August 17, 2005

The Ryan Aftermath

Posted by Larry Karnowski at August 17, 2005 7:00 AM

Ryan Adams
BTI Center
Wednesday, June 6th, 2005

So... the Ryan aftermath...

Waylon and Stacy called me out, curse them. I had been dodging writing a review of Ryan Adams' return home to Raleigh, North Carolina, several weeks ago. I knew it was a well-covered show in the local papers and mailing lists, and well -- it was a bit controversial, but not in a very sensational way. It was controversial in the most mundane sense of the word -- it was causing folks to argue. Several mailing lists here in North Carolina were abuzz with folks lavishing praise and folks flinging swear words. Indeed, even after all this time, Ryan caused a stir among his native neighbors in North Carolina. I was waiting to see how the aftermath made out -- where people settled.

First off, I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd been following Ryan's tour closely, as I'm a huge fan and I was excited to see him for the first time -- and in his "hometown" too. I knew something special would happen, but I wasn't sure what. He'd had his "low" nights on this tour where it was all the crowd could do to stay awake, and he'd had his "high" nights too -- where the music was so loud and obnoxious, distorted to painful levels, that one of my friends swore he'd never see Ryan again, ever. He'd had nights where he hardly played at all, and he had nights that he played for hours and hours, even after most of the crowd had left. What was he going to do? How was he going to react to the assured insults and jeers from folks here who love to just give him shit? I was hoping they'd mostly stay home. They did, thankfully -- mostly.

In the end, Ryan played a good show. He played lots of stuff I didn't expect him to. He started with songs from his forthcoming album (can't wait!), which no one knew of course, and which had a slight alienating feel to it. The crowd, considerably more hip than I'd expected (read that as "hipper than me," for certain), didn't seem to get it. I'm a big fan, and I enjoyed the new stuff, but this was my first time seeing him, and I wanted to hear some old stuff. I don't think I was alone in that. The good-lookin' hipster crowd seemed all about that too.

During all these new songs, he was occasionally throwing in some nuggets from Cold Roses, and this seemed to please the crowd quite a bit. Then, surprisingly, as he hadn't done this at any of his other shows on the tour -- he went into a long block of songs from Heartbreaker, playing at least half of the songs on the album! Most wonderfully, he played an aching version of "Oh My Sweet Carolina" which had the entire crowd singing along. It was truly great. After that he went through a few songs from Gold. Surprisingly, given the rock tempo of much of his stuff that night, he played nary a song from Rock N' Roll, and I don't really remember anything from Love Is Hell. This isn't saying much as I have such a low opinion of Love Is Hell Pt 1 that I have never bought nor listened to part 2, and I really wouldn't recognize much off of part 1 anyway. He might've played a song or two for all I know, and they just lulled me away for a bit. I wouldn't have noticed.

All in all, a decent night. A decent show. No fireworks, no explosions, no Ryan swearing at the crowd, trying to hit people, or generally showing his ass. He bad-mouthed a few people, as he's wont to do, especially Robbie Fulks. "So I told this Robbie Fulks joke at the last show, and they were like, 'Who's Robbie Fulks?' And I was like -- exactly!" He made some completely inaudible remark about Billy Corgan from the Smashing Pumpkins, but I could make no sense of it. And he said something about Wilco's sound... "don't stand over there, Ryan," he said to himself, "or you'll start to sound like Wilco." Something about feedback and electric hiss, I guess.

Still, for what I've read about historically, this was a damn well-behaved Ryan Adams. I was trying to think all night about what was going on his obviously hyper-active and ADD-riddled brain. This boy is the poster-boy for ritalin. If there was anyone who needed to avoid all chemical stimulants and depressents -- all cigarettes, coffee, booze, and drugs of all natures -- it's Ryan. The guy is such a damn live-wire, all that self-medication has got to be cooking his brain.

Still, he kept it together. When he was playing music, he was dead-on, concentrated as hell. When he was playing, he was in the zone, razor sharp, focused. Between songs... he rambled like me with the speed tripled or quadrupled and the volume turned to eleven. (That would be pretty damn bad.)

I kept trying to figure out where his head was that night, despite the cigarette waving and running between his guitar stand and piano, frantically back and forth. It wasn't until the encore, when he coaxed a slightly reluctant Caitlin Cary to the stage to sing rough, unpracticed, but still inspired duets with him. They couldn't remember the words, they were stepping all over each other's vocals parts, and I'll be damned if Cary wasn't off-key almost the whole way through... but I'd be a liar if I didn't say it was magical. It was like seeing two old friends sitting together in a quiet living room reminiscing, trying out some old stories that both know and have almost forgotten, filling in each other's missing details. It was just two friends drinking and singing and laughing, and it was great. I finally realized what the hell was up with Ryan at that point -- Ryan was coming home.

