Mr. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals 9/7/08 Boston, Mass
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The third part of my most amazing musical weekend ended on Sunday night with a concert by everybody's favorite basket-case, David Ryan Adams. And while it's true that I'm a huge fan, the events that took place under the Bank of America Pavilion's space-tent the other night were just other-worldly. setlist
The Back Story
My fiance, Jess, and I left Philly around noon. We had spent a quick weekend visiting my sister and, with her, we saw My Morning Jacket on Friday night, and were surprised into seeing Ben Folds with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra on Saturday night. After sleeping in on Sunday morning, grabbing a few cups of sister's excellently strong chocolaty coffee, and saying our goodbyes, we were on the road.
Sorry Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts: we left you in the dust.
We rolled into Beantown after picking up a couple of friends, Anna and Jeff, and proceeded to drive around in circles while the GPS not-so-politely informed us that it's a piece-o-fucking-shit. We found our venue the old fashioned way (thank you very much...), paid 35 bucks for someone to put a little ticket on our dashboard, and hit the venue. As with MMJ on Friday, when we walked into the venue, the band took the stage.
The Show
The BoA Pavillion is a completely laid back venue! I'd see a show there anytime! Good seats everywhere, cafe style table in the back if you just want to chill, nice restrooms, smallish capacity of 5,000 people, huge white circus-style tent, big beers, nice staff, video screens, room to spread out if you just wanna dance.
Ryan and company took the stage and quietly went straight to business, starting the set with "Off Broadway", but not the track from Easy Tiger, no. And not much like it's predecessor on the hodgepodge bootleg Suicide Handbook, either. This had flavor. It had aggression. It had purpose. It was epic. And it was going to be a sign of things to come.
The first set had Ryan and Neal Casal in business mode. Bartering Lines, the classic off of Heartbreaker, was nothing short of haunting and powerful. Goodnight Rose, Everybody Knows, and Two from Easy Tiger. Three new songs, and a handful of perfect songs from the back catalog.
The highlight had to be, for me, Come Pick Me Up, which Ryan had to regress back into the comfort of his therapist's chair before he could belt it out.
"Some of this stuff is a little emotional and trying for me today.....(it's ok).....this one especially....let's just get through this one...(ok, ok )...Ryan, you're not crazy, you're just spoiled, and...(sigh) ok......" 
and then he nailed it.
The second set picked up where the first let off. Except the band took off from the stratosphere, puncturing the roof-canopy and joining the skyline of the city lights above. The set trancended time, and left the ground quickly with Let It Ride, Games, Cold Roses, and A Kiss Before I Go, before a powerful 1,2,3 punch of Peaceful Valley, Dear John, and a spine-shivering Shakedown on 9th Street.
We're in the fourth dimension....
And after the debut performance of Sinking Ships and The Color of Pain, the band returned with a solid Beautiful Sorta, and, one of the finest show closers I've seen in a long time, a loud, chilling version of I See Monsters.
Two and a half hours. It could have gone another 2 1/2. Tight, concise, on point. This was Ryan in control. I can't wait to see where he's going to take this show. I'm hoping, no praying, for another trip back to Boston this winter. We'd love to have him....I know I would.
ryan adams 2008-09-07 Come Pick Me Up.mp3
ryan adams 2008-09-07 Shakedown on 9th Street.mp3
ryan adams 2008-09-07 I See Monsters.mp3
Comments (27)
the formatting sucks but you get the idear.
THRILLED to hear it was so outta the stratosphere my bro - next time he takes a stage in Philly - I know who to call... JESS ;P
i love the pavilion. haven't been since it was done over with the white tarp but it was a great spot when i saw john mayer there years back.
regarding mr. adams- i love that song "come pick me up," and am not surprised it was one of the highlights.
you must feel inspired, rejuvenated, overjoyed having come to the end of your 3 day concert weekend.
he better be - three stellar shows & one with me ;P
Lizzie - you best be callin me first!!
britt - the place was way better than i expected... I havent even written about ben folds yet, which was way cool.
yeah i was wondering if i had missed the ben folds post.
and how'd i forget to add lizzie to the mix of excellence invovled in your weekend? just one show with her must be an unmatched experience!
Don't fret bro - I know you're the first on my call list when Ryan Adams heads to town... maybe we can conference threeway ;)
@brittany... I am just kidding - I don't know if I'd say unmatched experience - but I sure do have a blast with all my MOGfriends/family !!! It's hard not to with such good peeps :)
haha, i know, was jokin back at'cha
heheh ;) good times good times !!! Listening to the MMJ show presently on my ipod - yummmmmmmmo !!!
britt - just keeping you on your toes. the MMJ and RA shows took the cake....the ICING was Ben Folds.
And as for Lizzie.......that girl rules, and I only wish I wish I'd have given her my full attention after the show (I ran into my closest friend in college, who I haven't had contact wiht in 8 years....in the bar that we went to randomly have a beer)
Sounds bloody amazing! Last time they were here in Sydney he played in the dark basically. One night was particulalry off putting and people were not happy. Concert 2 was brilliant as he and Neal and the band played 90 minutes of very, very intense and special music. Not a bad moment in that 90 minutes.
When he is ON , he is ON!
Peace
Paul
Lizzie - I'm listening too!
Paul - I know what you mean. He needs to get his insecurities in check. Usually his show have been starting off quiet, and THEN at some point during the show he gets comfortable and takes off. But recently, it looks like he's put a lot of demons behind him. I'm hoping he stays well!
awesome! They'll be in Atlanta Oct 17th....gonna try to make that. Thanks for sharing.
*j*... it's SOOOOOOOO GOOD !!! & we will catch up next time you're in town for sure - regardless of the random meetings you find in random bars ;) We done good kid & we'll keep doing it & that is all that matters my bro in music :)
platzap - It'll benefit you to go... no doubt.
lizzie - can you tell that I'm insecure??? haha
Paul - that avatar freaks me out dude.....are you letting it all hang out??
Tell me something I don't know about myself... friend - I totally understood - didn't feel slighted in the slightest & it gave me time to talk with your Jess's... we talked a good game at the show & we've been talking here for what seems like years - that's the beauty of these friendships that no one else seems to understand - we really DO become friends/family & it's an amazing thing to be a part of - to witness...
Deb was thrilled to hear she rocks & is a trooper !!! She's even got me burning the show for her to listen to - another convert... CHECK !!!
it really sounds good! I've got Ryan's coming up right now.... and the quality is beyond good....
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals 9/7/2008
[Really easy to download in 3 parts]
http://drop.io/q7yi5ho
http://drop.io/vgo3esz
http://drop.io/i0wmcew
thanks for this report! i really am itching to see him. does he ever pull out any whiskeytown gems?
Alas, no. That would be beyond incredible. There's always been the talks of a Whiskeytown reunion....
let's hope
*j*... you are so ROCKING My world right now !!! Thanks my good friend :) It will be ALMOST like being right there with you ;)
By the way... I've been using your pics for my ipod... got the one of us for the MMJ show & the one with Ryan holding his hand in a fist for the RA&tC show... well done sir ;)
sweet. I wish I could tell you that thoseRyan closeups are mine, but they're not.... i pulled them off of Flickr.
who the hell cares - it's a goodun & it works & I am happy ;) Should get our shoe shot for the next set of yours I dl ;)
dang good shite on that Flickr !!!