The venue has a total seating capacity of 465, a fraction of the size typical for a Ryan Adams concert. The show was announced very suddenly; tickets went on sale less than three weeks before the scheduled date. Fortunately, Charlie was able to snag seats in the front row before TicketWeb melted under the demand.

Adams, known for his erratic emotions, sang lovely sad songs while hiding in the dim light and wearing sunglasses. In his demands to keep the lighting low, he repeated “I’m so nervous” and “I feel like I’m on stage.” “I promise you I’m still here,” he joked from behind the darkness.

But the show was small, and he was surrounded by some of his most devoted fans. The appreciation seemed to flow from both sides, as Adams delivered a heartfelt performance. He left the instruments solely to the band, while focusing strictly on vocals. The quality of his voice was as good as I’ve ever heard it.

Many of the songs he played were from his forthcoming album, Easy Tiger. Initial buzz on the release indicates that it is his best work in years. If it meets the standard set on Monday, it may very well be. I know I am eagerly waiting to give it quite a few spins.

As the Star Tribune noted in their review of the show:

The buzz on Ryan Adams’ newest album is that it’s his most sophisticated and serious work to date, but that didn’t lessen the surprise over how much those same qualities applied to his concert Monday night at Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis.

I snapped photographs at the show, in addition to recording videos of the following four songs:

• Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.
• Let It Ride
• Elizabeth, You Were Born To Play That Part
• I See Monsters

As noted, the lighting was extremely low, a condition my camera doesn’t handle very well. The audio quality is adequate, however, and well worth a listen.

Enjoy. I know I did.

Electrelane opened the night. The all-female band from England plays an eclectic mix of flowing beats from an electric keyboard, occasionally laced with heavy guitar riffs. The guitarist was impressive, as she literally ripped up her guitar.

Arcade Fire then took the stage with their massive 10-piece band, immediately grabbing the audience’s attention as they opened their set with a rendition of “Keep the Car Running.” The band’s members are talented multi-instrumentalists, and they took their instrument switching seriously, changing things up during the breaks between each song.

The different instruments played throughout the set are too numerous to name, but the full ensemble of strings, brass, and winds was well represented. Two band members even used the supporting scaffolding as a makeshift percussion instrument, banging on it as they climbed its rungs. I captured that act on video, which is available on YouTube.

The songs played during the sold-out show covered both Arcade Fire albums, Neon Bible and Funeral. As always, I’ve uploaded photos taken at the show to Flickr.

Oakley Hall led off the night with a great opening set. The band originates from Brooklyn, NY and plays a blend of country and rock, a style of music I really enjoy. I had not previously listened to any of their songs, but this morning I downloaded both of their albums, Gypsum Strings and Second Guessing, from eMusic.

Jim James, the lead singer and guitarist for My Morning Jacket, was next up on stage. Last night was the only show for which he is scheduled to appear with Bright Eyes on tour. He performed solo, and his signature reverberating vocals remained while he sang and strummed an acoustic guitar.

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings were the final band in the opening series. They had just flown out to California from Nashville, for their first night on tour with Bright Eyes. They were excellent, as usual, playing bluegrass as they picked guitar and banjo.

After those three great opening bands, Bright Eyes took the stage to resounding applause. Conor Oberst, the man behind Bright Eyes, is touring in support of his latest album, Cassadaga. He played a few songs from that album, and included tracks from previous albums as well.

The show closed as Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, and Jim James joined Bright Eyes for the encore. Each seemed to revel in the opportunity to play with one another.

As usual, the photos I snapped at the show can be found on Flickr. I also recorded a couple videos with my camera, which I’ve uploaded to YouTube: Bright Eyes playing Four Winds and Gillian Welch playing No One Knows My Name.

His 14-song set, accompanied by his band, was excellent, if a bit short. The live performance was heavily electric, which stood in contrast to his recorded albums, which are acoustic and mellow. That maintained the energy level, however, as Rice alternated between acoustic and electric guitars and playing piano.

One highlight of the show was a jam session including the songs Coconut Skins and Woman Like a Man. Damien Rice improvised at the end of the session, chanting the well known lyrics “fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me” from Killing In The Name by Rage Against The Machine.

He closed out the show, and his encore, alone on stage singing Cheers Darlin’ while drinking red wine and smoking a cigarette. A waiter was on hand, ready to refill his glass as soon as it was empty. After finishing the song, he downed his fourth glass and walked off stage in a haze of smoke. A fitting end to a great show.

Haley was recently featured as artist of the day on SPIN.com. They aptly describe her music:

She might call St. Paul home now, but Bonar is originally from Rapid City, South Dakota, and her rural pedigree shines through in her lyrics. Her sad songs about people who done wrong come from the dust of remote places. Lure The Fox is populated with tired parents, black dresses, and distant regrets, and Bonar’s voice pulls it altogether, somehow coming across as simultaneously urgent and resigned. Every time she lulls you into a finger-picked haze of sound, her vocals rise above the gloom to make you pay attention, even if it is only to that very gloom. This is music for watching dead leaves fall to the ground.

She has two CDs available: her latest, Lure the Fox, as well as her debut album, The Size of Planets. I recommend giving them a listen.