I’m not one to support faceless corporate America in such a way as attending a Starbucks-sponsored concert, but seeing Ryan Adams will beat out my conscience every time.
This was my first experience seeing homegrown DeVotchka, and they didn’t disappoint. With countless instruments in their arsenal (including sousaphone, accordion, violin, trumpet, various percussion, bouzouki, upright bass), they easily won over the Red Rocks crowd with their unique brand of greek-punk-mex-americana. I’ve never been able to really sink my teeth into their studio material, but I may have to give it another chance.
Up next was Lucinda Williams. Although it goes without saying that she is an Americana institution, I have never gone out of my way to listen to her music. Nevertheless, I was excited to see her; it felt like the first time I saw Bob Dylan – living legend and whatnot. What followed, I am almost ashamed to say, was ninety minutes of me alternately being bored out of my mind and having my ears blown out by the way-too-loud electric guitar. Blasphemous as it may seem, I didn’t enjoy her at all. Lucinda seemed disinterested through most of the set – though this could just be her stage demeanor. It took her half an hour to break out Right In Time, the first upbeat – and likely my favorite – song of the set. The other standout, though not in a good way, was new song Honeybee. Honeybee is a bluesy-punk number with completely banal, embarrassing lyrics. Perhaps the cold truth is that I am just not a fan of Lucinda Williams.
Finally, The Cardinals took the stage at 11:00. Opener Magnolia Mountain kicked off a string of seven songs which found the Cardinals channeling Jerry Garcia & The Dead, with every number turning into a lengthy jam. Beautiful Sorta launched the more country-rock latter half of the show. This band is tight, tight, tight at the moment; they play extraordinarily well together and the harmonizing is just breathtaking. Dear Chicago was easily the highlight of the evening.
As a long time defender of Ryan Adams – through all his temper tantrums, hissy fits, fan ejections, profanity-laced voice mails, etc., etc., etc. – it’s awfully gratifying to see that he has finally grown up. He’s clean & sober, he’s found himself a niche with the Cardinals, and by all accounts is playing and singing more professionally than ever. Ryan exhibited confidence and precision in his performance last night. And while he seems to be more comfortable than ever in his own skin within the confines of his songs, he revealed quite a bit of nervous energy in his bantering with the crowd. He did, however, prove an ability to poke a little fun at himself: “If this wind kicks up any more I’ll really be able to storm offstage… if you know what I mean”. I knew he had it in him.
Links
Ryan Adams [official site] [myspace]
mp3:> Ryan Adams: Two (live on BBC Radio 2)
[From Easy Tiger; out now on Lost Highway]
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