Prisoner Promo Tour

The Prisoner Promo tour started a full 2 1/2 months before the album release. Ryan went all the way to Japan for a single show and to Australia for just 2 shows. Both were full-band shows and the first appearance of his new band: the sometimes dubbed The Unknown Band. 

After the initial shows things went more quiet with some specials being recorded in December. In January the tour picked up speed with Ryan visiting Europe, focusing strongly on the UK. Shows included unannounced in-store appearances, shows scheduled within hours, radio appearances, shows for music industry professionals by invite-only and finally full-band shows again in the US.

The tour has a lot of hidden gems. 10 Songs were played live for the first time during this tour and a couple of unique covers were played: Streets of Philadelphia and Karma Police. Two unreleased songs were played: Still A Cage and Was I Wrong? The amount of improvised songs was quite high as well, and the run of in-store gigs got a lot of attention as well, making for some pretty unique settings.

Contents

27 shows

Ryan Adams04/12/2016Factory TheatreSydneyAustraliaThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photosThis show has reviews
Ryan Adams06/12/2016Enmore TheatreSydneyAustraliaThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams09/12/2016Studio CoastTokyoJapanThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams21/01/2017The Pasadena CivicLos Angeles, CaliforniaUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams24/01/2017BBC 6 StudiosLondonEnglandThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams26/01/2017Rough Trade EastLondonEnglandThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams27/01/2017The Soup KitchenManchesterEnglandThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photosThis show has reviews
Ryan Adams27/01/2017Sirius Radio, The Spectrum, #28Los AngelesUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams27/01/2017BBC Radio 6ManchesterEnglandThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams28/01/2017BBC Radio 2LondonEnglandThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams28/01/2017BBC Breakfast ShowLondonEnglandThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams29/01/2017TreadwellsLondonEnglandThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photosThis show has poster(s)
Ryan Adams30/01/2017Virgin Radio UKLondonEnglandThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams30/01/2017Janice Forsyth Show, Radio BBC ScotlandEdinburghScotlandThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams30/01/2017KrøssetOsloNorwayThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams31/01/2017NRK P13 RadioOsloNorwayThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams And The Rain16/02/2017Apollo TheaterNew York, New YorkUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photosThis show has poster(s)
Ryan Adams And The Rain17/02/2017The Tonight ShowNew York, New YorkUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photosThis show has poster(s)
Ryan Adams18/02/2017Rough Trade NYCNew York, New YorkUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photosThis show has poster(s)
Ryan Adams & Band18/02/2017Rough Trade NYCNew York, New YorkUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams20/02/2017FingerprintsLos Angeles, CaliforniaUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photosThis show has reviewsThis show has poster(s)
Ryan Adams20/02/2017WFUV LiveNew York, New YorkUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams21/02/2017KCRW - Morning Becomes EclecticSanta Monica, CaliforniaUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photosThis show has poster(s)
Ryan Adams21/02/2017Jonesy's Jukebox on 95.5 KLOSLos Angeles, CaliforniaUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams22/02/2017Amoeba MusicHollywood, CaliforniaUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photosThis show has poster(s)
Ryan Adams23/02/2017The Late Late Show with James CordenLos Angeles, CaliforniaUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photosThis show has poster(s)
Ryan Adams03/03/2017World Café LivePhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos

Number of countries in the Prisoner Promo Tour: 6

Australia (2)
England (8)
Japan (1)
Norway (2)
Scotland (1)
USA (13)

Prisoner album coverage on the Prisoner Promo Tour

Do You Still Love Me?20
Prisoner14
Doomsday13
Haunted House14
Shiver And Shake2
To Be Without You15
Anything I Say To You Now9
Breakdown12
Outbound Train11
Broken Anyway4
Tightrope7
We Disappear8

