Andy /
12-16-2003, 05:03 AM
-------------
Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune
Lambasting everything from the sound system to music journalists to local rock legend Paul Westerberg, young Americana rocker Ryan Adams gave an unwieldy, erratic performance that turned into a personal meltdown Sunday night at First Avenue.
The 29-year-old former Whiskeytown singer -- whose reputation as a bratty, gabby rock star added to the charm of other concerts -- was anything but likeable Sunday.
His two-hour show started as a clumsy deluge of uncharacteristically fast and furious rock noise, and it turned into a disheveled acoustic set when the electricity didn't work in Adams' favor. As the music got worse, so did the singer's diva-like behavior.
The concert ended with Adams standing on stage by himself, holding a cocktail and whining, "I just want to go home for Christmas."
Make no mistake, Adams is one of rock's most gifted modern songwriters. His prolificness -- releasing at least one album a year -- impresses as much as his knack for turning old formulas like heartache and hard-living into fresh inspiration.
However, that musical genius was buried Sunday beneath three or four blaring guitars and overeager rhythms. Even the best songs off his loud new album "lloR 'n kcoR" fell flat, including "This Is It" and "Wish You Were Here" -- both of which he played twice, not satisfied the first time.
The first clue of Adams' off mood was the fact that he barely spoke for the first hour. After a snide, uninspired version of "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)," the floodgates opened, and fans probably would've paid a second cover charge to shut him up.
Apparently, three things set Adams off: problems with the amplifiers, which likely stemmed from his inexperience with so many guitars; a bad review for opening band the Stills in the local weekly City Pages, and a York, Pa., newspaper article in which former Replacements singer Westerberg said the young rocker "needs to get his teeth kicked in."
Admitting that the Replacements "dominated my record collection," Adams went on and on about how Westerberg had dealt him a cheap shot.
"You don't trash the people you inspired," he said, calling the local singer "a bitter, old bitch."
Westerberg and the Stills' review kept coming up even after the electric guitars were ditched and Adams temporarily huffed off the stage. The ensuing acoustic set was an improvised disaster, with Adams making up lyrics about the Replacements and his own public image, including, "Yeah, so I dated an actress . . you would, too."
"This is one of my worst shows ever, but I like it," he said defiantly near the end.
By then, half of the sellout crowd had left. Of the ones who stayed, many were no doubt hoping Westerberg would show up and meet Adams' needs.
--------------
Anyone in Mpls see this?
Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune
Lambasting everything from the sound system to music journalists to local rock legend Paul Westerberg, young Americana rocker Ryan Adams gave an unwieldy, erratic performance that turned into a personal meltdown Sunday night at First Avenue.
The 29-year-old former Whiskeytown singer -- whose reputation as a bratty, gabby rock star added to the charm of other concerts -- was anything but likeable Sunday.
His two-hour show started as a clumsy deluge of uncharacteristically fast and furious rock noise, and it turned into a disheveled acoustic set when the electricity didn't work in Adams' favor. As the music got worse, so did the singer's diva-like behavior.
The concert ended with Adams standing on stage by himself, holding a cocktail and whining, "I just want to go home for Christmas."
Make no mistake, Adams is one of rock's most gifted modern songwriters. His prolificness -- releasing at least one album a year -- impresses as much as his knack for turning old formulas like heartache and hard-living into fresh inspiration.
However, that musical genius was buried Sunday beneath three or four blaring guitars and overeager rhythms. Even the best songs off his loud new album "lloR 'n kcoR" fell flat, including "This Is It" and "Wish You Were Here" -- both of which he played twice, not satisfied the first time.
The first clue of Adams' off mood was the fact that he barely spoke for the first hour. After a snide, uninspired version of "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)," the floodgates opened, and fans probably would've paid a second cover charge to shut him up.
Apparently, three things set Adams off: problems with the amplifiers, which likely stemmed from his inexperience with so many guitars; a bad review for opening band the Stills in the local weekly City Pages, and a York, Pa., newspaper article in which former Replacements singer Westerberg said the young rocker "needs to get his teeth kicked in."
Admitting that the Replacements "dominated my record collection," Adams went on and on about how Westerberg had dealt him a cheap shot.
"You don't trash the people you inspired," he said, calling the local singer "a bitter, old bitch."
Westerberg and the Stills' review kept coming up even after the electric guitars were ditched and Adams temporarily huffed off the stage. The ensuing acoustic set was an improvised disaster, with Adams making up lyrics about the Replacements and his own public image, including, "Yeah, so I dated an actress . . you would, too."
"This is one of my worst shows ever, but I like it," he said defiantly near the end.
By then, half of the sellout crowd had left. Of the ones who stayed, many were no doubt hoping Westerberg would show up and meet Adams' needs.
--------------
Anyone in Mpls see this?