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Anthony Martino c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Ryan Adams at Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Dear Ryan Adams,
It’s been just over 24 hours since you closed out Gasparilla Music Festival with one of the best sets that the festival — and public space — has ever seen. I wasn’t at Curtis Hixon Expo Hall when Hendrix (‘68), Elvis (‘70) or Dylan (‘76) played to excited crowds, but I’ve been there for the end of all six iterations of Gasparilla Music Festival. I might be a little biased, and I might be ten years younger than you are, but you were the best to ever shut that party down.
Read: On a sweaty opening day, Gasparilla Music Festival treats everyone like a VIP
It’s been just over 24 hours since you closed out Gasparilla Music Festival, Ryan, and everyone is still talking about it.
Some of it has to do with a frustrated volunteer photographer, just four years into his journey behind a lens, who let frustrations about not being able to shoot from the pit roil him into defying your request for no flash. He even shot you the bird after you graciously composed a song on the spot explaining your Ménière’s disease. Your on the spot musical response was a hilarious and sophisticated justification of a perfectly reasonable request. I mean, nobody likes to feel like a lightsaber is slicing their brain in half, and we all wish that photographer would've had half a brain to cool off and be like the rest of the shooters assembled who confidently stepped onto the riser next to the sound booth and shot the best set they could given the circumstances.
That single photographer, whose ill-timed salty moment and regrettable next day response has led to an afternoon being put through the ringer on these modern Internets, has issued his apology. He’s even been uninvited from shooting the festival in the future. He’s sorry, Ryan, and we’re all glad something worse didn’t happen.
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Amy Kate Anderson
Ryan Adams plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
At one point in your set, before all that unfolded, you thanked the crowd for wanting the most “maladjusted of the maladjusted” to close their festival. You even wondered why festivals book the guy with the sad songs to play these wondrous outdoor concerts.
Festivals book you, Ryan, because they know that anyone at the set will be talking about it for days, months, maybe even years to come. They were talking about it the day you got booked, man.
On Sunday, I talked to a homeless looking man wearing the most hole-ridden Whiskeytown shirt I’ve ever seen in real life (full disclosure: it was the only Whiskeytown shirt I’ve ever seen in real life). In the pit, right before you came on, a friend’s sister told me that “New York, New York” (which you you’ve called a “poorly written” song) means so much more to her because you unintentionally released its video on the exact day 9/11 changed our world.
People talk about you Ryan, because your songs talk to them.
You played “Dirty Rain,” and we thought about making it through shit times. You howled through “To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High),” and it brought back memories of college (in my case, failing out of college). “Peaceful Valley” has a painfully poignant way of pointing out that life has an expiration date. You were even dripping sweat after an almost 15 minute version of “Magnolia Mountain” — your beach ball kickin, guitar solo rippin’ ass earned every drop of it.
As the sun set on the Hillsborough River while you raged through “I See Monsters,” we were reminded that all of this really does move at the speed of sound. The colors behind your head were the same ones we Tampa-folk get to see from that spot more often than not, but it was special because you were there with us. Not everyone present was familiar with the breadth of your work. Only a few will likely take the deep dive into the catalog during these weeks after Gasparilla Music Festival, but there won’t be a lot of people who’ll forget everything that happened on Sunday.
I’m not telling you this to kiss your ass or even explain why so many parts of your storied sixteen part discography mean so much to me. I’m telling you this because it looks like you had fun. You spent a lot of time smiling at the grinning faces of folks close enough to see you, and you cracked jokes for anyone within earshot.
Listen: Here's a playlist of all the songs Ryan Adams played at Gasparilla Music Festival
It’s a damn shame that guy whose idiotic flashbulb disrupted the show is part of the conversation today, Ryan, but don’t necessarily let him speak for the whole of our city. Don’t let it keep you from speaking about your life (and writing songs about it). Don’t let one maladjusted misstep be the story for the hard-working photogs who worked within your restrictions. And don’t let him speak for the selfless volunteers and devoted attendees who take time and money out of their days to spend one weekend soaking in tunes, and building a community, with their friends.
People talk about you, Ryan, and they want to be adding more chapters to those stories for years to come.
Here are some more reasons the last day of GMF has us waiting for next year.
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Chris Spires c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Phoebe Bridgers plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Phoebe Bridgers, with a new single in tow, had a vocal that was even more arresting than her relatively few records already suggested. It was baffling to watch Ryan Adams’ tour opener make her Bay area debut in such intimate digs, and we hope to see more of it in the area soon.
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Jonathan Nevius c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Brett Resnick (L) while Kelsey Waldon plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Kelsey Waldon and her band sprinted down all the way from Savannah to celebrate lap steel player Brett Resnick’s birthday before booking it right back to their homebase of Nashville for more musical obligations. Their set of real, razor sharp country music was their present to the audience and is another instance of Gasparilla Music Festival booking some of the genre’s best breaking talent (Margo Price played in 2015).
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Amy Kate Anderson
Demi Nova (L) and Jinx play Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Let’s face it: Kiley amphitheatre sets are some of the best ones to happen at Gasparilla Music Festival. Tampa emcee Jinx somehow managed to up the ante by bringing three backup singers (including another talented Bay area artist, Demi Nova), horns and DJ for a performance of hyper-posi, homegrown hip-hop.
