Ryan Adams and the Beloveds

Is there anything better than a lovely autumn Sunday? It’s still a bit too hot here for October, but that didn’t stop my good day.

I spent the afternoon — the lovely, sunny, warm afternoon — at a neighborhood arts festival a few miles from my ‘hood. The Occasionally Beloved Engineer’s band played early in the afternoon, and I hate missing an opportunity to feed my inner groupie. The OBE’s band played a solid hour of damn good cover tunes — everything from The Clash to The Killers. I should pout, though, since OBE didn’t play an R.E.M. tune for me.

The Occasionally Beloved Engineer jams with his boys.

I also got a chance to hook up (and share a beer) with Scrivener and his daughters (his daughters drank apple juice) at the festival. His girls are lovely and lively, and I enjoy every minute I spend with Scrivener.

The heat and the beer went a bit to my head, but luckily I had just enough time for a late-afternoon nap before my night out.

Is there anything more luxurious than a Sunday afternoon nap?

And that night out was Ryan Adams and The Cardinals at the Fox Theater. Pal Cindee scored some good seats, and we prayed for weeks that we’d score Good Ryan.

We scored.

Ryan performed two sets, for a total of about two hours. He covered much of his catalog — “Sylvia Plath” and “Cold Roses,” “Two” and “Bartering Lines,” “Wild Flowers” and “Let It Ride” — and several more.

I think Ryan likes me. I’ve scored Good Ryan both times I’ve seen him — last night and last summer. Supposedly, Bad Ryan took the stage his second night last summer … because, I’m sure, he knew I wasn’t there.

My favorite song of the night closed out the first set. I went to the show with the most rabid Oasis fan in Atlanta, and the band starts playing the opening notes of “Champagne Supernova.” We’re squealing and jumping up and down — much like Scrivener’s daughters on the playground. But wait … the words aren’t quite right. Ryan and the band teased us with that opening to “I See Monsters.” Excellent!

Ryan didn’t talk much during the first set, but chatted a good bit during the second. He thought the Fox was “a nice joint.” He seemed relaxed and healthy. They didn’t play an encore and received some boos when they didn’t return to the stage — but a check of setlists from this year’s tour showed he isn’t doing encores this year. I would have loved to hear him play “Wonderwall” — but I’m glad he played well.

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Art and Culture in the ’burbs

I spent Saturday in Roswell, spending scads of money and soaking up The Bard. We started at the arts festival on the square, spending much of the afternoon strolling through booths and enriching the local arts community. It was one of the best festivals I’ve been to in ages. There were several good artists showing great work. I found one beautiful, dramatic piece I’m considering in case I turn my reading room back into a dining room. Jayne bought three pieces, and each one looks beautiful on her walls. And the baubles! We both went nuts. I bought two fabulous necklaces, two great pairs of earrings, and a funky bracelet. Now I need new outfits to showcase them. I even got some sun ... but my hint of a tan has already faded.

That evening, we saw Love’s Labour's Lost, performed by the North Fulton Drama Club on the back lawn of Barrington Hall, across the street from the Roswell square. If I’m not mistaken, the North Fulton Drama Club is new, and this was their first production. They did a great job. The cast was really into it, and their enthusiasm and spirit of fun spilled into the audience. I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. I thought Scrivener, playing Holofernes, stole the show (sorry I forgot to yell “crab”) — or maybe that’s because he’s the only one I (virtually) knew in the cast. The production was set in 1963, which added a fun twist (and great music) to the farce. It was cool sitting in lawn chairs, enjoying the spring evening, and watching a Shakespeare play. A perfect end to a beautiful spring day.

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