Ryan Adams covers Alice in Chains and debuts new material

Ryan Adams played a few shows last week to promote the upcoming release of his new album, "Easy Tiger". These shows saw Ryan confined to playing only the piano and singing after suffering from an undisclosed injury. I hope Ryan recovers soon but I have to admit I really like the sound of the Cardinals at these shows. Ryan and the band took kind of an unplugged/Reckoning approach to these shows by performing all acoustic sets. In addition to the striped down sound, the band also all sat upon stools which if I remember correctly was an unplugged requirement. In addition to debuting new material from "Easy Tiger" Ryan also debuted his take on the Alice and Chain's song "Down in a Hole". All I can say is "wow". This was a great choice and done beautifully. Here are two tracks from the Kingston show. But I urge you to check out the whole recording over at Ryan Adams Archive.

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
Ulster Performing Arts Center
Kingston, N.Y.
May 16, 2007
Down in a Hole(Alice in Chains Cover)
Magnolia Mountain

There plenty of Ryan Adams else where on the web
Aquarium Drunkard has excerpts from both Exile on Franklin St. and the Destroyer Sessions
The Punk Guy has a few live MP3s.
That Truncheon Thing has a MP3 of "Everybody Knows" from the upcoming album.
Product Shop NYC also has two new tracks

Jesus and Mary Chain @ Webster Hall

I heard the Jesus and Mary Chain for the first time when I was 13 or 14. I would often fall asleep listening to a nightly radio program called "Night Waves" that was broadcast on the local college radio program. This show served as my guide for what was cool for many years. I don't really remember what my initial reaction to the Jesus and Mary Chain's music was but I do remember going to a record store and being unable to determine what song it was I had heard on the radio so I bought both "Psychocandy" and "Stoned and Dethroned".

Later that year that same record store held a contest to win tickets and a chance to meet the band before their up coming show at Bogart's in Cincinnati, Ohio. Now I have never been a very lucky when it comes to raffles or give aways but I was that time. The record store called my house about a week before the concert to inform me that I had won and how I could claim my prize. There was barely a moment leading up to the show that I didn't think about what it would be like to meet the JAMC.

After what seemed like an eternity the night of the show finally came. I arrived at the back entrance of Bogart's and was escorted up to the backstage area. I think most people were a little confused on how a nerdy young kid had won the contest because I remember getting a few "What the Fuck?" looks as I waited for the band. As I waited in a dark dank room for the band I became more and more nervous. Once they arrived the meeting was pretty uneventful. We all shook hands and I think I told them that I was a huge fan and then they presented me with an autograph poster and I was told they had to do a sound check then, but my tickets would be waiting at will call. I memories of the show are all good ones but I think it may have been the entire experience that I was impressed with.

So when it was announced that the Jesus and Mary Chain would be performing 2 nights at Webster Hall I was really excited to relive a moment from my childhood. Although this time I was nearly as excited as I was then. Last night's show although it was not the most energetic concert it was definitely a lot of fun. It was great to hear so many amazing songs live again. I was a little surprised at how most of these songs still seem relevant. Although I do hope for the best for Reid brothers I am not sure I will need to see them again live. This show kind of closed a chapter in my life. Thanks for the great memories.

The Whitestripes live return and lots of new press.

The Whitestripes performed their first concert in almost 2 years this past Friday. Early report are all pretty good. The concert was announced late last week and was billed as "an intimate show". The band opened with a cover of the Hank Williams Sr song "Tennessee Border" and played both new and old material. People on Ws.net are talk about how much that the live version of "Icky Thump" raged. NME has the entire setlist and a nice review. NME will also be giving away limited edition Whitestripes 7-inch with the June 8th issue.
In other Whitestripes news they will also be on the cover of Nylon magazine and they made this funny little video to go with it.
NYLON TV + THE WHITE STRIPES

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