, Adams is just standing there in the shadows, phoning in his vocals while fiddling with the tuning pegs of his guitar and looking down at his tuning pedal. Asshole.
Despite Adams' best efforts, there were still some good moments. The Cardinals are such a good band, and Adams is a fine singer; when they do settle into a song for real, they can't help but be shimmering, harmonious and pristine. This happened during the opener, an arresting, Crazy Horse-like electric version of "I See Monsters" from Love Is Hell, and also during "Stars Go Blue" and "Rescue Blues," both from Gold. The rest of the set was heavy on Cold Roses and Cardinology, the first and most recent Cardinals albums, respectively, with a few from Easy Tiger. Many of those songs were expanded to allow for Allman Bros.-like noodly jams.
I don't know, man. If this is Ryan Adams last tour, ever, he certainly didn't leave us with a good taste in his mouth. It probably won't be. The guy's a songwriting genius, and I'd bet my life savings (all thirty dollars of it) he goes on making music. And I'll continue to follow his recording career with interest and quite possibly adulation. As for going to see him live again ... only if he promises to turn on the lights and behave like an adult.
Set List
I See Monsters
Everybody Knows
Fix It
Let It Ride
Two
(evening joke with Jon Graboff)
When the Stars Go Blue
Come Pick Me Up
Born into a Light
(intermission)
Wonderwall
Into the Canyon
Mockingbirdsing
Goodnight Rose
Oh My God Whatever Etc
Peaceful Valley
Bartering Lines
Showing 1-18 of 18
Hear hear, Daniel!
I've seen bands play 60-minute sets that blew my mind (Spiritualized) or 2+ hours that mostly bored me, literally, to sleep (R.E.M.). Are you playing the music? No? So why would you expect to pick the songs or choose the set length?
Or, for that matter, dictate the way an artist should play a song?
Honestly, I can somewhat understand being disappointed about set length, but it's ludicrous to complain about the way Ryan Adams looked when he played "Come Pick Me Up." Would you rather have tasted the tears glistening on his cheek? Had him break into sobs? Or go fetal right in the middle of it? None of the actions this reviewer listed seem to warrant calling the performer an "asshole."
Maybe next time try focusing more on the music and less on your unmet (and, many would say, unreasonable) expectations.
As someone who has seen RA many times over the last few years, I feel bad for the Kansas City residents who got let down b/c of the short hourish long set. But, to be fair, as RA fans we are totally spoiled when it comes to show lengths from him. For instance, Andrew Bird came to San Francisco (where I live) and played for roughly 80 to 90 minutes. Nobody said anything. The crowd left the show buzzing. But, god forbid, Ryan doesn't play for three hours one night. If you didn't like how he sounded, that's one thing, but feeling entitled to a three hour performance from a musician suffering from Meniere's disease is a little silly.
A lot of headlining acts play for between one and two hours, but if Ryan does it he is disrespecting the fans? Get a grip.
Maybe it was because the last time he was in my city he played a shitkicking 3 hour set, but I Ryan hasn't left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Listening to people complaining about a "measly" 15 song set is a bit laughable. Bruce Springsteen has played a few hour long sets in his career.
He didn't have to come back to your town, but he did. That should at least count for something.
He played 64 shows in 2008.
That's not 200.
That's barely 5 shows per month.
I'd love that work schedule.
Additionally, a premeditated intermission and truncated show is not an off night.
It's an F.U. to everyone who showed up.
And you'll pay twice as much to see him again?
You're the enabler in a co-dependent relationship.
You're Rihanna running back to Chris Brown.
You're insane.
This was the third time I have seen him, second time at the Uptown, and it was a painfully short show. I guess I assumed that since this was a makeup show from the show that was cancelled in October, that it would be something special. It wasn't. RA and the Cardinals sounded great (as usual), and I'll gladly pay twice what I did Friday night to see them next time. I guess if I played 200 shows a year I would have an off night every once in a while.
Saw The (Original)Cardinals w/ Ryan back in 04 before their first group album, in Lawrence. These were his "bad" days. Ya know, drugs and alcohol. He played for 3 hours at least, going past the curfew time. GREAT SHOW! Saw them again in 07 at Uptown. GREAT SHOW! The Cardinals were finally set and were gelled. Great sound, good music. Thought that that would have been the last show for years in KC. Then came the rescheduled, sold-out gig on the 27th. Ryan was not at all into the music. Rescue Blues was great! That is about it. I had songs stuck in my head after the show that they did not even play! Not good! The crowd, from where I was anyways, was terrible. Constant moving, getting beers, going piss. I began to wonder, "How many of these 'fans' think Ryan wrote Wonderwall and did a cover of Tim McGraws When the stars go BLue"? Love The Cards, love Ryan. Take a break, and come back and blow us out man!
