Ryan Adams & The Cardinals @Enmore Theatre, Sydney(29/01/09)

Sun 1st Feb, 2009 in Gig Reviews

Aussie Ryan Adams fans have had their patience tested many times. From his spectacular imploding – œTom Cruise put-your-manners-back-in moment’ at the Enmore two years ago, some have surely given up hope of seeing such a temperamental bard deliver on the promises of so many classic albums.

But with the imminent demise of current band The Cardinals, prayers for an uninterrupted set were answered. With the exceptions of 29 and Rock N Roll, Adams spanned the vast majority of his career with a crowd-pleasing two-hour marathon of hits, deeper cuts and genuinely warm banter.

Recent albums Cardinology and Easy, Tiger got a solid workout. But so did Heartbreaker and Gold, with an allegedly rusty version of New York, New York drawing a storm of praise from the opening notes. Few could have been disappointed with unique renditions of When the Stars Go Blue, Magick and Oh My Sweet Carolina.

This was undoubtedly planned and executed as a greatest-hits set, with a generous helping of humour on the side. From a mad-lib about a snowfall of ninjas to comparing his albums to orange juice, Adams was in fine form – genuinely humble, funny and present in every second he played. Thanking the audience, he seemed as enraptured with their enjoyment as they were with his playing.

The Cardinals were in fine form as well, proving they’ve been one of the tightest bands in living memory. No bum notes, extended jamming and perfect dynamic shifts left them invisible and overbearing at the same time – their subtlety written over every bar, but invisible to anyone not looking for it.

In a set full of highlights, Wonderwall and Come Pick Me Up surely glowed brighter than most. Although it is difficult to illustrate a gig in nothing but adulation, it’s harder still to deny that this was an exceptional event with a gorgeous set-list – a fitting epitaph to a band that deserve many fond memories.