10/24/99 Ryan Adams  Submit Set List Previous
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Chattanooga, TN
Review: 
Anyhow... I don't know if anyone's posted about this already (I didn't notice it in the back issues I saw), but I drove 2 hours to catch the Ryan Adams solo show in Chattanooga on 10/30 along with about 15 people who showed up that Sunday night. To make a long story short... I wasn't really knowing what to expect (if he'd even show up) and I was prepared for disappointment. I'm happy to report I was anything but disappointed... it was one of the best shows I've ever seen (and there have been a LOT over the years). I'm sure you all probably already know by now that he played mostly new songs from his forthcoming "solo" album (which is supposed to be coming out after the new w-town album next spring). I was hanging out with him before the show chatting and he was describing the new songs to me as just him, a guitar and a harmonica.... kinda Dylan-ish stuff with a little Fleetwood Mac thrown in. Huh?!?!... I thought to myself... this probably IS going to suck (nothing against Dylan, but I don't think Ryan is in the same league). I was more than a little apprehensive. After the first song, though, I was awestruck. The sound was CD quality and the intimacy was palpable. I won't go into detail, but suffice to say... I can't wait for the Ryan solo album.... forget the new W-town album, give me the Ryan album first, please. Of the 15 or so songs he played, there was only one that I thought was a little sub-par (ironically, it was the one he had noted as his "favorite") called "Folklore" which was about his childhood. What really annoyed me, though, was that the soundman made a board tape of the show, but had to give it to Ryan afterwards. I was bummed. Ryan also mentioned that he had Emmylou Harris, Buddy/Julie Miller and Gillian Welch (among others) lined up to sing/play on his solo album. Regarding the new W-town album, he said it's going to be "big"... and I think he meant in more ways than one (not necessarily chart-wise). He told me they had recorded and mastered 3 full-length CD's worth of material for this album, but had whittled it down to one "big" album. I think he said it was going to have over 20 tracks..... or perhaps be a double CD. Most of the new songs, he said, would seem really upbeat on the surface, but once you start to pay attention to the lyrics, turn into very lonely or sad sentiments. Kind of an unusual juxtaposition, I think. Additionally, there's a Caitlin solo album in the works that's supposed to have a bunch of guest artists as well. He played one of the songs from her album that night, too, and it was awfully good, too. I bought a tshirt, too, because they were pretty funny. They've got a big american flag across the front and it says.... "Ryan Adams is on fire.... Somebody put his ass out!" on the front and "Ryan Adams Solo Tour 1999, Working For A Whiskeytown-Free World" on the back. He also dubbed it the "No One Left To Fire Tour" during the show. At least he's got a sense of humor! Oh... one more interesting thing. It seems he's quit drinking. He offered to buy me a drink before the show, but I politely refused. He said "I don't drink either". I noticed he nursed the same beer all night. I think that's about the best W-town news I could have asked for. He really needed to get a grip on that B.S. 

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