9:00 - 10:00, Sat 23.07
Chris Taylor's thoughts on Ryan Adams' performance
Ryan Adams was bitterly disappointing. I'm not sure what was going on with him, but his heart just didn't seem in it. He had a really negative attitude towards his audience, and seemed intent on blaming technicians for the own deficiencies of his performance. It actually became embarrassing after a while, but at least it gave everyone a talking point. read more >
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Here's what you had to say about the Splendour in the Grass performance!
 angie
after all the hype surrounding this apparently "amazing" musician, i was really looking forward to his set and as expressed by many others here, was bitterly disappointed. how completely unprofessional and how childish of him, and i don't care how quirky you think you are, farting into the microphone is wrong on way too many levels. shame on you ryan, go back to whatever hole you crawled out of and take the rest of those drugs you are obviously high on.
Beck
OK, cards on the table . . . I'm a huge Ryan fan and when I saw his Splendour performance on Saturday night I was disappointed. Disappointed because I wanted his set to go well, and it didn't. It didn't go well because the sound sucked, and it also didn't go well because he wasn't in a great frame of mind. Not hard to see given that the crowd response was underwhelming to say the least. Splendour organisers made an interesting choice putting an artist like Ryan Adams on between the Living End and QOTSA. Also interesting is JJJ's lack of support over the years for Ryan Adams's music. It was nice to see that the mixed tape on Sunday was devoted to Ryan, but one week out from Splendour is too little, too late. Maybe if JJJ had given the guy some more airplay over the years, then the cr
Brendan
I've heard a bit of the stuff by Ryan and was actually looking forward to seeing him perform live and couldn't have been more dissapointed by the performance. He truly did just miss the point and ended up giving up on the crowd, his music and himself in the end when he stormed off stage. He was the only person to walk onto that stage and not look absolutely pumped to be at Splendour, and it showed in his music. At least my mates and I have got a good way to describe things in the future: that sucked as bad as Ryan Adams!
Cat
Seeing Ryan Adams was one of the things I was most looking forward to at this Splendour. I've loved his work forever.
And he sucked.
He really did, I'm so incredibly disappointed. It was obvious that he didn't want to be there and so didn't care. He was dismissive of his audience, which is offensive in a performer that people shell out their hard-earned to see. I think perhaps he thought we were all there to see Queens, and so didn't bother. I don't know. And it shouldn't matter anyway.
Very unfortunate that so talented a songwriter was so off-putting live.
Danielle
Note to self - don't buy merch before the performance...
Adams' set will be remembered for his little tantie attack complete with abuse to techies, insisting of not having the spotlight on him and doing stupid things like dropping beer bottles on stage on purpose. But all that aside, when he actually played it was brilliant largely to the professionalism of the cardinals. Maybe those guys could have a few wise words to Ryan, or have a chat to the Finn brothers who definitely know how to win over a crowd. Plus I give the organisers a slap in the head for putting him between Living End and Queens, he should've been in the late afternoon after Sarah Blasko played.
David
I love Ryan Adams, own all the albums but was real disappointed with his performance. There were glimpses of briliance and mesmerise, but his petulant attitude towards music and the crowd was lousy. Y'know Ryan, some of us only came to the festival to see you, and don't give a stuff about QOTSA. The organisers should have a good think about schedules too - he was clearly on at the wrong time. Looking forward to your next album later this year, and I hope for Sydney and Melbourne shows he has more fun! Cheers!
