Events
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Ryan Adams Live
@ The Somerville Theatre – Boston, MA 06/29/07
By Jess Pye
For me, going to see Ryan Adams is like going on vacation – I even check the weather report. In the past, I've had both good and bad experiences seeing Mr. Adams, with his last Boston date in 2005 being the bad one, so the week before his show at the Somerville Theatre I began reading reviews for the dates that had passed. The weather was looking good - clear skies all the way. I began to get even more excited than I already was, because everything was in place - previous good reviews that week, new album and a small intimate venue - we were all set.
We arrived at the Somerville Theatre at 7:20 to learn that there was no opener, great news for us die-hard Adams fans who don't need to be entertained while waiting. I made my way through the throngs of people in the show lobby making sure I bought all the necessities: a bucket of popcorn with real butter (Somerville Theatre specialty), a soda, and a limited edition Ryan Adams and The Cardinals poster made specifically for that night. I purchased #78 out of 300 and thought to myself, "Man, I surely am a nerd."
By 7:28 I was seated and ready to go, testing my camera to see if I could get a clear picture from my lower mezzanine seats. I was supposed to have a photo pass and be upfront like the paparazzi, but that didn't really pan out. Now, I eagerly awaited his arrival. Time passed slowly: 7:45, 8:00, 8:15 - when would he begin?
Finally, the show started. The house lights dimmed and the stage was filled with a darkened red glow, and out filed the members of the Cardinals taking their spots upon the stage. The set-up was different than when I had seen them in the past, more casual, more intimate, more egalitarian. The Cardinals were no longer a backing band behind Ryan Adams but an equal part of the show, a move further showing Adams' maturity as an artist and a person.
Everyone sat, including Ryan, on stools in a slight arc across the stage, with Ryan sitting on towards the end next the piano. It was very cozy and relaxed. The red light was bright enough to see but didn't showcase anyone in particular – everything was pretty much perfect.
The band opened with the title track to 2005's Cold Roses, but the rest of the night contained mostly newer material, that of which has been released since Ryan joined forces with the Cardinals in 2005.
Expectedly, there were all those fans that couldn't resist the urge to spoil the moment and scream out the names of their favorite songs, having a pissing contest to see who could throw out the most titles from Heartbreaker or the rarest of b-sides. It was so cliché. Don't take me wrong, I LOVE Heartbreaker, I mean really, could that album be any more perfect? But the fans were missing the point. Easy Tiger marks a new moment in Adams' career and here on this tour he is trying to embrace and celebrate that. He's no longer Ryan Adams; he's a member of the Cardinals. Sure, a good amount of his greatest works are his solo songs, but please, let the band do their thing.
As I was sitting there, I kept thinking to myself, "Could this possibly get any better?" Each song served a purpose - some were sad, some were soulful, some were rocking, some bluesy and all of them were just amazing. I even found myself delighted at the songs he played off of Jacksonville City Nights, an album that when I listened to I didn't really care for, but the way the band brought life into those songs left me shaken, causing me to appreciate that album so much more. The selections played off the recently released Easy Tiger were amazing - so soulful, it really tore me apart - from the jangling guitars of "Goodnight Rose" to the beauty of "The Sun Also Sets" it made me realize that Easy Tiger is the Ryan Adams and the Cardinals album I didn't even know I wanted. Of course, many fans were left hoping for a more solo venture, but after hearing the emotion that poured out of those songs live, I see now the important fit the Cardinals have in Adams' musical life.
In the end, I feel extremely honored to have been at that show. Reviews of other shows that week, including the New York date, had set lists of approximately 19 songs, while us lucky folks in the intimate setting of the Somerville were blessed with 27 songs, 2 full encores and a birthday celebration for pedal steel player Jon Graboff. After the show, Cardinals guitarist Neal Casal told me that the group had felt that the Boston date had been their best performance on this tour, and I, along with all of the other fans I spoke to, couldn't agree more.
2:40 set!!
Cold Roses
Please Do Not Let Me Go
Let It Ride
Elizabeth, You Were Born To Play That Part
Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.
Mockingbirdsing
Dear Chicago
Peaceful Valley
Dear John
I Taught Myself How To Grow Old
Two
Easy Plateau
Goodnight Rose
What Sin
A Kiss Before I Go
Slider (John's birthday song, cake, etc.)
Carolina Rain
1st Encore:
The Sun Also Sets
Games
Blue Hotel
Beautiful Sorta
Pearls On A String
Wild Flowers
End
2nd Encore:
Tears of Gold
Off Broadway
Magnolia Mountain
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