Dear Chicago

9/29 setlist, courtesy of raa.
On 8:30
1. Magnolia Mountain
2. Dear Chicago
3. Beautiful Sorta
4. Goodnight Rose ("smoking")
5. Rescue Blues
6. The Sun Also Sets ("still smoking" - that's figurative)
7. When the Stars Go Blue
8. Two
9. Let It Ride
10. Wildflowers
11. Peaceful Valley
12. Nightbirds (ryan on piano)
13. Please Do Not Let Me Go
14. Off Broadway
15. Cold Roses

off at 9:45. back on a few minutes later

16. Sylvia Plath (solo piano)
17. Call Me On Your Way Back Home (solo guitar)
18. Sweet Lil Gal (solo piano)
19. Why Do They Leave (solo guitar)
20. Brown Sugar (solo piano)

full band back
21. Dear John
22. Freeway to the Canyon

off 10:25ish. back on a few minutes later
23. Goodnight Hollywood Blvd

If the Barrymore show felt like I was at the best basement party ever, Saturday night’s Chicago Theatre show was the exact opposite. Madison was jovial, good natured and loud. Saturday night’s Chicago Theatre saw Ryan and the Cardinals at the top of their game, professional best. My only other show at this venue was the Arcade Fire in May, and I didn’t think anything could beat my then, “show of the year.” Until Saturday night.

Fifteen rows from the stage, just off center, I could feel the goose bumps for a hundred and twenty minutes straight. The majority of the sold out crowd of 2700 seemed to agree. I attribute as much of it to the venue, as to the crowd. The Chicago Theatre’s interior could be described as near-majestic, provoking Ryan himself to tell us what a beautiful venue this was. And likewise, it seems like the grand interior almost elicits an automatic reverence from the audience. Well, that and the fact that the XRT guy came out to introduce the show and assured the audience, WE wouldn’t be having any sound problems here! The only other “meltdown” references came when someone shouted out ““Minneapolis sucks!” drawing laughter from the crowd, and when Ryan poked fun at Neal for being “Just the guy who plays the guitar” as CNN quoted.


Pleasantries aside, the setlist almost speaks for itself. I was thrilled with the reappearance of Cold Roses favs. A blazing “Mag Mountain” opened the show, and I think that’s the way to do it. They treated us to “Let It Ride” and the sound and vocals were just tearing through the place. After Madison, I didn’t think “Cold Roses” (according to Ryan, a song about “wizards and f*cking”) or “Peaceful Valley” could get any better, but they smoked the place! Nothing sleepy about the first part of the show, I couldn’t even tear myself away to get a drink or wander about.
Then mid-set, the band waved goodbye, Ryan said “good night” and they all disappeared! The crowd rallied, clapped and shouted til Ryan appeared by himself, took out his harmonica and guitar and enchanted us with a mini-solo set comprised of “Heartbreaker” rarities. It was breathtaking, and my goose bumps got goose bumps.

And it STILL wasn’t over. The band came back, gave us another few songs, left again and then came back for one final encore. By now, my mind was swimming in RATC euphoria and I couldn’t think of anything else they needed to play….then I heard it...“ It’s happening baby…”

Prior to the weekend I mentioned to someone I just wanted to hear the two Goodnight’s: Rose & Hollywood Blvd. And I got it. The emotion and gusto Ryan sang with, brought down the house and was the way to end the show. A lot of people in these parts reference the HOB show in January as an almost- transcendent show and I still agree. It was nearly unbeatable but sound-wise and crowd-wise, I think the Chicago Theatre may have been superior. It started guns-a-blazin and couldn’t have ended any better. …

...or could it have? After the show, I ran into Jon Graboff! He was walking into a bar as I was walking out, and the turrets in me blurted out, “Hey! You are the guy in the band! You play pedal steel!” He said God bless me for knowing who he was, and was super chill and cool for the few minutes we chatted. Ok, that’s the way to end the evening.

Note: while the Madison show poster was great (who doesn’t love the Weinermobile?!), Chicago’s hit it outta the park! As soon as people saw it, they were gasping and jumping in line. Couldn’t be better timing! Plus, what if it would have been those nasty Bears, instead?!!