EDEN
haha it was classic.
i was dissapointed, but cmon it gave us all something to talk about.
i love both ryan and queens but the timing was still a joke, the crowd was full of drunk boys going who the f is ryan adams? gimme queens.
aaah well.
next time yo.
hector
after the living end finished i fought my way to the front or at least 7 rows back from the stage. it was the highlight of splendour for me. he certainly didn't nail the album cold roses but instead gave a raw and unique perfomance. to write songs like that you have to live on the edge and from where i stood that night you could glimpse into that edge.does anyone have the official play list from saturday night
Hels
I thought the scheduling was a joke! The wasted 16 year old guys in front of me asked who the hell was on next as ryan walked on stage while behind me a girl exclaimed to her friend 'oh yeah he did a duet with mel spice'. I would find it hard playing to a crowd like that too! But he disappointed a lot of his fans. I'm seeing him tomorrow night luckily but I have to say I actually enjoyed the tanty!!
jasmine
I was willing to give Ryan a go - but after his arrogant tanty... I must admit I chuckled every single time the guys behind me yelled "Summer of '69"...!
Jo
what a piss poor performance. i don't know much about Ryan but i wanted to see what all the hype was about... i thought it was kinda funny to see him have a bit of a sook. i feel abit sorry for the guy but he obviously wasnt much on a hit on the day.there was alot of dissappointed fans.
Jodie
I'm a Ryan fan and I'm sorry to say that it was a terribly self-involved performance. He didn't make any attempt to connect with the audence. To be honest, the entire thing was cringe -worthy.
joeyjojo
is it possible my front row heckling and constant cries of 'QUEENS OF THE STONEAGE!!!' could have played a part in Ryan's walkoff?
kate
nup, i fought my way through a crowd of qotsa fans to get to the front and i wouldnt trade it for anything, it was confusing weird and short but there were moments of light too, and i'll remember it for all those things for a long time
Kellie Pridmore
It was the most Rock and Roll preformance of the day. Why didnt Ryan play on Sunday perhaps after Willy Mason. I love Ryan and i will see him again, he is an A list Rocker. I question the organises choice of line up. What were they thinking the crowd was not there to see an artist they were there to feed off the breast we call comercialism
Kim
Ryan was the only reason I went to the festival, and admittedly I was disappointed in his perfomance at first, the sound was not great....and he wouldn't even look at the crowd, but after analysing it a bit I've decided that it was pretty awesome to witness him throw a tantrum. I believe he was placed completely wrong in the line- up. Between The Living End and Queens of the Stone Age, what chance did the poor guy get? Us Ryan fans couldn't get anywhere near the front of the stage, it was full of QOTSA fans vying for a prime position, which is fine but it would've have been nice for all if they perhaps had given some consideration for those of us that are devoted to Ryan. In a way it must of been insulting to him to have to look out and be presented with a sea of QOTSA shirts. I mean who would be happy playing to a crowd that obviously wasn't there to embrace your music. Anyway Ryan if you are out there please know you do have fans in Australia that do appreciate you and are ever inspired by your music!
Kylie
What a cack! To all of you out there feeling sorry for the guy (Ryan) that is, get on with it. It was a wicked music festival and the sound was typical music festival sound. He should have made the best of it and rocked on like we all did. So funny he cracked and had a dummy spit, violins are playing for your Ryan :)
Lisa
i was really disappointed by his show but i understand why he was pissy. If you check his website...he's cancelled all his european tour due to a 'serious ear infection'. thats probably why he was playing to the side a bit. woulda been hell to be surrounded by that much loud music with a throbbing ear. get better soon ryan!
Matthew
Like most people here i agree, appaling time slot, shoddy sound set up and a crowd that was completely un-appreciative and down right rude. Ever fan knows that Ryan Adams is renowned for his arrogance, so the tantrum is hardly surprising.......although quite amusing and interesting to watch. There was also some awesome guitar work from him and JP Bowersock
Mez
Yeah have to agree with most comments, scheduling was bad, sound wasn't great, he was a baby about it but hey...that's ryan. He wasn't out to win new fans that's for sure. I'm seeing him tonight at the enmore but for fans who travelled to splendour just for him I hope he issues an apology somewhere on his website coz they won't get to see how great he really is live. I still love you Ryan!!!!
