Ryan Adams: Probably Still Sober, Definitely Still Crazy
As we discovered at Hiro recently, Ry's everything-but-diet-coke abstinence has left his voice in peak form, and his odd-banter/wtf-wit in tact. But all we got that night was a rant about "the oppression of mathematics"; reader Kjell writes in with a funnier field report from Ryan's Easy Tiger tour...
so maybe he's sober like he claims lately but he's still TOTALLY CRAZY! At the show last night in Berkeley, CA (7/24/07) he was walking down the aisles before the show taking requests for the setlist. At one point out in the lobby a woman convinced him to call her son on the phone because he would want to make a request. He was followed by two guys not looking very happy about the whole thing like they were handlers or something. Also his banter was ridiculous. Before the first song he kept talking about underwear stuck up his ass.
There was also a lot of whispering into the mic stuff like "i'm fucking professional, i'm oozing professionalism from my soul" he blamed the banter antics on coffee. "this next track is from 1872, its by tim mcgraw, we don't even know what it means, i use all my energy just to keep breathing" -> song played: When the Stars Go Blue. btw, the actual music was fucking awesome. what a rock star mofo.No doubt Ry hams it up a little and we could debate that, but really we're just psyched to know the history behind "When The Stars Go Blue." Still a few more stops on the tour to see Ry ooze that patented professionalism.
[Pic from Ryan Adams @ Hiro 6/26/07]
07/26 - Portland OR @ Aladdin Theater (SOLD OUT)
07/27 - Seattle WA @ Moore Theater (SOLD OUT)
07/28 - Vancouver BC @ Orpheum Theater
07/30 - Boise ID @ Big Easy
07/31 - Salt Lake City UT @ Red Butte Garden
08/02 - Boulder CO @ Fox Theater (AAA Convention)
08/03 - Morrison CO @ Red Rocks
09/01 - Turin NY (moe.down)
Posted at 10:24 AM in Tour Dates
Tags: Ryan Adams
Ryan Adams Owns.
hope this tour goes well, no roadbumps etc. im hoping for an extension too, like to see him in the midwest.
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p.s.
what do you think is the top-special song on Easy Tiger?
my vote is for "Rip Off" so far..
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haha that guy cracks me up. he still seems to be making quite an effort to let people know he's down-to-earth what with all the mingling (even though everyone already knows). i think it's great. looking forward to his next trip to uk.
off easy tiger I'd request Goodnight Rose.
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He has extended it with many new dates in the midwest! Check out his myspace. I was at the show last month in Chicago and he sounded amazing.
My Fav Easy Tiger Song: The Sun also Sets
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I love, love, love, I taught myself how to grow. He is great.
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Although this will severely diminish my indie cred, I think the 'When The Stars Go Blue'/ Tim McGraw issue stems from American Idol. On country week the beatboxer sang this song and claimed it was by Tim McGraw. Probably didn't sit too well with Mr.Adams
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its kinda wierd that is watch on the cover of the new album is set to 4:20, kinda lame too.
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I agree with jk about the Tim McGraw/American Idol thing. I was fucking livid when they said that beatboxing douchebag would be singing "When The Stars Go Blue by Tim McGraw." Ummm, you know...not that I watch American Idol or anything. I'm just saying, I heard it somewhere and stuff.
Can't wait to see Ry in Minneapolis in September. He's playing the State Theater. Killer venue.
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I take it nobody in lame-ass Berkeley had the nads to request "Summer of '69."
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^^^you're fucking lame mack.
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Sounds fun but the night before in San Francisco Ryan behaved like a spoiled little bitch. He was all distracted by the guy on the soundboard and was on the verge of a tantrum. He & the band were tight as could be but he cut the 2nd set way short and said goodnight and walked offstage without an encore.
I wish I had gone to Berkeley the following night,
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True, the man's fucking crazy.
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I miss the drunken speedball Ryan Adams. He may sound flawless but I long for the days when he fucked up in the middle of "Come Pick Me Up" and started the song over immediately from the beginning... or when he drunkenly played "I See Monsters" in it's entirety while standing on one foot just to amuse himself. Not to take anything away from the guy though. Jacksonville, Cold Roses, and Easy Tiger are fantastic
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I was at the Berkeley show as well, bummed I missed him taking requests, but he did make a up a birthday song on the spot for a girl in the crowd which was pretty sweet.
I was kinda bummed he played only two songs from the new album and mostly Cold Roses stuff. But he definitely rocked it out on the last songs "Beautiful Sorta", "I See Monsters" and "Shakedown On 9th Street".
Also there was a lot of talk about his love of Cheeze-Its and Combos....
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lol. He's awesome.
I'd also like to put in a half vote for "Sun Also Sets" and "I taught myself how to grow" for best songs from Easy Tiger.
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YEAHHH, at the Wilshire, he informed us that he's "well-adjusted," writes his songs at the "Prozac Factory," declared, "I am a joint," and said he was "on lady patrol." All before barking/growling in between songs. I mean, he's a crazy kinda sober. He was awesome.
It was a great show.
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I went to the Austin show about two weeks ago and he gave no banter the whole time. The only things he said were, "We need to take a break and fix something" (of course nothing was fixed during the break) and "Thanks guys" as he walked off. Literally none of the craziness I was looking forward to. Not even an introduction of the band. It was weird. He was on the radio earlier in the day and he discussed the "BBQ Wars" between Texas, the Carolina's, and Tennessee for about ten minutes, which I guess was his crazy banter for the day. He also gave the explanation of the 4:20 watch:
Apparently on their last tour, they were in Florida and someone threw a plastic watch on stage (the one on the cover, in fact). Adams said that he always wanted one so put it on during the next song break and still wears it today (you can see it in the photo from Hiro above). He said that the watch had the alarm set for 4:20 when it was thrown to him. He hasn't reset the alarm since he received it. He said that every day at 4:20, he is usually at sound check and it's a reminder that he is now on the fan's time and to put all he has into the show. Pretty cheesy and possibly untrue? Yeah. Good story? Yeah.
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