I had always had my doubts about Ryan Adams. Not about his genius, which is beyond question. He is an amazing songwriter, phenomenal singer, talented musician ... all the ingredients are there. It's just that I had never seen or heard them come together all at once, either on stage or on disc. I began to wonder if I would ever have that experience, or whether I would just continue to buy the CDs and go to the shows, always waiting and hoping for that genius and never being blessed with its presence.
Well that all changed this weekend. I saw two shows that will live in my memory as being two of the most consistently brilliant performances I have ever seen by anyone. (And I have seen some performances in my day...) He was pulled together, focused, transcendent. He played two venues that could not have been more different - a dive bar in Cincinnati and the Mother Church of Country Music - and filled them both with magic. And this was not under normal circumstances. It was under the pressure of people in the audience hurling drunken comments, taunting him, wanting him to fail, expecting him to fall apart. Hardcore fans such as myself were holding our collective breath hoping nothing would break the spell, and nothing did. Not even at the Ryman, where one of his infamous meltdowns had occurred.
How does one explain the significance of the Ryman Auditorium in the world of music? To say that it is the Mother Church of Country Music is understatement. It is the place where Jimmie Rodgers, Roy Acuff, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, the Carter Family and other legends too numerous to count became stars. The place where you can walk into the dressing rooms and sit where Tammy Wynette did her hair. The place where you can actually stand in the spot where Hank friggin' Williams stood and look out into the pews (yes, the seating IS in pews), see the light filter in through stained glass windows, be in the presence of the gods not just of country music but of AMERICAN music. So there is significant pressure when musicians step on that stage, and they know it. (Well, most of them do.)
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Article comments
1 - BRICKLAYER
What's up with people throwing the word "genius" around so carelessly? He may be a great VH1 type artist, entertainer/musician/troubador or whatever (in your opinion), but GENIUS? C'mon, give me a break one time. That's like saying professional sports stars are "heroes", or something. Let's keep it in context here. He plays soft adult rock for hip to be squares and album oriented public radio listeners(one in the same?). Even if he is awesome at that, he's hardly doing anything of genius status. How low have our standards become in our country for this to be considered genius? Pretyy dang low, that's how low. Sullen, humorless, daft egomaniac maybe, but genius? Ha. I mean I have a couple of his records, and I just don't understand the hype (also see: Death Cab for Cutie, Built to Spill, blah, blah, blah. I know I'm supposed to like them, but these bands appear on the O.C., so how rock and roll is that? Not freaking very) although I will admit alot of people's whose opinions I value dig him. My brother in law builds computers and bicycles and fishing lures from scratch, and really appreciated it when I gave him the Dischord Anniversary box set for Christmas. Now, there's someone who might be a genius. Anyway,I'll take Jay Farrar (or that other gut that was in Uncle Tupelo, or the Long Ryders, or the Del Lords, or even the Beat Farmers) over this genius in a heart beat though.
2 - Caryn Rose
To diminish Ryan Adams' music as "VH-1 type" shows a very shallow understanding of the man's career at best (not to mention that the aforementioned video channel hasn't played him since "New York, New York," if they ever really did).
As for the O.C., I dunno, I think being able to make a living off of your art and not having to have a day job is pretty damn rock and roll in a Republican administration.
And it's great that you hold up bands that couldn't hold it together to sustain a career as genius (with the exception of Farrar, who's certainly talented, and probably also genius in his own way). Frankly, I'll take the ones who are still creating.
And WTF does the Dischord box set have to do with anything?
Soft adult rock? Hip to be squares? You are so very very very not getting Ryan Adams, which is fine, don't get him, but what's up with attacking those who do?
3 - BRICKLAYER
Since you obviously have a much deeper understanding of the man's career, please enlighten my shallow mentality on how he deserves "GENIUS" status.
And no matter how you slice it, having your music on the OC is just plain lame-o. Everyone knows that in the real world, people that good looking don't listen to cool music.
I must point out that all those mentioned are much more authentic and valuable as true American artists, as opposed to the charlatan huckster you are drooling over.
Also, I was not holding those other bands up as "GENIUS", as that would contradict my point about carelessly throwing that word around.
And WTF the Dischord boxset has to do with it is this: Obviously, anyone who would appreciate such a gift is a person of discerning taste and panache'. This combined with the fact that he can build computers, bicycles, and fishing lures from scratch would certainly lead a reasonable person to believe he was closer to "GENIUS" than some ignorant fool who not only is stupid enough to smoke cigarettes, but to parade that fact to gullible teenagers by slobbering all over a cancer stick on his album cover. Tell me please, oh please, how a "GENIUS" could do something so utterly selfish, self indulgent, and stoooooopid?
It sounds to me like you took it personally that you had to confront the fact that you are a soft rock lover. There is nothing to be ashamed of in this. After all, had it not been for savvy music lovers like yourself who so, so get crooners such as Mr. Adams, wonderful artists of his ilk like Bread and The Eagles would have had to resort to manual labor or armed robbery to support their lavish cocaine habits.
4 - HW Saxton
Mr. Bricklayer, Dude you rock! Of course
maybe not as intensely as the guy in the
GO-rilla suit in the Beastie Boys video
but at least as hard as any of D.O.A's
drummers outside of Dimwit & Biscuits.
I know your stand on blogging but all
the same, you really should.
5 - HW Saxton
After reading this again I would like to
say that I get the same feeling going in
to Chess Records studio in Chicago as
you apparently do at the Ryman. Using
the same toilet that was graced by such
asses as Muddy Waters,Howlin Wolf and
Bo Diddleys is enough to make a man get
down right sentimental and a few pounds
lighter as well.
PS: Ryan Adams isn't a genius.Not even
f'ing close.
6 - Temple Stark
Maybe Brick thought oyu were talking abouy Bryan Adams (who is in deed no genius but pretty good at what he does.
Lisa,
(beautiful last name btw)
I've moved this over to Advance.net - the land of hundreds of thousands of readers a week.
Let your contacts know - and thanks for the review. - Temple
7 - Eric Olsen
what a hysterical thread as well as very passionate and well written post - interesting that Lisa never chimed in. All sides have points, which is often the case. I admit to not really getting Ryan either, but that doesn't mean someone else is wrong for seing genius in him.
MY thoughts on "genius" are twofold: to call someone A genius is the highest possible compliment that is best preserved for those few whose standards are freakishly, consistently off the map. But that doesn't mean that more ordinary people can't have moments of genius, can't have genius expressed through them. Maybe that's what Lisa is talking about here.
8 - crackotage
Yeah, smoking a cigarette on an album cover makes him an ignorant, self-indulgent, stupid person. For someone who so strongly supports rock'n'roll, Bricklayer, getting your panties in a bunch over a musician; genius or otherwise, smoking a "cancer stick" is more than a little prudish, and frankly, well, weiner-y.
Let me remind you of one of the finest musical talents America has ever produced; someone who is indisputably deserving of the title "genius": Tom Waits. Tom is a reknowned smoker and drinker, and has in turn produced some of the finest music of our time.
To suggest that someone is less deserving of recognition because they smoke is indeed, self-indulgent and ignorant.
PS. Smoking is cool!