Fans in Boulder, Colorado were lucky enough to catch Ryan Adams and The Unknown Band last night for an intimate surprise show at the Fox Theatre — a sold-out performance that was only announced last week. Last night’s show comes before Adams graces Red Rocks Amphitheatre’s majestic stage tonight with support from Nicki Bluhm and The Infamous Stringdusters. These two Colorado shows mark a mid-way point in Adams’ lengthy worldwide tour in support of his new album Prisoner, which was released this past Valentine’s Day. Adams’ unique style of lovelorn folky-rock speaks to any heartbroken music fan in attendance and inadvertently creates an unbreakable net and a strong sense of unity.
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Fans were treated to both new and old favorites last night, as Ryan Adams opened the show with classics “Let it Ride” and “Magnolia Mountain,” entering the psychedelic Grateful Dead sphere and undoubtedly finding the groove and rich sonic-space. “Cold Roses” made an appearance later on in the evening, marking three songs that became staple covers in the Phil Lesh and Friends and Furthur rotations. Ryan and Phil first collaborated at the 2005 Jammy Awards, and ever since, Ryan’s love for the Grateful Dead has become increasingly present, particularly after reaching sobriety and going through a tough divorce with actress Mandy Moore.
Lovesick ballads paired with raw rockin’ jams are what make Ryan, and the musician and the 625-person crowd got the perfect blend during last night’s Boulder show. After some entertaining storytelling and banter with the crowd, Ryan dove head first into his newest songs, flowing through “Prisoner,” “Haunted House,” and “Doomsday,” before elegantly bringing the show to a close with new Prisoner tracks, with “To Be Without You” segueing perfectly into “We Disappear.”
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Through life’s ups and downs, struggles with sobriety, and a broken heart, Ryan has been able to sustain an incredible near twenty-year solo career. Fans are lucky to be witnessing the height of his creative peak amidst his extremely well received 2017 tour. The final tune of the evening was “Shakedown on 9th Street” off of Ryan’s debut solo studio album Heartbreaker, which showcased the brilliance and creativity that Ryan’s been bringing to stages across continents since the album’s release at the turn of the millennium. Make sure to check out photos from last night’s Boulder show below, courtesy of the author Sam Berenson.
Setlist: Ryan Adams and The Unknown Band | Fox Theatre | Boulder, CO | 6/19/2017
Set: Let it Ride, Magnolia Mountain, Gimme Something Good, Two, Dirty Rain, Fix It, Prisoner, New York, New York, Peaceful Valley, Mockingbird, Cold Roses, Haunted House, Doomsday, When the Stars Go Blue, Invisible Riverside, Dear John, To Be Without You, We Disappear, Shakedown of 9th Street