Saw The (Original)Cardinals w/ Ryan back in 04 before their first group album, in Lawrence. These were his "bad" days. Ya know, drugs and alcohol. He played for 3 hours at least, going past the curfew time. GREAT SHOW! Saw them again in 07 at Uptown. GREAT SHOW! The Cardinals were finally set and were gelled. Great sound, good music. Thought that that would have been the last show for years in KC. Then came the rescheduled, sold-out gig on the 27th. Ryan was not at all into the music. Rescue Blues was great! That is about it. I had songs stuck in my head after the show that they did not even play! Not good! The crowd, from where I was anyways, was terrible. Constant moving, getting beers, going piss. I began to wonder, "How many of these 'fans' think Ryan wrote Wonderwall and did a cover of Tim McGraws When the stars go BLue"? Love The Cards, love Ryan. Take a break, and come back and blow us out man!
Sarah,
I totally respect your opinion about Ryan Adams' music. You're not alone in your admiration.
The problem is that he, on a fairly consistent basis, does not respect you and his other fans in return.
I know what it's like to go see a band who has changed your life. You want to believe they can do no wrong, that there's an excuse for any possible shortcoming they may display.
Sorry, but there simply isn't an excuse for shortchanging an audience who has been waiting to see you for four months.
It is flat-out unprofessional.
You and another poster suggest that, well, at least Ryan Adams is not 'predictable', 'stereotypical', or 'vanilla'. You know what? Blow shit up, sacrifice a pigeon, fly around in a jetpack--bring whatever surprises to a show that you want. Quitting a show early does not make you unpredictable...it just sucks.
I think that one of the reasons he seemed so uninterested is because of the issues he has been having, that he discussed in his blog, which of course, hecklers took out of proportion. He can barely hear, and sitting on the front row, I saw what was really going down. The goddamn sound guys couldn't get it to sound good in his headphones. He had to keep taking them out because it was blasting him and making things worse. Also, the idiot who tunes his guitars kept tuning them horribly, because he had to keep adjusting him.
I wish he would have played longer. Of course. EVERYONE wishes he would have. He's the best songwriter and one of the best singers of the last ten years, I would have sat all night and listened, just like everyone else. If you were getting bored, you're out of your mind. I couldn't take my eyes off the stage. He puts all of himself into his music and shows, and that is evident by the fact that he is plain worn out. It irritates me that people are talking about what a shitty show it was. I thought it was GREAT.
One of the reasons that I and my friends are so fascinated with RA is because he does what he wants. That's what makes it so great. He is unpredictable, and bases his concerts off his moods, which aren't always great, but that's the gamble you take with loving an artist who is so fucked up in his head. It's better than listening to all these shitty stereotypical bands that pop up anywhere and everywhere these days that play horrible music.
1 hour of Ryan Adams, played well or mediocre, equals three hours of any other shitshow people waste their time going to these days. At least that is my opinion.
I think that one of the reasons he seemed so uninterested is because of the issues he has been having, that he discussed in his blog, which of course, hecklers took out of proportion. He can barely hear, and sitting on the front row, I saw what was really going down. The goddamn sound guys couldn't get it to sound good in his headphones. He had to keep taking them out because it was blasting him and making things worse. Also, the idiot who tunes his guitars kept tuning them horribly, because he had to keep adjusting him.
I wish he would have played longer. Of course. EVERYONE wishes he would have. He's the best songwriter and one of the best singers of the last ten years, I would have sat all night and listened, just like everyone else. If you were getting bored, you're out of your mind. I couldn't take my eyes off the stage. He puts all of himself into his music and shows, and that is evident by the fact that he is plain worn out. It irritates me that people are talking about what a shitty show it was. I thought it was GREAT.
One of the reasons that I and my friends are so fascinated with RA is because he does what he wants. That's what makes it so great. He is unpredictable, and bases his concerts off his moods, which aren't always great, but that's the gamble you take with loving an artist who is so fucked up in his head. It's better than listening to all these shitty stereotypical bands that pop up anywhere and everywhere these days that play horrible music.
1 hour of Ryan Adams, played well or mediocre, equals three hours of any other shitshow people waste their time going to these days. At least that is my opinion.
