Ryan Adams @ Bowery Ballroom

There was a point during the 2 AM Ryan Adams show at Bowery Ballroom where I felt myself literally get weak in the knees. No, it wasn't because I had been standing since 8:30 that night, and I was beyond exhaustion. No. It wasn't that. Mr. Adams came back out for an encore smoking a cigarette and sipping a diet coke. His pasty white self strapped on a guitar and tuned it with his black nail polished fingers. He was wearing a shirt that said "Batman." His hair was a mess. And I officially fell in love.

I could bore you with the tale of standing outside Bowery Ballroom in the pouring rain at midnight only to proceed into the basement and wait another hour. At the time it felt miserable, but it retrospect it was worth every second and complaint. You see, I've been a fan of Ryan Adams ever since my second musical discovery. He's been a faithful companion these past six years, and yet I have never had the opportunity to see him live. Tickets were always too expensive, I was too young, or the venues too big for my liking. So when the opportunity arose to see my hero with the guitar play Bowery Ballroom for $25, there was no stopping me. It almost seemed far too good to be true, and for a moment while waiting downstairs in the basement, I was convinced he wouldn't show. But he did.

We (and I include myself) have been victim to going gaga over the latest indie rock band du jour, and most of the time they deserve all the gaganess. But no new band, nay no singer at that, has anything on Mr. Adams. This man can do no wrong.

I think I was in shock for the majority of the set. Not really sure whether what was happening in front of me was really happening, or whether it was 3 in the morning and in reality I was fast asleep in bed. I could physically feel my feet hurting, but I wanted to physically feel the spit out of Ryan Adams mouth. Too much? Sorry. I wish I had been maybe 2 feet closer.

For an hour and a half, Ryan Adams and his band The Cardinals played a wide array of musical selections, touching on every album except for Gold. I'm sure someone will have a set list up soon enough; there were a lot of bloggers present. I usually hate running commentary on shows by random strangers behind me, but I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the two chaps that I was next to. They were big fans, and would proceed to praise the song selections, and performances. Although the place was packed, I didn't feel confined. It was comfortable. And basically perfect.

Ryan was in quite the mood. He was consistently frustrated with the tuning of his guitar, and never hindered from making that known. He chatted about ninjas. He sucked down his diet cokes. He stumbled a couple times, but never fell. He decided the next song whenever he felt like it, and most of the time, informed his band. He's the real deal, an unapologetic songwriting genius that has consistently blown me away. You can give him flak about all the albums, but there isn't a weak spot amongst them.

I didn't want the set to end, but it was 3:30 in the morning and I saw some of the band yawn. A two-song encore, and all of a sudden I was back on Delancey St hailing a cab. My cabbie asked me how my night was, and in true Ryan Adams fashion, I fumbled with my words. I think I mentioned a show, a singer, and one of the best nights of my life. But that was all in-between inhaling a cig and sucking down a diet coke.

See? We are meant for each other.

I know he played these songs. Someone get a setlist up pah-lease. [Edit: The Music Slut has the printed set-list. Sorta close to what it was, if I recall.]

[Update: Amrit has the real set list.]
"Love Is Hell”
“This Is It”
“Please Do Not Let Me Go”
“Cherry Lane”
“Note To Self: Don't Die”
“Peaceful Valley”
“Wish You Were Here”
“Magnolia Mountain”
“Easy Plateau”
“Hard Way To Fall”
“Let It Ride”
“To Be Young”
“Dear Chicago”
“Cold Roses”
“Beautiful Sorta”
------
“Call Me On Your Way Back Home”
“Come Pick Me Up”
“Mockingbird”

Oh holy jesus.

Ryan Adams - This Is It (live)

Ryan Adams - Peacefull Valley

Ryan Adams - To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)

More pictures here.

[The top and bottom pictures were taken by the very tall dutch man in the front row. But I can't complain too much, Wes was the knight in shining armor who got me the ticket. Kudos!]

Comments

[Amrit]

Oooh, sounds like somebody's in love!

And yes, I know that "Shakedown on 9th St." was played.