My entire concept of Ryan Adams changed that night. No longer did I think of him as some spoiled brat Gram Parsons-wannabe with more talent in his little finger than almost all of us put together. He was no longer some dick that was just trying to do things his own way. I finally realized that Ryan is sick. He's a sick man, too damn sensitive for his own good, and trying damn hard not to kill himself. He doesn't act out because he needs attention, he acts out because he can't stop himself. Like I said -- stop the chems Ryan and maybe try some Ritalin, you might feel better. But still... the man's a genius. Watching him work through his songs was great. He had so much power over his voice, flexing it this way and that, finding the perfect nuances of every word. I was amazed.

Was it a great musical show? No. There were rough spots. It's obvious that Ryan picked his band for several reasons: 1) they were good enough to follow his changes, 2) they weren't good enough to overshadow him, or even come close, and 3) they had to be flexible enough in their personalities to put up with him. So that combination made for an able backing band, but nothing that would rival the instrumental greats of our time.

Was it a great lyrical show? Of course, Ryan is a helluva songwriter, but a terrible speaker between songs. You get very little of his conversation, he speaks too low, off of the microphone, or so damn fast and slurred you just miss it all. I didn't feel like I got to know Ryan much, but I got the feeling he's not a guy even people close to him get to know very well.

So like I said -- a different Ryan. And even after, for weeks after, there were people complaining and praising on mailing lists and at concerts. Me, I earned some new respect for him. I could see how much effort he was putting in to play it straight for his hometown, and I could see how much effort it would take him to do that to spite his crippling hyperactivity and ADHD. I saw a man who was growing older, and who was trying to grow up a little. I saw a little of myself in him, albeit just a little. He's a human being, and I wish him well. You're welcome back here in Raleigh whenever you wanna come back, dude, as far as I'm concerned. Keep on keepin' on.

Comments

Interesting. Now a few, decidedly more cynical comments:

This review is INCREDIBLY forgiving. There was a large part of this show that was very self-serving for Ryan. His off-mike commentary smacked of either not knowing what he was doing, not being confident in what he was doing, being under the influence so as to not be aware of what he was doing, or just a general lack of respect for those of us who paid top dollar for bad seats. In any case, it's inexcusable.

His band wasn't good enough to overshadow him?!? I don't remember a musician on the stage that was not a better musician than Ryan, down to the player. Well, maybe the drummer, but drummers aren't really musicians anyway, are they? ;-)

Ryan's trying "damn hard not to kill himself"? Couldn't tell from that show. Looked to me like he's on the road to leaving a "good looking corpse".

"A slightly reluctant Caitlin Cary"? Wow. Caitlin may have been nervous in the fact that they obviously hadn't rehearsed much, if at all, but I saw absolutely NOTHING reluctant in her wanting to be there. In fact, I don't know that I've ever seen Caitlin look so much like she wanted to be somewhere ever before in her life. When Ryan said "Where's Caitlin?", he didn't end up dragging her out of the audience to sing a tune or two...she came from off-stage in a dress. This was one Chica that DEFINITELY wanted to be there.

So, from an adjoining seat at the same concert, the tunes were good and ably performed--except for the Whiskeytown mini-reunion, but that can be forgiven. But there were two concerts that night--one that happened on-mike and one that happened off. I'm sure the combination of both was a better show, and it's nobody's fault but Ryan's for cheating us out of the complete experience.

And I appreciate your sensitivity to the human condition, but my personal sensitivity to those who have fame, wealth, and Parker Posey is greatly strained at $25 a seat. No matter how great a songwriter they are... One's ability to enjoy a concert should not require one to "tolerate" the artist.

And on that topic, ask me why I'm not going to see Steve Earle.

Shane O.

Posted by: Shane O. at August 17, 2005 9:56 AM

Wow...feelings are pretty passionate about this guy, either good or bad. Thanks for the review Lar', although I am now more pissed at myself for missing him when he came to Atlanta. No surprise to me regarding his behavior. His is ridiculously talented...his downfall is that he recognizes that fact, and that is both a blessing and a curse...both to him, and those who take the time to listen to his music (and consequently fall in love with it).

Posted by: Waylon at August 17, 2005 10:22 AM

Aw, geez, Larry -- "This House Is Not for Sale" off of "Part I" is one of my favorite Ryan Adams songs. But you knew someone was going to say something like that. :-)

Mr. Adams no longer has Parker Posey among his possessions, which might explain why he's been even more of a mess lately than he usually is. But I have to agree with Shane in that no matter what form his riches have, he invariably acts worse than he has any right to. At the very least, he has a record company that seems to indulge his every whim, whether they should or not. Some (more talented) artists wish they were so lucky.

Posted by: Sharon at August 17, 2005 10:26 AM

I guess I am a bit too easy on this guy. I mean, at some point a man has to be pick himself up above his weaknesses and deal with life, right? Isn't that what makes us adults?