Crap. You guys got the short end of the stick. NJ show was over 3 hours, was well lit, and rocked. I almost came back home to KC to see him there. Glad I didn't.
ok...i'm convinced, the hardcore Ryan Adams' fans are lunatics...
someone above said "if you give back and he is in a good mood you get back"...WHAT!? that is just retarded. i went to the show, it was a CRAP show. not the worst i've heard, but it left the worst taste in my mouth afterwards mainly because Ryan made it painfully obvious that he could care freakin' less if we got our money's worth...in fact it seemed like half-assing (1/4-assing?) the show was a very conscious decision. it was a good, respectful crowd too, no heckling or hollering requests...but apparently we're supposed to "give back"? well, i already f*cking gave, man! $110 for a show i was supposed to see 4 months ago...but i guess i was supposed to bring him cookies too, and pray that he was in a "good mood". thats one of the stupidest thing i've ever heard...i mean i know he's got it pretty rough with fans that sell out venues to see him and a recent engagement to a beautiful hollywood star, but...
ah whatever...i could go on forever. its the fans of his who seem to think someone is pissing and moaning if they point out a show of his was a big smelly turd...they're quick to point out that he played 3 hours and rocked some other time in some other city on the tour...which is fine, but i'm talking about this show and this show was The Suck!
the guy's been a successful musician for well over 10 years now, but he's still the same unprofessional, whiney bitch he's always been...who writes really good songs.
So by your rationale, people should buy tickets to rock shows with the reasonable expectation that they might feel ripped off at the end of the night?
Sure, the occasional "off night" can be expected: a wobbly voice or a lackluster stand-in bass player is easily forgivable.
This was not an "off night"--this was cutting a show short and taking a freaking intermission in a 90 minute show (by Tim Finn's numbers, there were about 70 minutes of actual music).
There is nothing "rock-'n'-roll" about that. It's unprofessional and disrespectful. Stop making excuses for him.
Wow people love to complain. You aren't paying money to see a show on Broadway. It's a rock show. Not only is it a rock show, but it's a rock show done by a guy who does 200 shows a year. Do you think it's possible that out of those 200 shows he's going to have an off night? I've seen him 6 times and they have all been great. If you want a predictable vanilla rock show, buy a ticket to see Steve Winwood. I'm sure he won't disappoint you with his "antics."
I have been a fan for over 10 years and love this guy, Seen him more than 8 times and dont have any expectations other than letting him pick the songs ( quit yelling idots !!) and enjoying the new arrangements. Last year in Tulsa he came out before ticket posted time and played 5 acoustic songs. I never have understood why people think concerts should be a certain length. Ryan playes with passion and if you give back and he is in a good mood you get back. If you want that go see some canned going thru the motions Stones show that is pre programmed there you go. BTW -- Stones are my fav of all time. 1.5 hours for a show in my opionion is plenty and this is coming from a person who use to sit thru 4 hour GD shows and once played a gig where we went on for over 7 hours ( the 1 hour Suzie Q was the highlight). The reviewer is correct that he is prolific. I think he is the greatest songwriter in the last 10 years. I still dont understand why 1.5 hours is not enough to get your concert on ?
I chose to pass on the shows in Minny and Chicago with Oasis thinking the KC show would be the ticket. 400 miles and a hotel later, WTF if an 8 oclock start time means 8:40 then play till 10:40. Shortchanged for sure!!! wonder how the Columbia show was?
I have a couple friends who went to the show, and they will never give him another cent of their money. This is a RESCHEDULED SHOW that people waited months to see, and he just took a big dump on them. Sandy, you say his fans like that "he's just this guy up there", but he's not - this isn't some dude with a guitar at a coffee shop flavoring people's lattes with James Taylor covers. He filled the Uptown at $40+ per ticket.
As a performer (much closer in scope to coffee shop James Taylor than d-bag Ryan Adams), it absolutely infuriates me when so-called artists do not respect their audience. That is the BARE MINIMUM we should demand from our live music.
I've seen him six times and five were fabulous. One was ok, he was upset. I resent the (I assume) tongue in cheek comment that his fans are insane. I'd rather hear 15 songs from him than 40 from anyone else. He's had a lot of monitor problems lately, possibly because he's going deaf. I keep hearing people say he should be more professional, but that's one of the things some of his fans love about him, he's just this guy up there, and when it works it's awesome and when it doesn't, well, that's life. I understand people may sometimes feel cheated, but if you see him often, it all evens out, the times he plays short shows, the times he plays three hours. Anyway, sorry you and KC had a bad show.
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