Ryan Adams setlist at the Cedar
Posted on June 19th, 2007 – 1:27 PMBy Chris Riemenschneider
Fortunately, Ryan’s knack for gab was far from the focal point of last night’s show. But I did get a big kick out of two jokes he made on two different metal gods. “Sometimes I wish I was in Iron Maiden,” he said. “Who could get nervous singing ‘Aces High?’” Later, when he told the crowd to cheer as if he left the stage for an encore, he said, “Just pretend like I’m Danzig.”He then added, “This one goes out to Danzig — cheer up, buddy!”
Tell us (or the many, many fans who didn’t get into the show) what you thought.
Goodnight Rose / Dear John / Oh My God, Whatever, Etc. / Halloween Head / Night Birds / Winding Wheel / The Sun Also Sets / Let It Ride / Blue Hotel / How Do You Keep Love Alive? / Carolina Rain / Rip Off / Goodnight Hollywood Blvd. / I Taught Myself How to Grow Old / Elizabeth, You Were Born to Play That Part / Two / Starlite Diner / (pseudo-encore) / See Monsters
14 Responses to "Ryan Adams setlist at the Cedar"
The critic wrote that the show was a downer. That’s why he is a critic. The show was amazing and Ryan’s vocal were crisp and focused. The Cardinals were fantastic highlighted by the beautiful pedal steel guitar. I was surprised to even hear about the show much less be able to score a ticket. Not a bad seat in the house what a treat. It is great to hear that he is recovering from his addictions and getting back in stride. A rare and under appreciated artist that is carrying the torch better than anyone out there today. Keep it up Ryan!
Andrew,
Chris’s review is pretty glowingly positive and praised the entire show. he just stated that most of the songs Ryan played were sad/downer songs, which is true, they mostly were…
I thought it was about as solid of a performance as you could ask from anybody. His band was very tight and his voice was remarkable. None of the baggage that we’ve all heard about in the past was present last night. I got to chat with him in the lobby afterwards for a while and he seemed like a guy who was genuinely interested in what his fans had to say. A+ all around.
I completely agree with your review, Chris. Having the vocals be the focus really made the show memorable. And Ryan’s voice has never sounded better. Enjoyed his ‘comedy’ as well, with his ‘intense experience with Combos’ and how ‘you can’t keep him away from Minneapolis, although there were times when you should have.’ Great to see him at such an intimate venue as well. A fantastic show!
Due to the horrible website from which tickets were sold, I was unable to attend the concert. I hold the venue and ticketweb service responsible. It took 30 minutes to get through and then finally get a “page cannot be displayed” message. Kudo’s to Ryan A. for what sounds to have been a stellar show and hanging out to chat with fans - incredible. Ryan, next time come back to 1st Ave. please so more of us can get in. -Steve W. -Mpls.
Due to the horrible website from which tickets were sold, I was unable to attend the concert. I hold the venue and ticketweb service responsible. It took 30 minutes to get through and then finally get a “page cannot be displayed” message. Kudo’s to Ryan A. for what sounds to have been a stellar show and hanging out to chat with fans - incredible. Ryan, next time come back to 1st Ave. please so more of us can get in. -Steve W. -Mpls.
Personally, I miss the old Ryan. Yes, his show was polished and sounded great, but honestly, it lacked the variety and spontaneity of earlier performances. By the end of the show, every song pretty much sounded the same. I like pedal steel as much as anybody else, but did we really need to hear it on every tune? However, I did really enjoy his banter and emotional transparency on stage. I’m glad Ryan cleaned himself up and is getting critical praise for the new album, but I just think his new songs lack the same power of Heartbreaker and Gold.
hmm… i didn’t think every song sounded the same at all myself…
then again i love the new album, and have loved all but 2-3 of his records post Gold…
It was an OK review, but for a supposedly top-notch paper, you’d think they’d get their facts right. It definitely shows that the Trib still suffers from time to time in the entertainment department. Three glaring errors that make me shake my head were: 1. There were only 18 songs played, while the review mentions a “20-song set.” This is a particularly unfortunate error since they even posted the set list online, complete with all 18 songs. 2. The “six-piece” backing band was actually only five. (Pianist, drummer, bassist, guitarist and lap steel guitarist). 3. This may seem like an insignificant error, but I still can’t let it go. The writer also says they played three-fourths of Adams’ new album, Easy Tiger, when in fact they played slightly more than half of it (7 of 13 songs).