Former Tampa metal head J.R. Sprouse led his band of outlaw country loving friends through a not so sorrowful set of rowdy, rollicking Americana.
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Marlo Miller c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Marcus King Band plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Marcus King, who celebrated his 21st birthday at Gasparilla Music Festival before treating fans both new and old to a set of soulful, unforgettable roadhouse blues all driven by his fiery guitar playing and otherworldly, weathered vocal.
A packed house for a set by Veiny Hands, a Bay area garage rock quartet who frequently hit the road to show the rest of our country that there is amazing young music being made in our neck of the woods.
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Marlo Miller c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Veiny Hands play Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
A very mellow, introspective Chronixx and crack band working through a flawless set of roots and modern reggae for a crowd unknowingly watching one of the genre's budding stars.
See more pictures from day two of Gasparilla Music Festival below. Read our review of day one here.
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Marlo Miller c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Phoebe Bridgers plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Marlo Miller c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Phoebe Bridgers plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Marlo Miller c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Ryan Adams plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Marlo Miller c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Veiny Hands play Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Marlo Miller c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Veiny Hands play Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Marlo Miller c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Veiny Hands play Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Anthony Martino c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Nate Lotz with Ryan Adams playing Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Marlo Miller c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
The Tampa Metropolitan Youth Orchestra plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Anthony Martino c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Ryan Adams at Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Marlo Miller c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Phoebe Bridgers plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Marlo Miller c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Ryan Adams plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Marlo Miller c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Marcus King Band plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Marlo Miller c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Marcus King Band plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
click to enlarge ![(Top L-R) Myles Gallagher, [Unknown], Taylor Caum, Chon Nguyen - (Bottom L-R) Ty Rodriguez, Justine Corrinne) - Chris Spires c/o Gasparilla Music Festival](https://media2.cltampa.com/cltampa/imager/u/blog/12033983/spires_chris_rooster_and_till.58c79396d7386.png?cb=1642533540)
Chris Spires c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
(Top L-R) Myles Gallagher, [Unknown], Taylor Caum, Chon Nguyen(Bottom L-R) Ty Rodriguez, Justine Corrinne)
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Anthony Martino c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Ryan Adams at Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Chris Spires c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Chris Spires c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Grandpa's Cough Medicine plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Chris Spires c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Chris Spires c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Roxanne Gallo at Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Chris Spires c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
TK Tenn at Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Chris Spires c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Anthony Martino c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Ryan Adams at Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Chris Spires c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Matt E Lee, aka Minihorse, at Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Chris Spires c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Jamie Zinober at Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Chris Spires c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Sean Birdsell at Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Chris Spires c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Reagan Julian at Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Callie Walker c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Inkblot plays Gasparilla Music Festival on March 12, 2017.
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Callie Walker c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Inkblot plays Gasparilla Music Festival on March 12, 2017.
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Callie Walker c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Band of Sorrows play Gasparilla Music Festival on March 12, 2017.
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Kyle Zimmerman c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
The Freecoasters play Gasparilla Music Festival on March 12, 2017.
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Jonathan Nevius c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Kelsey Waldon plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Kasey Makal c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Veiny Hands plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Kasey Makal c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Inkblot plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Daryl Bowen c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Kasey Makal c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Chronixx plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Anthony Martino c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Benny Yurco plays with Ryan Adams at Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Daryl Bowen c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
George Quraishi (R) while Jinx plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Daryl Bowen c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Dynasty while Jinx plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Amy Kate Anderson
Ryan Adams plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Amy Kate Anderson
Ryan Adams plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Amy Kate Anderson
Ryan Adams plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Daryl Bowen c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Nicole Abbett (C) before Jinx plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Amy Kate Anderson
Ryan Adams plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Daryl Bowen c/o Gasparilla Music Festival
Distinguished Men of Brass play Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Amy Kate Anderson
Ryan Adams plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Amy Kate Anderson
The New Mastersounds play Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Amy Kate Anderson
Grandpa's Cough Medicine plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Amy Kate Anderson
Grandpa's Cough Medicine plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Amy Kate Anderson
Veiny Hands plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Amy Kate Anderson
Chronixx plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Amy Kate Anderson
Distinguished Men of Brass play Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Amy Kate Anderson
Demi Nova (center) while Jinx plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Amy Kate Anderson
Band of Sorrows play Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Amy Kate Anderson
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Amy Kate Anderson
Phoebe Bridgers plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Amy Kate Anderson
Kelsey Waldon plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Amy Kate Anderson
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Amy Kate Anderson
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe plays Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Amy Kate Anderson
Show Biz Kids play Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
Amy Kate Anderson
Show Biz Kids play Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
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Amy Kate Anderson
Come Back Alice play Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, Florida on March 12, 2017.
![(Top L-R) Myles Gallagher, [Unknown], Taylor Caum, Chon Nguyen - (Bottom L-R) Ty Rodriguez, Justine Corrinne) - Chris Spires c/o Gasparilla Music Festival](https://media2.cltampa.com/cltampa/imager/u/original/12033983/spires_chris_rooster_and_till.58c79396d7386.png)
