Second Verse...Same As The First

David Black

Ryan Adams' new album, Ashes & Fire, comes out Oct. 11.

You never know which Ryan Adams you're going to get. Is he crooning, or is he raging? Is the music metal, or twangy country? He can successfully crib just about any style of popular music he chooses: the Dead, the Stones, The Flying Burrito Brothers — it's all in his wheelhouse. You can't help but ask: Will the real Ryan Adams ever stand up?

Now, throw into that complex mix his recent marriage to Mandy Moore, a two-year hiatus from music (long for him, certainly), and a chronic and painful inner-ear affliction called Ménière's disease, which apparently causes him to hear strange tones and fall over things. No, it's not the drink or drugs: He says he's clean and living healthy. In a recent interview, Adams said he's had to completely relearn music because of the Ménière's.

This time out, we have a happy (we hope) and clean (we'll take his word) Adams, making perhaps his sparest, mellowest record to date. His wife makes an appearance, singing a lovely, high harmony, and his friend Norah Jones pitches in, too. At the controls is the venerable Glyn Johns (father of Adams' sometime producer, Ethan Johns), who, at nearly 70, has records to his credit by The Who, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and more.

The result, Ashes & Fire, is soulful and low-key; not without edge but certainly more lean and hushed than, say, Easy Tiger. The lyrics are considerably softer — "I will shelter you with my love and my forgiveness," he sings, later adding, "Do you believe in love?" — but he's allowed to have a honeymoon record, right?

It helps that Ashes & Fire, out Oct. 11, features the delicious work of keyboardist Benmont Tench, on loan from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Tench adds color and character, particularly in "Dirty Rain." It's not his first time working with Adams, and here's hoping it's not the last.

The Show Begins At Noon ET

The Rum Diary, most certainly sits high at the top of the the long list of works by the late, great; Hunter S. Thompson. After well over more than three years since first hearing rumors that a screenplay was in the works, to eventually seeing photos from the set; the film is finally rolling into theaters on October 28th.

Wilco - The Whole Love - Coming Sept. 27, 2011.
Not that I wasn't already very excited, but this trailer will certainly get any fan pumped
as well.

We're so excited to share an incredible memento of two amazing nights on the Rocks with all of you! The Bisco Inferno 09/10 double-DVD contains the full Biscuits Red Rocks sets from both installments of Inferno thus far for the low price of $20. You can check out the first 30 minutes of the 2010 set right here at our homepage!

The DVD is available RIGHT NOW at our webstore! It will also be available starting Monday at Albums On The Hill in Boulder and Twist & Shout in Denver - both stores will be giving away pairs of Red Rocks tickets as well over the course of next week. You can also pick up the DVD in person at all three shows! And finally, the DVD will be available at the first ever Bisco Inferno Pop-Up Store - see the other news item for all the details on that!

Nice 30 min teaser/clip of the 1st set's opening segue;

Hot Air Balloon -> Gangster

05/29/10 - Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO