Monday, 6 Oct 2008
Set One: Cobwebs / Sinking Ship / Everybody Knows / Wonderwall / Come Pick Me Up / Fix It / Goodnight Rose / Peaceful Valley / Like Yesterday / La Cienega Just Smiled / Let it Ride / Desire / The Sun Also Sets / Rescue Blues / Oh My God Whatever, Etc
Set Two: Crossed Out Name / Why Do They Leave / Mockingbird / Off Broadway / Magnolia Mountain / Shakedown on 9th Street / Go Easy / Easy Plateau / Two / What Sin / Please Do Not Let Me Go / Dear Chicago / Freeway to the Canyon / A Kiss Before I Go / Stars Go Blue
If the Flying Burrito Brothers, Grateful Dead, and the Allman Brothers had a child it would probably sound a lot like the Cardinals. After mingling with the locals outside the venue and then through the galleries that make up Madison’s Overture Center, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals walked on stage and delivered nearly three hours of the best music that venue has provided. The sound was pristine, the set list was all-encompassing, and the new material makes me really excited about the upcoming record.
Flanked by two neon blue roses, The Cardinals began the night with the new but road tested “Cobwebs.” The crowd rose to their feet and would remain that way for several numbers before resigning themselves to the comforts of the theater. From the beginning you knew you were about to embark on a wonderful night of live music. The back to back offerings of Oasis’s “Wonderwall” and “Come Pick Me Up” was just about the most one could ask for and the real lift off of the evening. Another new one, “Fix It” followed with Adams recent metal adoration shining through on his guitar part.
Per usual with Madison crowds, there was plenty of requests shouted at the beginning of the show. That stopped after “Like Yesterday” when Adams singled out a repeat Whiskeytown requester with “You’re about 11 years too late on that request. That song sucked when I wrote it, and it would definitely suck right now. We’re just gonna play what wrote down and traveled all this way to play. I don’t say that to be a prick, but out of respect for everyone else here….and also kind of as a prick.” That was all it took to silence the outbursts for the rest of the evening, and was a definite reason the show was so enjoyable.
From that part the band passed through favorites like “La Cienega Just Smiled” and a beautiful “Rescue Blues” with Adams on keys. Between those anchors we got “Desire” (which Ryan said recently was written out of infatuation for Alanis Morissette) and Easy Tiger favorite “The Sun Also Sets.”
After a twenty minute intermission the band returned for their second set of the night. If the first set allowed them to explore their quieter numbers, the second set showcased their ability to jam and channel the Grateful Dead. A blistering version of “Off Broadway” was a particular high point of the evening as was the following version of “Magnolia Mountain.” A reworked and slightly upbeat version of “Dear Chicago” was a welcomed surprise late in the set list. The band got together after “A Kiss Before I Go” and announced they were well past quitting time, thus subject to a curfew fine. You could tell Ryan didn’t really give a damn, jokingly noodling and conversing then openly wondering what those precious moments just cost him. Ultimately, the group ended the evening with the standard favorite of “Stars Go Blue,” sending the crowd home with a nice slow number.
After thirty one songs and nearly three hours of music it’s hard to find anything to complain about from last night. His last time through town was great, but last night was simply the best show I’ve seen from Ryan Adams & The Cardinals over the years. Any reservations can be left in the past as it appears Ryan’s found the right formula and musicians to surround himself with these days, making every show on this tour a can’t miss.
Discuss: What did you think of the show last night? How did you like the new Cardinology material? Were you the guy yelling for Whiskeytown songs? Please leave your thoughts/reviews/favorites in the comments.
October 6th, 2008 at 7:46 am
I loved the joke about “don’t feed the bears”. That was pretty darn funny. My first show ever in this venue and I was wholly impressed. I was thinking I would be home in bed by 11pm last night but delighted to be going to bed instead at midnight with a whole lot of freshly planted great live jamm’n RA and C tunes rolling around in my brain. Wow! I think this band and it songs outshine Tweety and gang a bit..
October 6th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Quality performance, killer guitar tones emanating.
IMO, a little sleepy at times. A lot of space between songs, what was up with that?
I was at the Barrymore show, I thought that was way better than last night.
October 6th, 2008 at 8:29 am
The major highlight: the dancing muppet dude in the front row.
