Wayne Blogged The...Show Review:
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals. Bank of America Pavilion, September 7, 2008
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Wait, there must be some mistake. The show I attended last night was a real, genuine Ryan Adams concert? What about the drunken tirades against the fans? What, no stumbling off the stage? And where are the disco boots? Believe it or not, the infamously immature rocker (now 33...acts 16) has mellowed out a bit, and puts on a very acceptable show.
Last night's two sets at the Bank of America Pavilion showcased the many avenues of Adam's catalog: the pop-rock hits, the country shuffles, and the heavy-metal imitating folk rockers. No opening act, no encore, just two sets of music by a band that seems to be truly enjoying their time on stage and their time with each other.
While most of the songs held up very well in a live setting (highlighted by a string of Jacksonville City Nights songs), pushed along by the faux-punker's scratchy vocals, there were some duds. Two of the four new songs The Cardinals premiered sounded like Rock And Roll throwaways, and the extended let's-rock-out-like-an-exp
But once the band emerged from the 15 minute intermission, the set list's pace quickened, and the true highlights from the show emerged. Let It Ride, Magnolia Mountain, and I See Monsters were a true representation of just how good this band is. And while I do feel that Catherine Popper's place behind the bass hasn't been filled correctly, there's no denying how tight of a band The Cardinals have become. Pitch (and picture) perfect harmonies were intertwined throughout the night, as Ryan Adams and Co. clung to their country roots.
And then it was over. With a wave and a "see you soon" the band left the stage, peacefully, with very, very few musical casualties.
