I saw him in concert and whilst musically it was fine I came out with the distinct feeling that I had been in the presence of a nob par excellence. Brattish but not in a good way. All this release an album every 5 minutes business doesn't help. Love Whiskytown though.

However, there are moments when he appears to be collapsing from the inside out. He's released some sub par music, but his best stuff is worth celebrating. As is he.

Do I understand from your post that Lenny Bruce is, historically, the only American capable of satire? Have you ever watched The Simpsons, for example?

The Daily Show?

Woody Allen?

Bill Maher

Point taken.

I've met him, he's not just a bit of a cock, he's a fully fledged, paid-up member of the cock fraternity.

apologies to you for being such a pedant

I knew someone who say him twice. She was a MASSIVE fan but when she described the gigs I thought he sounded like a tosser.

He talked endlessly and just farted around on stage slowly doing his thing. He came across to me as though the audience should be in awe of him and should be thankful to be in his presence. If, like her, you already adore him then his self important indulgences would be okay. If you're not already a fan? You'd want to shoot him.

After all, and as he alludes in his curious weblog, it must be hell for half the world and more to confuse you with Bryan Adams. And for a proportion of the rest to enjoy the pretence of said confusion. No wonder he is imploding (collapsing from the inside out)
Still loved his duet with Sporty Spice, tho'

I'm in awe of his records, Gold is one of finest things ever birthed by a human brain (IMO). However i did go and see him last year and he barely aknowledged the audience at all and left me feeling a bit pissed off.

But Summer of 69 is just great in't it?

I saw Ryan Adams 4 years ago. He told the audience he had a terrible hangover after playing a gig the previous night in Cork, Ireland. He was not communicating much with the audience at start, but kept smoking and drinking all the time during the set. After the first encore he seemed to be in good humours and just kept on performing more songs, and the gig got much better. I was sitting in front, and had been asking for "Amy" a few times during the night. Finally, he asked the guy who had been asking for "Amy" to please stand up, and asked the spotlights to turned on me. Then he grabbed a glass and jumped down from the stage. He offered me the drink ( pure vodka ), hugged me and my wife, and jumped back to stage to perform "Amy" as the last song of the show. A night to remember. The man is a prince and a gentleman, if you ask me.

....which explains the myriad personalities.

Did they attend the same finishing school do you think ?

Nice description Twang ... could apply to either : "he posed about, grandstanding - e.g. taking about 5 minutes to light a fag, then standing archly blowing smoke into the air, while we were all thinking "get the fuck on with it"

Saw him recently as a support artist to someone. What a miserable twat he was. you need to take some lessons from your old man teddy!! he has far more grace and humour. must be one of the traits you inherited from your mum!!

Looks like another chapter of The Madness of Ryan. I vowed never to waste another night out by seeing him live again, I gave him two chances and both nights were shocking. First night was solo (though he was joined by a couple of ladies with cellos for "Sylvia Plath"). He remains the only person I've seen take a complete cigarette break onstage (he waited until he'd smoked it all before starting the next song). Treated the audience with contempt throughout.

Second occasion he was joined by a band. Must have been the Love Is Hell tour, just before he fell off stage in Liverpool. Typical "banter" included:

"Hey everyone, this is Johnny T! Back in '54, me and Johnny T invented rock 'n roll. And ever since then, guitar players always got laid!"

One of the few gigs I've left before the end, and there was a crush by the exit door. Such a frustrating artist.

If you met him in the street, what would you do and say?

Couldn't let that Teddy Thompson remark go. I've also seen him twice, both headline shows, and "miserable" isn't an adjective that I'd have used to describe him. Plenty of friendly chat throughout the set. On both nights Teddy hung around the merchandising table, chatting to fans and signing CDs.

That said, Teddy's latest album is full of country crooning (not really my cup of tea, much prefer Seperate Ways), and during the most recent show, he assured the crowd that he'd already started on his next album, and it would NOT be in a country theme.

And that cheered me up.

Not sure who you saw Steve. I missed him this time around, but last time out he gave an excellent show, great rapport with the crowd and was happy to sign CD's afterwards. Was looking for recommendations for a good Indian restaurant as I recall.

I saw him a couple of years ago in Dublin and he and the Cardinals were on fire - one of the best gigs I've ever seen - but I have heard from a few others who'd seen him before then that he was wildly unpredictable and inconsistent. Still churns out some great records though (the recently-released delux version of Whiskeytown's Strangers Almanac is well worth checking out).

Steven C, wasnt complaining about his songs which were fine and his voice is great too but he was very grumpy. I know we all can be from time to time but he wasnt particularly pleasant to the guy on the soundboard and to be honest were it me in that position I would have pulled the plug on him.