Short-tempered rocker Adams comes up short

Throughout the show, the singer-guitarist complained about the sound monitors onstage. At one point, he literally moved two monitors, his microphone and his guitar pedals. After 70 minutes, he announced "the last song" and didn't bother to return for an encore. Many of the fans stood and booed.

By Jon Bream, Star Tribune

Last update: September 28, 2007 - 9:01 AM

Temperamental rock cult hero Ryan Adams had another meltdown in Minneapolis -- this time at his sold-out concert Thursday night at the State Theatre.

What happened?

"I don't know what the story was," guitarist Neal Casal said in the theater lobby afterward. "I just play guitar."

Pedal steel guitarist Jon Graboff shrugged his shoulders. "What can I say? I'm not the monitor guy. Ryan's the boss."

Although Adams, 34, said little during the concert, he announced midway: "We have a new sound engineer. Thank you for your patience."

Adams had a notorious meltdown during a rambling two-hour performance at First Avenue in 2003 when he inexplicably lambasted everything from the sound system to local rock icon Paul Westerberg.

He last performed in the Twin Cities in June at the Cedar Cultural Center; it was a low-key acoustic set that was borderline brilliant, a far cry from what happened at the State on Thursday.

Jon Bream • 612-673-1719

Jon Bream • popmusic@startribune.com