Review: Ryan Adams - MARGARET COURT ARENA, Melbourne
Written by: Maree Risteski
With a music career spanning two decades and having released multiple albums, Ryan Adams was not shy to show Melburnians that he truly is a master of his craft. Having recently released his sixteenth LP, the self-written, recorded and produced “Prisoner”, Ryan embarked on a 5 city tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Middle Kids opened the Melbourne show at Margaret Court Arena with a set that reinforced how great and diverse Australia’s music scene is. It was the perfect warm up for the night that lay ahead.
The stage set up reflected Ryan’s strange creativity. It was a retro jungle. Two tigers and a lion were positioned around amps and many old TV’s were piled on top of each other. The starry backdrop lit up and resembled the night sky as Adams walked casually onto the stage with his band. “Let’s have some fun!” he shouted and began the memorable night with ‘Do You Still Love Me?’. Adams used a different guitar for nearly every song, allowing him to easily change the mood of the night by playing a range of rock, folk and alternative country sounds from his entire discography. From older classics to new fan favourites, the crowd fervently applauded Ryan and his band at the end of each song.
The American musician delivered stellar performances of ‘Two’ and ‘Dirty Rain’ that captivated the devoted crowd. He showcased his undeniable talent throughout the night with many guitar solos. Adams’ rendition of Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’ saw him daringly grace the stage alone. He successfully delivered a spell-binding performance of the 90’s hit. Although his amp broke mid-way through ‘When The Stars Go Blue’, it went unnoticed as Adams was able to conceal the tech issue through his flawless vocals. By this point, the crowd had been hypnotised by Adams’ remarkable and raw talent. Adams seemed to have had the same feeling for the Melbourne crowd, constantly expressing his appreciation to the amazing audience before him. At one point a man standing near me chanted “I love you Ryan Adams!”, to which Adams proclaimed “No man, I love you”.
The humble American left the dedicated Melburnians with a powerful message that deeply resonated with every person, “It is up to us to change the dynamic…let’s have our say”. Adams finished his compelling 2 hour set with “Shakedown On 9th Street”. As ticket holders exited the recently controversial Margaret Court Arena, it was clear that Ryan Adams gave his Melbourne audience something money can’t buy, hope for a better world.