October 6th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Whiskeytown guy was in my section. Unfortunately, being called out on his request was only a minor set back. It wasn’t until his camera was confiscated that he sat down, to the relief of those sitting around him whom felt the effect of his uncontrolled limbs. Thankfully, he did not return for the second set.
October 6th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I had a guest student from Germany who attended last night’s concert w/myself and a couple buddies. She is 20, so not too young. I liked her perception of the show — saying that the music was beautiful, so american and she felt like she was in a movie. Right on. My impression was that it was a rangie type of set. The light show was awsome from the front row center of the mezz, more than a few times I caught myself visualizing – that was cool. There were some issues with vocal levels on the first 3 songs, but w/Wonderwall and there after spot on. The last half of the show was a true ‘Jam’fest, not so much my type of music, but respectful. Ryan mixed the tunes up – ie: each song has has progressed from recorded versions to organic live crowd pleasers, a true compliment. Sweet, Sweet evening.
October 6th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Infinitely better than their last Milwaukee performance. This show was a real treat. Sound was stellar, arrangements great, and they seemed to be having a great time.
Awesome
October 6th, 2008 at 11:25 am
An amazing night of music by a truly talented
artist & band in Madison`s finest room for music!
Thanks for the ticket hook-up Ryan,
well worth my sluggishness today.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Awesome show indeed. Met Ryan before the show at Fair Trade Coffee. He told my friends that they looked like “elves”. Haha. Goodnight Rose was my personal highlight. It was so funny how they mocked the whole fine ordeal.
October 6th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
That muppet in the front row was my friend Kevin, who is a Ryan Adams superfan. He loved the show and couldn’t sit down. It’s great watching people get so much enjoyment out of music.
October 6th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
I was sitting in the second level seats (above floor), and basically right in front of Ryan, and it might have just been my seat, but I thought his guitar was too loud, and his vocals drowned out. It was to a point where I couldn’t even hear the other lead guitar parts very well.
Wasn’t there for the guy yelling for Whiskeytown, but some douche up by my row was yelling for some other song over and over again, despite people telling him to shut up.
Good show- from my POV not as good as last year’s Madison or Milwaukee shows- just longer, and certainly not as good as My Morning Jacket in Milwaukee Friday night, which was unreal- can’t believe there isn’t a review for it…
October 6th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
The sound where I was sitting (toward the back of the floor level) was amazing. I agree with the reviewer, last year’s show at the Barrymore was great, but this was even better. My favorite songs were “Goodnight Rose,” “Easy Plateau” and the closer “When The Stars Go Blue.”
There were definitely a lot of idiots screaming out requests. I enjoyed it when Ryan put that one guy in his place though, especially when he made the comment that they wanted to play for people who came here with an open mind.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
man, what a show — ryan adams was prima donna of the cardinals minor key with voice, lyrics, accoustics, and finally, (shut the fuck up) repetoire with audience–despite his attempt to be under-recognized in press, new album and website (www.ryan-adams.com). (cough) could a band play more tighly ? you do not suck anymore VXO
October 7th, 2008 at 9:02 am
What was up with all those douchebag camera Nazi’s (the ushers who where confiscating cameras)?
What did they do with the camera’s, wipe them clean of data?
October 7th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I agree. This was a fantastic show (much better than the truncated State Theater show last year in Minneapolis), and the venue is one of the best I’ve been to-you people in Madison are lucky to have it. I’ve written a review myself (to add to Ryan’s already stellar review) check it out if you would like. Cheers.
http://wordstosell.vox.com/library/post/ryan-adams-the-cardinals-overture-hall-madison-wi-100508.html
October 7th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I was 2nd row center Mezz, and I too thought the vocals suffered a bit. The sound quality was fantastic; just thought the Ryan’s mic level could have come up a bit; even had a hard time hearing the between song banter.
In the end, the Cardinals gave us a wonderful (and lengthy) show with plenty of new material. I’m anxious to hear this show’s recording compared to the one I saw in Red Rocks last summer; seems like some songs have been getting reworked a bit.
And finally, my one real gripe with the show…why do people feel compelled to yelp, yeehaw and woohoo during the soft parts of a song or song lead-ins? Is it like nervous laughter? To me, it’s just disrespectful douchieness. And I swear, if you’re sitting next to me and it happens, you will get an elbow right in the yelper.