In any case, I didn't feel that I wasted my $25/seat. Seeing him live and in the flesh and doing all his foolishness was definitely worth the money for me. I definitely think, though, that someone unfamiliar with his history would've NOT enjoyed the show though, or at least enjoy it considerably less than I did.

Posted by: larry at August 17, 2005 10:54 AM

I am beyond jealous that you got to hear some Hearbreaker.

Posted by: valerie at August 17, 2005 1:15 PM

Miss Val! It's great to see you back on our humble site!

Posted by: larry at August 17, 2005 5:42 PM

For real! A "Heartbreaker" retrospective AND mini-Whiskeytown reunion??? I'd kill a man in front of his own grandma to see that! ;)

Yes, yes, I know I'm too forgiving of Ryan Adams' bad behavior. But it amuses me so! Think of the Bryan Adams tantrum, and the rambly weird message on the Chicago Sun-Times reviewer's voice mail. LOVE it! Why, it's better than a Lindsay Lohan-Hilary Duff hair-pulling catfight. Almost. But Ryan Adams has the added advantage of being immensely talented even as he's a total dick.

Anyway, yes, we pay good money to see Ryan Adams play good music at a show, I understand that. But doesn't the possibility of additionally witnessing something kee-razy make it just a leeeetle bit sweeter? :) I'm waiting for the Ryan Adams Pantsless Concert 2005. You know it's just waiting to happen ...

Posted by: Stacy at August 18, 2005 2:07 AM

Hmmm. You've piqued my interest, Stacy.

What exactly are Ms. Lohan and Ms. Duff wearing during this hair-pulling catfight? I know what they are wearing in my mental image, but I doubt that we're thinking the same thing.

If, in fact, you WERE thinking about Lohan in a peek-a-boo nightie and Duff in nothing but chaps and a cowboy hat, I not only stand corrected, but I salute you.

And the smart money is on Duff.

Shane O.

Posted by: Shane O. at August 18, 2005 9:19 AM

Black leather chaps, black leather cowboy hat.

And they would be fighting in honey.

Posted by: Jim Pipkin at August 18, 2005 12:03 PM

Duff for the win? Psh, no way. Lohan fights dirty, and plus she's got the added heft from the fake boobies. Additionally, I think the chemicals from all the blond hair dye may have leached into her skull by now, so she could very well hulk out and smash poor Hilary to pieces.

As for what they're wearing, well ... you guys seem to have that speculation covered. In honey. Eye roll. :)

Posted by: Stacy at August 18, 2005 10:09 PM

I feel I have to chime in here, even though I really don't know much about Adams' history.

First, I keep hearing about how talented this guy is, and I just can't buy into it. While I have enjoyed some of his stuff, I can't list him as a "musical genius" because -- basically -- I've never heard him do anything that I haven't heard AT LEAST two other bands play. And they usually played it better, too. He does have a good gift for melody, but it's nothing I would consider genius. He's just taken old formulas, slapped some new lyrics to them, and put them out at a time when they were so desperately needed that he managed to make a name for himself.

Anyway, I could say more, but I think I've vented enough for now.

Second, and as far as I'm concerned most importantly, drummers are too musicians, dammit. And I'm not just saying that because I am one. I have seen really good bands with really crappy drummers, and they've been horrible. On the flip side of that, I've seen bad-to-mediocre bands with good drummers and had a blast watching them. Cowboy Mouth (undoubtedly one of the worst bands ever) is a good example. Their drummer was so lively and so on top of everything that their performance I saw (was it 8 years ago?) blew me away. Granted, the album sucked, but I'll never forget the lesson I learned that day.

Just because drummers don't concern themselves with those silly little things called "notes" and "chords" doesn't mean we aren't musicians. Sorry to be so defensive, but that's a really sore spot with me, and I wish that people would take a minute to stop and realize that all those songs you love to dance to would be nothing more than pretty sing-a-longs without a good rhythm section.

And before you say anything, Shane, I know Bluegrass doesn't usually employ a drummer. But, I really think it should. :)

Anyway, that's my two cents...

Posted by: tony at August 19, 2005 7:57 PM

Drummers rock! They set the rhythmic pace for the rest of the band! And Larry Mullins Jr., Max Weinberg and Patrick Carney would make a tasty meat sandwich! Ooh!

Posted by: Sharon at August 20, 2005 3:50 PM

I'm with you Tony, drummers are definitely musicians...Dave Matthews Band should be called the Carter Beauford band, because he leads every song they play live and is probably the most talented drummer I have ever heard.

Posted by: Waylon at August 22, 2005 3:26 PM

While Carter is definitely a powerhouse, you should check out Dennis Chambers, Waylon. Carter has basically made his career from ripping him off.

Posted by: tony at September 23, 2005 8:39 AM