Writing back: The sound and fury of a Ryan Adams concert

Re: Jon Bream's writeup of Ryan Adams at the State Theatre [www. startribune.com/music].

Completely agree that we were shortchanged at the show. There were flashes of brilliance but, overall, no real momentum was built up. One song was great, the next was phoned in. It's unfortunate considering how fantastic the show at the Cedar [Cultural Center] in June was.

ERIK THOMPSON, St. Louis Park

Why couldn't you have reviewed the actual show and talked about the amazing harmonies on "Peaceful Valley" or how beautiful "Wild Flowers" was or how rockin' "Shakedown on 9th Street" was? I don't know why every review that is written about Ryan Adams in Minneapolis talks about his temperament. It's Ryan Adams, and every fan knows that you might get 3 ½ hours out of him, and you might only get an hour. I loved every minute of it!

JENNIE MORK, MINNEAPOLIS

I really appreciate your honest take on what happened or did not happen. Having seen approximately 300 shows in my life, this was honestly the first time I left the venue with a sour taste in my mouth. The sound was almost unlistenable. ... At least he could have put up with the problems and showed how professional he could be.

DANN Graff, Andover

Another disappointing R.A. show. We were in the balcony and the vocals were so buried in the mix we couldn't hear a thing. We ended up leaving five songs into the show. My husband ended up talking to the sound man on the way out to tell him that no one could hear the vocals in the balcony, and he acted like any defensive sound man who thinks his sound is golden.

MICHELLE TANNER, ST. LOUIS PARK

While I love his music, it doesn't seem to matter if he's drunk or sober, he's still an a**.

STEVE WOLD, Minneapolis

That was uh ... well, quite an experience. One way or another, his shows are always memorable.

SCOTT WOLFE, LAKEVILLE

Re: Chris Riemenschneider's review of Smashing Pumpkins at Wilkins.

Your opinion is a bit inconsistent and the argument is nonsense. The first half criticizes that two original members of the band aren't there, but then it lapses into giving the two founders some praise for how well they played. I guess my issue is that you brought band politics into a review about quality. They played a good show. Why let the other factors taint your opinion of it? Stop being nostalgic about a band that never really was a band in the traditional sense. With the exception of tours, it was always a two-man show.

CONNIE LINGUS, MINNEAPOLIS

Re: Bream's review of Paolo Nutini at the Fitzgerald.

Interesting that you didn't even mention Paolo's opening act, Serena Ryder, who had a much better stage presence than he did. She was very interested in connecting with the audience, and it showed in her performance, which I thought was very different and fresh. Half the time it appeared as if Paolo was wasted, not just introverted (how did you miss that?). People were talking about it while waiting to get out after the concert.

C. GROENKE, ROGERS

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