Back in the 1980s when I was visiting record stores I would sometimes buy LPs on the strength of the cover alone.

In a similar way I was taking a chance with Ryan Adams' concert at the New Theatre on Wednesday night.

As a big fan of alt-country in the late 90s and early noughties I loved the singer's Heartbreaker and Gold albums but I was not so familiar with his output during the past quarter of a century.

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On his solo tour, Adams was promoting the 20th and 10th anniversaries of the albums Love Is Hell and Self Titled, collections of songs I was not familiar with.

But I need not have worried - as soon as he walked on stage he put me at ease by starting his set with one of his most memorable tunes - Oh My Sweet Carolina.

This really was a solo affair - there were no backing singers or session guitarists and an old rug, a chair and some standard lamps were the only stage decorations, plus a piano, some guitars and a harmonica.

It was as if Adams was performing some songs to a bunch of friends in an old log cabin, and it wasn't long before he was ready to talk.

There was a fascinating confessional aspect to his witty, self-deprecating comments and I got the impression Ryan really wanted to share - and have some fun with us at the same time.

While he is a talented guitarist and accomplished pianist, his stunning voice is his biggest asset and his memorable songs echoed throughout the entire theatre for a set lasting over two hours, including a 20-minute interval where the singer advised us to consume two light ales and a bag of crisps.

(Image: Andy Witchger/Wikimedia Commons) I was pleasantly surprised to find that the first half of the show was packed with songs I recognised; as well as the opener Adams choose to sing Ashes and Fire, New York, New York, My Winding Wheel, and Answering Bell.

And to close the first half there was a melancholy rendition of The Smiths' There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.

I don't know if it was planned, but there was some goofing around with a song called Haircut Like Chris Isaak - I guess he was just playing wicked games with us.

Things got a little more serious when we returned from a swift half in The Grapes. 

Adams' set took a darker, more confessional tone and he kept dimming the standard lights, perhaps a sign he had something serious to impart.

There followed a series of slightly mumbled monologues about relationships. 

This prompted some banter from the crowd but that didn't put Adams off - he was definitely in charge.

And it was during the second half that he launched into Hotel Chelsea Nights - definitely the high point of the night.

The delicate rendition had the entire audience gripped, and his tall tale about bumping into a ghost at the hotel when he lived there somehow seemed believable.

Cast No Shadow, an Oasis cover proved popular and To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High) and Come Pick Me Up rounded off a superb performance.

Ryan Adams appears to have been a troubled soul over the years but he is still an outstanding singer and we were lucky he chose to visit us here in Oxford.

Andy Ffrench

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.