The Cardinals, Palace Theater, Columbus, OH 9/29/08

I can't say that I had the highest of expectations on going into this show, as I think that Ryan Adams has been, to put it mildly, wildly erratic in terms of quality output. Whiskeytown was great, to be sure, and then he gave us one of the greatest albums I've ever heard, Heartbreaker. Then he's given us one album after another of some great cuts padded with a lot of not-so-great ones. The last thing I really loved from him was Cold Roses, and that came out in friggin' 2004.

More to the point, though, he just doesn't bring that much to the table as a performer these days. He's talented beyond belief and has a voice that is nothing short of spectacular, but the renditions of his songs live lack any sense of dynamics. It all comes across as very brutish compared to the delicacy of the records.

This show was a case in point. We started the night with a nice meal and decent beer at the Elevator and then walked over the the venue, which is a gorgeous, old school theater. Columbus seems to have more gorgeous, old school theaters than it knows what to do with.

Compared to the last time I saw him (at the Ryman in Nashville, 2006), he was very engaged and chatty, even having fun. And the show started with some excitement, especially getting a lot of gems in the first 5 songs. But the playing was just a bit ... by the numbers. Not once was an acoustic guitar touched during this show. The first set really hit a high mark with "Goodnight Rose," not a favorite of mine usually, but they really channeled a Dead-style energy and made it hum. "Let It Ride" is a never miss as far as great tunes, but it too felt kind of tired.

The second set had an emotional high point or two ("Dear Chicago," which he played even though he vowed he wouldn't play it in a million years after people kept yelling for it, and "The Rescue Blues"), but there were moments that I swear could have been from a Counting Crows show. All in all, it just saddens me because he's got the talent and Lord knows he's got the songs, but the performance itself just lacks a bit.

(In case you haven't noted this yet, his new album is titled - and I couldn't make this up - Cardinalogy. Ouch.)

Coming next (after a quick trip to Nashville) is My Morning Jacket in a week. Fingers crossed ...

Setlist and photos courtesy of the Ryan Adams archive.

On: 8:45 pm EST

1. Cobwebs
2. Stars Go Blue
3. Wonderwall
4. Two
5. La Cienga Just Smiled
6. Fix It
7. Sun Also Sets
8. Magick
9. Remote Control (Improv)
10. Come Pick Me Up
11. Goodnight Rose
12. Evergreen>
13. Bartering Lines
14. Desire
15. Natural Ghost
16. Let it Ride

Break: 10:10 pm EST

Onstage: 10:30 EST

17. Sinking Ships>
18. Crossed Out Name
19. Afraid Not Scared
20. Please Do Not Let Me Go
21. Everybody Knows
22. OMG Whatever, ETC
23. Rescue Blues
24. Note to Self, Don't Die
25. Dear Chicago

OVER CURFEW

26. Off Broadway

Off: 11:15 pm EST