Ryan Adams - The Orpheum, Vancouver, BC - October 7, 2014

[Ansbacher Bremen]

I'm usually not a negative reviewer and so this actually my first review that, overall, is more negative than positive.

Ryan Adams - The Orpheum, Vancouver, BC - October 7, 2014

Gold(en) Age of Ryan's Arcade

This arcade show was Meh.

Video games began to gain momentum in the late 1970s with games such as Asteroids (1979) and became widespread in 1980 with Pac-Man. Ryan Adams began to gain momentum in the late 1990s with "Strangers Almanac", continuing this momentum as a solo artist with 2000's "Heartbreaker" before fading away in recent years.

Ryan tried to bring that momentum back Tuesday night at the Orpheum in Vancouver, but the monitors on the Asteroids and Pac Man vintage video games on stage read "Game Over".

The only songs that were good where the few where he played harmonica and acoustic. One of them was the one and only encore song, "Come Pick Me Up" where he was joined on stage by Butch Walker (opener) on electric guitar. The other was "New York, New York" also on acoustic, but at a slower tempo than normal for this "Gold" track that could have been released in 1985 ((730,365 days - 16 Days)/365).

There could have been a "Dear Chicago" but instead, Ryan decided to improvise and make up a song as he went along. "Order #4" was about ordering a slice of pizza (possibly Chicago-style deep-dish). As amusing as the song was, he could have passed on this stupidity and maybe there would have been time for one more classic Adams song.

Everyone is now aware of the other Adams song, "Run To You" which is now part of his shows on this current tour. The song ended the night before the one song encore. The other Adams will be touring in celebrating the 30th anniversary of "Reckless". Maybe Bryan can return the favour. There was nothing special about his supporting cast of Pac Men, not even a hint of "Pac-Man Fever".

The songs performed from 2005's "Cold Roses" did not work without the Cardinals and should be retired from future shows. I saw the "Cold Roses" tour in 2005 on the same day that the album was released. There was musicianship then, none of it on display Tuesday tonight. Not even gamesmanship.


Setlist

Gimme Something Good
I See Monsters
Let It Ride
Stay With Me
Shadows
Dirty Rain
Am I Safe
A Kiss Before I Go
New York, New York
Cold Roses
Peaceful Valley
Trouble
Everybody Knows
Run to You (Bryan Adams)

Encore

Come Pick Me Up

[Blaze]

So videogame decorations on stage or something? He's coming to Oklahoma in December...not sure about it. Never seen him.

[Beldo]

You should see him, Blaze. I doubt anything will beat the 2005 tour OJ speaks of (really was something). If you like the new album you'll probably enjoy it.

[Blaze]

You should see him, Blaze. I doubt anything will beat the 2005 tour OJ speaks of (really was something). If you like the new album you'll probably enjoy it.

Are you going to see him in your neck of the woods this tour?

[Beldo]

Don't think he's coming here but I would

[KnobTwister]

November 11, here. Looking forward to it, but mostly because I don't go to enough shows.

[KnobTwister]

Despite an attitude we've come to expect from RA and no encore (!), I thought the show was great. He also probably should have given a shout out to Vets (and sang Jacksonville Skyline), but instead chose to berate the people who spoke up - there was a freebird request.

Putting that aside, I thought the sound of the band was great. I enjoyed the new tunes - although he didn't play that many of them. He did play Sweet Carolina, Let it Ride, Dear Chicago, Winding Wheel, New York and the highlight for me, A Kiss before I Go. Vintage guitars and a Hammond with a Leslie helped make a great sound.