a free form jazz odyssey in front of a festival crowd

So this is how my conversation with Ryan Adams went, almost word for word:

Steve: Ryan? (pointing slightly)
Ryan: Yeah?
S: Hey, I saw you at that Dylan tribute a few months back (i’m not going to say the town hall show, see my previous review about that one)
R: Pardon?
S: That Bob Dylan tribute thing?
R: Ooooh, at carnige hall, that symphony place?
S: Yeah, it was a great night (it was avery fisher hall, whatever, its very late at night)
R: Yeah, i think it sounded pretty good for no soundcheck
S: Oh really, you just got up and…
R: I mean, we just sort of blew through it and it sounded good, lots of kick in that place ya know
S: I think i mumbled something about it being a great acoustic place
(the deli guy says his sandwich is ready)
S: Alright, nice meeting you
R: Take Care

And that my friends, is an easily regretable conversation with someone you greatly admire. My friend Marco and I had gone to the Blue Note to see Michel Camilo, who by the way tore it up. Afterwards, we were eating a Grey’s Papaya hot dog, and I noticed this dude walk by, and I’m like “thats Ryan Adams!” marco’s like “wanna chase him down?” I’m all like, “Nah Man, he’s probably drunk and looking to fight someone” it was close to 1am, and you never know with that guy. So, I left to catch the PATH, and I see the dude in a deli, and I’m thinking “Alright steve, don’t be a bitch, this guy has written one of the greatest albums of the last 15 years, you probably wont get another chance to meet him, go fucking say hi!”

So, I wander in, incredibly nervous, because beneath my intimidating biker personality, I’m just a scared small child. I get an apple juice, you cant go wrong with that, and go up to the counter, where the afore mentioned conversation took place. Now, i could have said many things, here are a few:

Hey, I almost bought one of your guitars at Chelsea Guitars…. (this would have led to a guitar discussion, which i could have torn up and maybe learned some interesting facts)

Hey, I really admire your work, especially that stuff with ethan johns (this might have gotten a comment about Johns, who is my hero)

Dude, you fucking rock, I love Hearbreaker more than life itself, do you mind if I give you a hug? (he most certainly would have punched me, but it would have been worth it)

My point is, he was a pretty talkative, coherent, nice dude, who did not appear to be messed up. But Whuteva, i had the balls to say SOMETHING, and I’m happy about it. Deal with that. Now, I can forgive that terrrible… terrrrrrrible town hall show at which he wore moon boots ad had a little ponytail on top of his head.