A Night With Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

Musical Genius welcomed back to Wisconsin

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Sunday’s Ryan Adams and The Cardinals performance at The Pabst Theater in Milwaukee was everything you might come to expect from the prolific madman at the helm. It was tender. It was bombastic. It was self-indulgent. It was schizophrenic. It was beautiful … sorta.

Adams himself is a divisive figure. He is heralded as a musical genius in one corner, and in the other — an alleged manipulative abuser. The latter stemming from a revealing 2019 article in The New York Times. The #MeToo movement has not treated Adams well, but a tempered yet well-received mini-tour of the East Coast in May 2022 marked a rebirth for the troubled singer/songwriter.

Now, after a longer solo tour of the U.S., Canada and Europe this past spring; Adams is in the midst of a 29-city U.S. summer tour with The Cardinals, featuring Brad Pemberton on drums, Chris Stills on guitar, Daniel Clarke on keys, Don Was on bass and Aaron Ficca on percussion.

The Pabst show Sunday was not a sell-out; but those in attendance were a zealous lot, and in at least one incidence an overzealous lot. The set began with a heavy triumvirate of “Cold Roses” from 2005’s double LP of the same name, “A Kiss Before I Go,” from the follow-up album “Jacksonville City Nights,” and “Cobwebs” from 2008’s “Cardinology.”

I had never thought of Adams and the Cardinals as a “jam band,” but they’ve been playing anywhere between 14 and 20 songs a night during what is advertised as a three-hour set. Adams is allowing lots of time for riffing around with his bandmates, and it mostly pays off. Don’t forget, the Cardinals are each highly credentialed musicians. I’m not sure I’ve heard this ensemble referred to as a “super group,” but it could be.

Throughout the tour, Adams and company have been playing a varied medley of “Peaceful Valley” and Black Sabbath’s “Black Sabbath” (Adams was wearing a Black Sabbath T-shirt, by the way). And if that mashup sounds like an odd juxtaposition, it is. But somehow it works beautifully. Adams’ musical tastes are far ranging and include a guiltless love of heavy metal (Remember 2010’s “Orion”?). With the Cardinals in the fray, Adams can shapeshift impulsively. Though Adams’ impulses may at times require checking.

It was following this sonic treat that the Cardinal Express experienced its first derailment of the night. Clarke began the opening piano chords of “Dear John,” when Adams paused to lecture an impassioned fan in the front row who apparently had been yelling at him since note one.

“Hey, I’m glad to see you, too. Could you please stop fucking talking to me when I’m trying to concentrate? I’m happy to see you, too; but I want you to know from alcoholic to most likely alcoholic — I’m in recovery, but you are super fucking trashed, and I want you to know you’ve told me you’re happy to see me about 28 times. Listen to me: I love you. I’m here to play for you. I think you should have this experience. But do not distract me from entertaining all these people with my band.”

Adams became rattled again after introducing the band (which included a very strange — what I believe was a pirate impression — story to introduce Clarke). As is prone to happen at shows, certain audience members will yell out the name of their favorite song more as a demand than a request. Adams was having none of that.

“I’ve been to see Slayer so many times (Adams was wearing Slayer sweatpants, by the way). I never in a million years would go to a Slayer show and be like, ‘Play something off of Point of Entry.’ When I go to a show … I trust that the band is going to work out a set list.”

He then abruptly announced an unscheduled intermission and left the stage.

Following said intermission, the group dove into “Magnolia Mountain.” Two minutes into the song, however, it became obvious Adams was having an issue with his guitar. Derailment No. 2. Stop song. Switch guitars. Restart song from the beginning. Again, an issue with this guitar. Stop song. Switch back to original guitar. Restart song. “Third times a charm, right? I think you all know I’m not one to give up very easily,” said Adams.

The third time indeed was a charming rendition, with a soulful groove by Was underlying the performance.

The night’s setlist included two Velvet Underground covers: a tastefully tender “Pale Blue Eyes” and a haunting “Candy Says.” Sandwiched in between were three great Cardinals staples: “Beautiful Sorta,” “Blue Hotel” and “Easy Plateau.”

During a wandering 18-minute “Easy Plateau” the effects crew cranked up the haze machine to 11 at least three different times. Not all who wander are lost. In fact, the band chemistry throughout was great as the song alternated between mellow guitar noodling and blistering power chords. But the haze obscured the entirety of the stage several times, never more so than during the show’s finale “Let it Ride.” While Adams and Stills masterfully traded guitar licks, the entire theater was engulfed in a haze that set off the building’s smoke alarms.

So, yes, it was a crazy show from start to abrupt finish. As expected: beautiful … sorta.

Adams and the Cardinals continue their tour tonight (Aug. 1) in Columbus, Ohio, before continuing east, then south, then west with a final stop Oct. 16 at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. In between, Adams will give the band a recess as he returns to his one-man shows in September.

More info at ryanadamsofficial.com

Or follow Adams on Instagram at @ryanadams; X at @TheRyanAdams; or Facebook at ryanadams

See the Full Gallery of the Evening Here!

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