Ryan Adams: Heartbreaker [concert review]

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals: July 30, 2006: The Tabernacle, Atlanta

"Finally!" someone shouted when Ryan Adams laid into the familiar harmonica strains of "Come Pick Me Up," the last song of the concert and of his two-night stand at the Tabernacle in Atlanta. Word had spread that the first night featured Adams delivering an extraordinary performance chocked full of crowd favorites. Unfortunately, for night two, Adams didn't satisfy the audience until the end of the concert. In a show comprised mostly of obscure songs from his latest three albums (Cold Roses, Jacksonville City Nights, and 29, all released last year), the notoriously prolific yet erratic songwriter played just a few memorable crowd pleasers.

While much of the setlist didn't overly enthuse everyone, some lesser-known songs went over rather well. Perched at an upright piano with a lit cigarette in his mouth, Adams played an ominous, emotional rendition of "Nightbirds," by far the most compelling song on 29 and arguably one of the best songs he has written to date. Also, a riveting take on "This House Is Not For Sale" and an acoustic cover of the Oasis hit, "Wonderwall," both from his 2004 EP, Love Is Hell (part I), snagged the crowd's attention.

Not until Adams began "La Cienega Just Smiled," however, towards the end of the show, did the crowd begin to respond with universal applause and enthusiasm. By the time he reached "Come Pick Me Up," sadly the only track performed from his landmark album, Heartbreaker, Ryan Adams ultimately locked in a positive response from the entire audience. At one point during the show, Adams had mentioned that he would not repeat any song from the previous night's concert. Perhaps he should have reconsidered.