Live Review: Ryan Adams

Tonight's double bill, courtesy of next weekend's festivities up in Byron, offers up a couple of solid sets of rootsy indie-rock deep under the influence of country and blues, which rather proudly ticks everything in that box labelled Americana. Jenny Lewis warms what is otherwise one of those distinctly freezing Melbourne evenings with the distinctive country twang in her voice and a five-piece band that pumps out an a polished, indie-country sound that either gets stuck on pop hooks or simply rocks out. Resplendent in the pant suit featured on the cover of her latest album The Voyager, Lewis exudes a lot of class, charisma and attitude as she plays songs from all of her three solo albums. Apologising that her old band Rilo Kiley never made it to Australia, she indulges the crowd with the dreamy love song With Arms Outstretched and Portions For Foxes. In between songs, Lewis giggles as she reveals a fascination for the Chapel Street hot dog joint Massive Wieners. Starting 30 minutes late, Lewis' set feels short but raises sighs of enchantment from the crowd, as she plays Acid Tongue solo on her guitar with the rest of the band crowding around a microphone to howl at the moon when they deliver the refrain, "Let's build ourselves a fire".

After what feels like a long sound check, Ryan Adams energises the crowd with his wild, guitar-hero histrionics as he and his band blast us with Gimme Something Good from last year's solid, self-titled long-player. The ever-prolific Adams, who has accumulated a massive catalogue of tunes over the past 15 years, delivers. More than just a showcase of new material, tonight's generous selection of some 23 songs that stretches out for just over two epic hours gives us some fine career highlights. The live versions extend into swirling jams that move beyond his fine vocals and into scorching solos and riff fantasy during which the crowd seem to lose themselves. Even the haunting I See Monsters concludes by exploding into a strange metallic riot. Adams, with his mop of tousled hair, looks like a psychedelic rocker with a desire to escape into complete guitar mayhem but it's the bluesy verse-and-chorus nature of his songs that keeps him grounded, dealing plenty of emotion with his words. Tunes from Gold wash over like classics.

Along the way, Jenny Lewis duets with Adams on the wistful Oh My Sweet Carolina to brilliant effect. Adams sings an impromptu happy birthday song to a girl in his entourage called Gigi before asking the audience to pass a cake to her (she's back at the mixing desk). The seasoned players in  Adams' crack new band The Shining keep up with him, but its Daniel Clarke's organ that adds a funky gospel flourish to the mix. La Cienega Just Smiled breaks hearts as it starts to bring us down. Increasingly irritated by a drunk shouting at him, Adams has a rant and sounds exasperated when he says, "Dude, I'm gonna break your nose," before giving him general encouragement to keep quiet. A buoyant, feelgood version of Come Pick Me Up concludes the evening; it's a total charmer of a song that completely seduces the crowd. Ryan Adams can rightly take his place among all the obvious influences, and points of reference and comparison.