In the last couple of years without doubt he has tackled a number of issues and his shows have been quality performances. A few months back I saw him perform a solo set in London. I seriously doubt whether he would have coped with that type of performance a couple of years earlier.
On Monday 23rd April Ryan performed the first of two concerts at the London Palladium. The Palladium is not a usual venue ,customarily used for stage shows, tonight the cast of the Wizard of Oz gets the night off as Ryan took to the stage equipped with a piano, a stool,table and mike, plus a separate microphone in case he chose to do some songs in a standing position.
The set list merged material from across his backcatalogue, including his most recent album Ashes and Fire. He opened with Oh my sweet Carolina and ended with Come pick me up. Between we witnessed a truly inspiring performance by a talented songwriter. Looking back ten days later, I'm aware of certain songs that didn't feature,"Let it Ride" springs to mind, but I'm also left with memories of a set filled with richness, that has encouraged me to go back to albums such as Cold Roses, with tracks such as "If I'm a stranger to you" which Ryan performed to perfection.
He appeared at ease on stage, the accompaniment stripped down, he was both assured yet self deprecating, as when he introduced "Please don't let me go" with here's "another basket of fucking sunshine".
I particularly enjoyed English Girls Approximately from Love is Hell. An album undervalued by critics, the track in question offers so much, that I was singing it as I got off the train an hour or so later.
English girls are pretty when they play guitar
Crazy like a day just breaking I ain't sure what for
Ain't got a mother or a father or a place to fall
She's got a brother in the blues,
But he doesn't know the blues at all
You said you didn't love me, it was right on time
I was just about to tell you, but ok, alright
Said you didn't love me, you didn't want a thing
English girls can be so mean
She's got pretty eyes as a pair of jewels
Falling down the Camden
Like a couple drunken criminals
She had a messy bedroom on the edge of town
I had never been good enough
To ever keep around
You said you didn't love me, it was right on time
I was just about to tell you, but ok, alright
Said you didn't love me, it didn't mean a thing
English girls can be so mean
But, oh, look at you now
Oh, look at you now
Mmm, best I've ever seen
Just a tall drink of water
Just pourin' down the sink
Tall drink of water, she's a Norfolk waterfall
Little daybreaker, she's shooting like a cannon ball
Crazy like a rocket when
You're coming through my radio,
Kept me in your bed till the winter time
Through the fall
Fall time come, and I guess my little bird can sing
Come on Elizabeth, come on Bethany
Come on forever, I'm tired and I want to sleep
My little dove flew away, and I'm guessing
She was done with me
You said you didn't love me, it was right on time
I was just about to tell you, but ok, alright
Said you didn't love me,
That you didn't want a thing
English girls can be so mean
But, oh, look at you now
Oh, look at you now
Mmm, best I've ever seen
Just a tall drink of water
Just pourin' down the sink
Kissed me on the lips but my heart just slept it off
Words may move,
But they're never movin' fast enough
Celebrate the differences
I'll celebrate the songs you sing
Just three words, my love
You meant everything
You meant everything
You meant everything
You meant everything
---
"English Girls Approximately" as written by Ryan Adams
Set List
Oh my Sweet Carolina
Ashes and Fire
If I am a stranger now
Dirty Rain
My Winding Wheel
The Rescue Blues
Please do not let me go
Do I wait
Firecracker
Everybody Knows
Sweet Lil'Gal
Why do they leave
English Girls Approximately
Chains of Love
16 Days
New York,
When will you come back home
Lucky Now
Come Pick me up
Encore: Black Sheets of Rain
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