By rights, this second visit of Adams and band to New Zealand should have been more enjoyable than his first, 18 months ago. After all, this time the American alt-country/rock guy played a set much heavier on old favourites from this prolific nine-year solo career.
His previous incursion,a sit-down affair at the Bruce Mason Centre, would have brought many back to the second, a stand-up Powerstation steambath.
And with Adams dragging out old songs way back to his debut solo album - unlike the challenge of the unfamiliar which powered his set in 2007 - this might have offered an easier ride. But dragging out was the operative phrase of the night.
Too many of those languid jam-band guitar excursions, as thrilling as a few were, went into overtime. So did the audience interaction interludes. Adams, who's earned a reputation as a moody and difficult fellow, appeared to be in a chipper mood. But telling a shaggy dog story about a dentist's visit or having your pedal steel player come out to recite a very old joke isn't exactly a big momentum-builder. And the combined effect was a set where, unlike last time, it felt that Adams had nothing to prove but his indulgent tendencies.
Still, the Cardinals were deft backers to Adams' songcraft. As well as some recent stuff off last year's Cardinology, the set went for a fan-pleasing, greatest hits approach. That included his elegant take on Oasis' Wonderwall, his Stonesy Rescue Blues and back to the terrific country ballads Oh My Sweet Carolina and Come Pick Me Up from his 2000 solo debut Heartbreaker, which the Cardinals are to his Tom Petty.
Or were. Adams has blogged he's getting away from music after their final show stateside next month, citing an inner ear condition causing hearing and balance problems. So that might be the last we see of him live for a while.
