Well, guess who decided to finally show up for a show in Seattle? Ryan Adams! I guess for anyone on the west coast this tour was a long time coming. First time he cancelled his gigs was due to a broken wrist. Understandable. Second time there was some mystery illness at the last minute. So last minute Jesse Malin, who was the opening act that time, didn't know that the show was cancelled. So that brings things to tonight where the magic actually happened. 

Let's see I got there about 30 minutes before the doors to open and the line was almost about to curve around the block. I was basically standing next to these girls who apparently spotted  Ryan on the streets (good to hear he was in good health) and they went on stalking him. Heard them tell the story at least 5 times when they called all of their friends from the line. One of them also mentioned something about Whiskeytown getting back together. Really? Never thought it would happen. (That's some great music to check out...I'll recommend the album Pneumonia). Thank goodness for good weather and the venue opening up the doors on time. Rushed in and grabbed some seats.

JESSE MALIN

Jesse came on the stage solo (as Ryan would also be later). Wearing of course his black leather jacket, black pants and shirt. You know...sitting through his performance I wished he could've played longer. Maybe a split bill? No offense to Ryan of course. Here's the setlist with some notes:

- Brooklyn
- Hotel Columbia
- banter discussing the Seattle weather. always a topic for the touring musicians to the area. Trying to demystify the perception that we're a suicidal group of junkies. 
- Don't Let Them Take Me Down - new song
- banter about Henry Rollins and how Jesse was glad to have Henry on his team and mentioned it would be scary if he weren't. That his neck would get bigger....anyways...probably one of those you had to be there sort of things
- Going Out West - dedicated to a friend who was relocated to Seattle after Hurricane Katrina.
- banter on people who asked him on what was the name of his band. One of his replies was "Adam Levine's Vagina." He thought that was more interesting than saying "Jesse Malin...who?" or "Jesse Malin and the Jews."
- Since You're In Love - basically his song back at James Blunt (which is also about being in love with someone who is in love with someone else)
- banter about touring with Ryan. Plus the interrogation by the press about the title of his first cd, The Fine Art Of Self Destruction. To which he said one reporter thought it was about bungee jumping. Right on man. Right on....
- Downliner
- banter about the Holidays. New seasons brings new people to New York. Kids and technology. Myspace. Then commented on that he was scared of technology, but saw there was a comparison between him and Jeff on who had more cleavage. Okaaaay. Then back to the holidays and how he's a vegetarian. His uncle just doesn't understand it and his aunt who does comments "Jesse we got the vegetarian soup...vegetarian beer...vegetarian wallpaper." Everything's being transformed to be vegetarian friendly. Then he talked about his vegan girlfriend and how when she wasn't looking he took his leather wallet and rubbed it on her pillow - that was funny.
- Almost Grown - Love this song!
- Riding On The Subway - Jesse asked us to clap along to keep the beat. Unless we were too emo to clap along? Haha.
- banter about traveling down to Portland, Oregon tomorrow. How he used to make up bands he would be in to dine at this one place for free. He was puzzled by the fact that they were against hiring homosexuals so he went in asking if they served fruit. It took them awhile to get it. Then he came across this theory that all robots were gay? Not that there's anything wrong with that. It lead into a nice transition to the next song.
- Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots - Jesse covers the Flaming Lips!
- Wendy - ended off the show...so sad.

He was so good acoustic! Really can't wait to see him stroll through here again.

RYAN ADAMS

When Ryan stepped out onto the stage Sunday night he was greeted with a standing ovation. His hair was all askew (making me feel better about my own unruly locks) and he actually shaved. He headed over to our side of the stage to the piano, one of the 3 spots he played at during the night. He went around the stage at times he seemed to be talking to himself, objects, and whatnot. At least he was in a good mood...thanks to wine maybe? Sometimes it felt like I was watching some weird musical as he shuffled papers and chairs around. Pretty sure some people wanted to do without that and just have him play some songs. I really don't know what to expect as this was my first time seeing the guy. 

Here's the setlist (also some photos that were taken mostly from night vision since it was fairly dark on stage and I didn't want to use flash).

- Sweet Lil Gal - on the piano. Absolutely wonderful.
- banter about how he sometimes needed to give his harmonica a drink. He also experienced some chair issues saying there was a problem with the flotation device (seat cushion). 
- Call Me On Your Way Back Home - an oldie with the harmonica
- Please Don't Let Me Go
- banter as Ryan moved back towards the piano. There was this lone person in the back of the venue clapping. "Thank you. I love my fan," he answered..."they're so crazy." He also stopped to get an ashtray since he didn't want to burn the piano down. At this point I'm amazed he can sing with a cigarette in his mouth and still be understandable. 
- Elizabeth, You Were Born To Play That Part - new song to which he paused quickly in the middle of playing to say "bless you" to a sneeze from the audience. 
- Let It Ride - I think this was probably the stand out song of the night for me from Cold Roses. He had a problem in the beginning since there was some uh...spewing problems. He apologized to the audience meaning no disrespect. 
- banter about looking for an ashtray as he called out backstage for the one from the dressing room. Then he noticed that there was one on the mic stand. It was kind of a reach and then realized that it rotated around the mic "oh. someone already thought of that." Hehe. Then a guy came out...can't recall his name to reset up Ryan's area.
- The End
- banter as Ryan headed back to the piano again talking about how the bench sounded like a fart. He said that what music critics thought his music sounded like and he put the mic to it for probably the most unappealing noises of the night. He forgot lyrics at one point and went to this to fill in the gap.
- Nightbirds
- Dear Chicago
- Two - unreleased number
- Don't Get Sentimental On Me - also done on the piano. A new song that he said would be on his next non record.
- banter about needing some more cigarettes. Lost count at this point to how many he already had.
- La Cienga Just Smiled - Oh I loved this one too. He forgot some of the lyrics though so the audience had to help him out. He said he had too many songs. Quality control? He continued to mutter about forgotten lyrics after the song was done.
- Blue Hotel - a song I haven't heard of. 
- banter about how his wrist hasn't been feeling well lately and wanted us to wait as he got his cortisone shot. Back from his "costume change" he talked about the Seattle weather (see? again.) He said it was beautiful outside and we just tell people it's rainy and miserable to keep people away...like in New York where "we're all mean."
- A Kiss Before I Go
- Peaceful Valley
- My Winding Wheel
- Magnolia Mountain
- Quiet Time In The House (Yes It's Also Your Fault Part 8)
- banter about how he was glad that we showed up to him. Everyone from the fan to the sneezer. To which a guy in the audience answered "no, thank you for showing up." So true.
- Stella Blue

A pretty full set for all of the little laughable twitterings. Ryan was great ala acoustic and it was certainly an interesting experience. Splendid vocals surrounded by simplicity. The only real detraction was the people seated in front who kept moving in and out of their seats whispering each time doing so sometimes in the middle of one of the songs. Hey, what can you do?

talking to the audience


finding the mic ash tray




another sip of wine






flowers? you shouldn't have. ;)

[GO BACK TO REVIEWS]