Michael
The Sydney show was awesome. Brilliant sound. Brilliant music. Ryan was in an upbeat mood - even covered Summer of 69! This is the real RA. Maybe he just wasn't mean to play festivals. I was at both Splendour and the Enmore - so got to see the two sides of this brilliant artist. Last night may have been the best show I have seen! More than makes up for how bemused he seemeed in Byron and the quality of performance.
Michelle
who cares about the timing, the fact he was there to do a job, and people paied alot of money to see him, and he couldnt even give them the time of day. i also found it amusing that no other band had problems with sound, and if they did they acted like professionals and played on and rocked hard. your a joke ryan - ill be turning the radio off next time you come on!
Mike Taylor
Probably the ONLY low point of the festival (congrats on the organisers for making this one of the best weekends of my life...). I couldn't believe my ears when I heard this selfish wanker get on stage and stop mid-song to have a whinge. He may be a (very) talented musician but maybe he should grow up a bit and think about why he chose to be a musician in the first place...to indulge in his own ability and talent, or to connect with audiences all around the world. All i'll say is alot of people were betrayed by this guy on saturday...personally i just think he's a wanker
Mikey
I'd just like to take this opportunity to send my condolences to the other (I'm sure) adept and professional musicians who had the misfortune of being stuck on the stage with this unprofessional swaggering slurring idiot who, quite frankly, made me ashamed to be a musician. For them to sit there amidst the growing hostility of the audience and patiently await Ryan's next aural-pain-inflicting "improvisation" is a testament to their professionalism. Hats off to you, and good luck finding new jobs after the record company dumps him.
Miss Cass
Well gee, would have been good, if all the liquored up kids hadn't been shouting abuse, and I couldn't get in quick enough to give them you shut up now wedgies! Isn't that the point of festivals, to just walk away if you don't like the act. I love you young man, the Enmore show had better be good, grrrr. Damn Cut Copy are brilliant, have to say.
RA fan
Freaking brilliant x 100!
Silver
I'm not a fanatic about ryan but he is a talented musician and would have been embraced if lined up with the Beautiful Girls and the likes. Hard crowd, bad sound but like Interpol said ' it doesn't even sound good, but thankyou'. Work with a crowd not against them. Tantrums only loose the respect of those who support you.
Stuart
I cut a holiday in Germany short and flew to Byron just to see Ryan. His choice of set list was baffling, trying out new material and a loose 10 minute composition at a festival in front of a mostly inebreiated audience between 2 rock acts. It was a self indulgent set, made worse by his desire to suck the joy and light out of just about every song. In short he didn't want to be there and was just bloody minded. Starting songs, playing for a minute or 2, then stopping, bitching and then starting the whole grind again from the beginning was draining for the band and the audience. The sound may not have been perfect, but for those of us who had waited so long to see him it wasn't a drama. As the band walked off stage his guitarist gave the audience what could only be interpreted as a look of extreme embarrasment. I'm going to see him in Sydney tonight, I hope he redeems himself and shows a bit more respect for his fans.
susie
i'll say it was disappointing, he didn't even play summer of 69'
Tim
So very (very) disappointing. However, as a self confessed Ryan addict, I will be punishing myself and dragging my sorry arse to the gig at the Enmore tonight. God only hopes that the misfortune of Splendour was a once off…
Victoria
I just read the other comments.. i think one thing people failed to mention is the sound problems that plagued not only Ryan Adams' gig, but many throughout Splendour.. the one difference was that he made a massive issue out of it, and was so unprofessional as to call out to the sound guys on his microphone "is this some kind of joke? I can't hear myself.. are you playing a joke on me? I can't play like this!".. it was obvious that other musos suffered similar problems, but none were so arrogant and unprofessional as to stop in the middle of a song to complain about it.. that is where my feeling sorry for Ryan ended. However, i have to agree with the others in saying that he was placed in the wrong time-slot.. but i understand where the Splendour guys were coming from too.. he is
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