I agree with Dave on this, the overall experience far outweighed the minor problems in the performance (even starting "late").

Dude was his own opening act for chrissakes - although if I want to see someone play Grateful Dead covers I'll go to Plumps. And I will never do that because I freaking hate the Dead.

The "second set" if you will, was incredibly good save for the hecklers. I found it silly someone would spend the money to come down to a show and scream "UNCLE TUPELO" and "THOSE BOOTS ARE FOR WOMEN!" at the band. Stupid.

All in all, I thought the show was great, and his "inane responses" were downright hilarious. The band is incredibly tight and their musicianship is top-notch.

What happened is pretty much what was to be expected, if you know the history of this artist. I'm sure nobody goes to a Hinder show expecting to hear the next Radiohead.

Ryan Adams' stage antics are a known quantity. Take it or leave it. I understand it can be uncomfortable to endure at times. Again, most should have known this going in (though may not--was this his first Indy gig?). I've seen him twice before. Once was a tight rock 'n' roll explosion in Chicago about 5 years ago. The other was at Lolapalooza last year when he talked almost as much as he performed.

Not sure if I take him seriously that he was at Circle Center. He is a storyteller by trade after all.

The intermission was planned. There was no opener, so it was up to one act to provide an extended evening's worth of entertainment. I've seen this before from other musicians. Similar to any other theater production.

I'll accept that the intermission was planned. My complaint with that stemmed from the fact that he'd only played for about an hour before breaking. Other acts that go 3+ hours either don't take a break or take a brief one a couple hours in before an extended encore or something.

He seriously couldn't maintain the energy, though, break or not. Lots of lulls in the show. Good musicianship, yes, but shouldn't that be a given rather than a plus?

Personally, I have a hard time complaining about spending $30 for 29 songs and three hours of excellent music. I don't even like jams and I mostly maintained this attitude during some of Adams' extended reworkings, but I still can't find any reason to complain. I don't claim to be an Adams diehard, but if I went to see my favorite band and they played for 3+ hours, I would be ecstatic.

I agree 100% with ASquared here. I expect rock shows to start late and I often plan accordingly. 45 minutes late is maybe a little annoying in a standing room venue, but we had plush seats and sit in while we waited. Big deal.

The hecklers were annoying, yes, but his responses were classic; maybe the highlight of the night for me.

Y'all might be missing the point. Aside from minor issues such as his lateness, encouraging the hecklers by responding to them, and inconsistent energy, at least he's not Axl Rose. Ya know?

I thought that would've been clear with the line, "despite Adams' shortcomings, he is not Axl Rose."

Oh, and the Murat balcony seats are friggin' uncomfortable. There is NO leg room. I'm only 5'10" and couldn't so much as cross my legs. Not everyone likes to sit bolt upright with both feet flat on the floor for 3+ hours.

I agree with everyone on here. Unicorn has a good point, it is really hard to complain about paying 25 bucks for 29 songs. I've also never been to a show that has started on time, even if there is on opener. I felt it this next day, but I knew I had it coming.

I was sitting in the balcony too, and I agree, yes, the seats aren't lazy boys, but at least it was a seat. Any old, historic venue like the Murat is going to be that way. I saw Ryan and the band a while back at the vogue, another great show, but it was much shorter and I stood the whole time. It is what it is when it comes to the venue.

In a previous post, I did do a little steaming about the crowd. It did piss me off, but I also agree with the above, I've just come to expect it anywhere I've seen a show. It's just not Indy or the Murat, it's everywhere. I believe it also depends on the artist too, at Ben Harper a month or so ago, the crowd was dead silent at points, during songs that called for it.

I totally agree! People will complain about anything! The show rocked, was well played, entertaining, and the fact that he played for 3 hours was awesome!

But the real question is . . . Was he artfully smoking a cigarette?