Ryan Adams and the Cardinals live at the Ambassador

Ryan Adams appears on stage, looking fresh and yet agitated. He smoulders, as a celebrated 34-year-old alt-rocker should. Adams is not, at this stage of his career at least, a showman. But then, he never tried to be. It’s only during offerings from the newly released Cardinology album (‘Fix It’, ‘Natural Ghost’) that we’re treated to animation of any sort. But when the Cardinals take you there, it’s to a place of pure rock ‘n’ roll heaven, as demonstrated by a shut-up-and-listen performance of another new track, ‘Crossed Out Name’.
‘Let It Ride’ (with a cocksure Neal Casal helping on vocals) and ‘Desire’ follow, in a rootin’ tootin’ country mode. But the pace slackens. It’s a two hour show that, almost inevitable, drags at times.
Although Adams’ voice is sublime and truly moving at times, we’re sold one too many forgettable songs, performed just short on conviction. Not that this could take away from the gripping and thoroughly surreal moment when, aided by two blue neon roses floating on the backdrop, Adams transforms the Ambassador into the Church of The Cardinals, bringing the gig to a truly gospel climax with reworked hosanna ‘Cold Roses’. The thickened guitars and cutting vocals soar right to the top of the steeple, and the flock are loving it.
These and another few moments of sheer aural rapture (the divine ‘When The Stars Go Blue’ and the hauntingly beautiful ‘Goodnight Rose’) give us something to remember for years to come.
And it’s only after an exhausting six-song encore that drummer Brad Pemberton finally sounds the giant Zildjian gong suspended at the back of the stage to tell us: ‘Show’s Over’. Finally.