Tonight RYAN ADAMS provided us with a performance of monumental shoddiness, simultaneously pissing off large sections of the audience while seemingly delighting others. How could this be so?
It seems to me that his audience, on the night at least, can be split into three broad categories. Firstly we have the ‘sit at his feet and worship’ element, all reverential impatience (at other ‘lesser’ fans), happy to be blessed by anything he offers up, shaking their heads with pious pity at shouted requests for, god-forbid, ‘The Hits’.
Secondly there are the ‘me and my mate Ryan’ brigade here for ‘An Audience With…’ expecting to be as much part of the show as the ‘star’ himself – they have their witty interjections well-prepared in advance, are of course in on the joke and laugh disparagingly at those who come expecting a ‘proper gig’.
And finally, the ‘value for money’ punters, “I paid £20 for this ticket and all he does is prat about, where’s his respect for his audience…blah, blah, blah”. So where do I place myself in this trilogy of human behaviour? Hum, good question! Better question, “Where would you place yourself?” Ah, now, not so easy is it?
For my own part I’d have to confess to an element of all three battling away within my psyche. Sure I quickly grew impatient and frustrated at his onstage antics – mainly fuelled by the fact that, sat half way up in the circle, I couldn’t properly hear his mumbled comments into mic let alone those many muttered off mic. And yes I had paid £20 and did expect a show worthy of the ticket price but, when he did sing there was no doubting why he’s such a prominent character within the genre of music that we enjoy so much. Songs like ‘Night Birds’, ‘Cold Roses’, ‘Peaceful Valley’, ‘She Wants To Play Hearts’, ‘Call Me On Your Way Back Home’ and several others all had moments that had the hairs standing on the back of my neck. Moments for which I could almost have forgiven him anything.
And I thoroughly enjoyed the short section following the interval during which he was joined on stage by Brad Pemberton (Cardinals drummer). Here we were given a few slightly more up-tempo numbers including the great ‘Let It Ride’, Sweet L’il Gal’, ‘My Winding Wheel’ and ‘To Be Young’ which was delivered on electric guitar - to a genuinely witty cry of ‘Judas’ from someone in the audience – and given an almost swampy, Louisiana blues type of arrangement.
I also appreciate the element of breaking down the barrier between artist and audience. It can be good to see an artist not taking himself or his ‘art’ too seriously and actually creating a sense of bonhomie but, there are limits. For example, imaginary telephone conversations lasting five or so minutes while using a banana as a prop I can do without. Bantering around his ‘accident’ at his last Liverpool gig on the other hand was quite amusing and fairly endearing – that must have been a seriously scary event particularly in terms of how it might have affected his future career.
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The real problem for me related more to his shambling about the stage, indecisiveness over both what song to play and/or which instrument to use and interrupting songs to interject banal jokes/comments/lyrics. The whole thing struck me as a choreographed performance designed to … what? Endear? Frustrate? Test? Disappoint? Alienate? Judging by reports from other shows on the tour it does appear to be an act, a persona that he’s adopted - but what, ultimately will it achieve?
The result tonight was a very restless audience with an incredibly high rate of movement around the auditorium during actual performances – a double whammy making it hard to really enjoy even the good bits. It has also created a fair bit of debate, making us ask questions like “What should we expect from a performance by someone upon whom we have foisted the title ‘genius’?” Personally I do believe that true ‘genius’ deserves patience, understanding and tolerance but the end rewards have to justify and not leave you feeling like a mug.
Prior to the gig a ‘Manual’ of what you should/shouldn’t expect from a Ryan Adams gig was circulating, proving to be extremely accurate on several key points. I laughed ‘knowingly’ while really wondering what it was all about. On the three previous occasions on which I’d seen him he had been fantastic. Two admittedly were with a band – always my preference, but I saw him solo several years ago at Manchester University on a night during which he performed a three hour set, continuing long after the venue’s curfew, consisting of one sublime performance after another, holding the audience spell-bound throughout. I well remember heading for the exit that night amazed at what had gone down and feeling that I could have easily stood for a further hour for more of the same. That surely is the measure of true genius?
Tonight I was more relieved when it was over. Despite having enjoyed some aspects of the night, overall I felt disappointed, confused, even slightly betrayed.
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