It makes me wonder if the guy was even at the show? Anyway, here’s a review from an amateur:
At his first U.S.-tour date, promoting a much-anticipated new album, Easy Tiger, Ryan Adams seemed to be hiding something. Donning sunglasses and a coat and tie, he shuffled on stage at the 465-seat Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis—not exactly a high profile venue to kick off a U.S. tour—and settled quietly onto a stool between members of his band, the Cardinals. After his persistent requests to dim the stage lights, which were already a dull blue, he was reduced to a mere silhouette. But with the lights finally lowered to his liking, Adams revealed volumes with his voice.
The songs poured out of him with the honesty and soul of Ryan Adams, the tireless musician—not the sloppy, self-destructing alter ego of Ryan Adams. He didn’t touch an instrument—or a drink—and remained seated during the entire performance. It was his voice that was on display, evocative and vulnerable. The words seemed to radiate from him in the dark, filling up the auditorium with their meaning. It created a powerfully intimate connection between the crowd and the songs themselves, while Adams and all his baggage faded in the background.
Adams and the Cardinals meandered through the 18-song set, playing seven of the 13 tunes on Easy Tiger, which were harmonized beautifully and accompanied with plenty of soothing steel guitar. They wove somber selections like “Dear John,” “How Do You Keep Love Alive?” and “Carolina Rain” between new tunes like the soulful “Goodnight Rose,” the mock-rock “Halloweenhead,” and the Heartbreaker-esque “I Taught Myself How to Grow Old.” Judging by the new songs in this set, the praise Easy Tiger has received far ahead of its June 26 release is well-deserved.
As the show progressed, Adams, either restless or unsure where to put his hands, gestured wildly with his arms as he sang. He also eased into on-stage banter that ranged from Danzig jokes to detailing the bliss he experienced eating Combos on an airplane to explaining that his fear of the stage lights stemmed from his nervousness.
At one point, a spectator shouted out his appreciation of Adams’ return to Minneapolis. Adams responded coyly, “Couldn’t keep me away. And sometimes you probably should,” which could be a reference to his turbulent performance past in the city—particularly a trainwreck show here four years ago.
It was different this time around, however. His music succeeded in transcending the unruly, intoxicated rock persona that has plagued his recent past. And while it appeared that Adams was trying to show us nothing—not even his face—he revealed how musically captivating he can be when focused and free from his vices.
Nice review Brian-but if you’re going to nitpick, I will too. Ryan did touch a drink-he drank a full bottle of Gatorade during the performance. But yes, sometimes the fact checking process of the Strib seems nonexistent.
It was gorgeous, vulnerable, stunning….I loved it. I was one of the fans that paid a crazy amount for the tickets on eBay and it was worth every penny. An amazing talent and lyricist. What a treat to see him in a small, intimate space.
I could not get tickets on the site, but was I was super lucky and won them on The Current. Ryan’s one of my favorite artists but it was the first time I’ve seen him perform. I was enthralled by the beauty and sadness of the words/vocals, juxtaposed with the goofy, self-mocking Ryan humor (”Now, more fun summertime hits!”) I’d describe the show as intimate and lovely. And if I’d even thought he was going to come out to the lobby after the show, there would have been no getting me out of there before I’d said thank you to him.
You got me, Brian L, I\’m bad with numbers. That\’s why I became a rock critic. But the lineabout whether I \”was even at the show\” is one of the dumbest things people say to us (usually, it\’s Limp Bizkit and Bon Jovi fans who resort to it). I posted the setlist above based solely on my notes, it was posted here long before it was posted anywhere else online (the fans had stolen all the copies at the Cedar before I could get one), and it\’s not like I just made up all the detailsin my review.
Other than your love for numbers, you\’d make a pretty good critic.
P.S. The Star Tribune has a great record among newspapers as far as the number of corrections it runs (i.e., accuracy). Not that I can take any credit for that myself.
Combien il coûte, pour to développer drapeau South ton blog?
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