Songs played on the Prisoner Promo Tour

SongPlaysReleaseWriter(s)
1Do You Still Love Me?20 Prisoner (2017)Ryan Adams and Daniel Clarke
2To Be Without You15 Prisoner (2017)Ryan Adams
3Prisoner14 Prisoner (2017)Ryan Adams and Mike Viola
4Haunted House14 Prisoner (2017)Ryan Adams
5Doomsday13 Prisoner (2017)Ryan Adams
6Breakdown12 Prisoner (2017)Ryan Adams
7Outbound Train11 Prisoner (2017)Ryan Adams
8Anything I Say To You Now9 Prisoner (2017)Ryan Adams
9We Disappear8 Prisoner (2017)Ryan Adams
10Tightrope7 Prisoner (2017)Ryan Adams
11Peaceful Valley7 Jacksonville City Nights (2005)Ryan Adams, J.P. Bowersock, Brad Pemberton, Catherine Popper, Jon Graboff
12Magnolia Mountain6 Cold Roses (2005)Ryan Adams, J.P. Bowersock, Cindy Cashdollar, Brad Pemberton, Catherine Popper
13Shakedown On 9th Street6 Heartbreaker (2000)Ryan Adams
14Kim5 Ryan Adams (2014)Ryan Adams
15Cold Roses5 Cold Roses (2005)Ryan Adams, J.P. Bowersock, Cindy Cashdollar, Brad Pemberton, Catherine Popper
16Everybody Knows5 Easy Tiger (2007)Ryan Adams, Brad Pemberton, Neal Casal, Jon Graboff
17Dirty Rain4 Ashes & Fire (2011)Ryan Adams
18Let It Ride4 Cold Roses (2005)Ryan Adams, J.P. Bowersock, Cindy Cashdollar, Brad Pemberton, Catherine Popper
19Fix It4 Cardinology (2008)Ryan Adams
20Broken Anyway4 Prisoner (2017)Ryan Adams
21When The Stars Go Blue3 Gold (2001)Ryan Adams
22I Love You But I Don't Know What To Say3 Ashes & Fire (2011)Ryan Adams
23Was I Wrong?3 Chris (2022)
24Gimme Something Good3 Ryan Adams (2014)Ryan Adams
25Still A Cage2 Chris (2022)
26Shiver And Shake2 Prisoner (2017)Ryan Adams
27Streets of Philadelphia2 Bruce Springsteen coverBruce Springsteen
28Wonderwall2 Oasis coverNoel Gallagher
29Am I Safe2 Ryan Adams (2014)Ryan Adams
30When The Summer Ends1 1984 (2014)Ryan Adams
31Ashes & Fire1 Ashes & Fire (2011)Ryan Adams
32Come Pick Me Up1 Heartbreaker (2000)Ryan Adams and Van Alston
3316 Days1 Stranger's Almanac (1997)Ryan Adams
34I Just Might1 Ryan Adams (2014)Ryan Adams
35Rats In The Wall1 Live At Rough Trade (2017)Ryan Adams
36Karma Police1 Radiohead coverThom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway
37Stay With Me1 Ryan Adams (2014)Ryan Adams
38Run To You1 Bryan Adams coverBryan Adams and Jim Vallance

Improvised songs on the Prisoner Promo Tour: 6

SongDateShowVideoWriter(s)
1More Pleasure2017-02-22Amoeba Music, HollywoodRyan Adams
2Songwriting Shouldn't Be That Hard2017-02-20WFUV Live, New YorkNoRyan Adams
3Improv2017-02-16Apollo Theater, New YorkNoRyan Adams
4Gosh, I Love Toast2016-12-06Enmore Theatre, SydneyRyan Adams
5The Greatest Cat In The World2017-02-18Rough Trade NYC, New YorkRyan Adams
6Dune Buggy2017-01-26Rough Trade East, LondonNoRyan Adams

Cover versions on the Prisoner Promo Tour

SongPlaysReleaseWriter(s)
1Streets of Philadelphia2Bruce Springsteen coverBruce Springsteen
2Wonderwall2Oasis coverNoel Gallagher
3Karma Police1Radiohead coverThom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway
4Run To You1Bryan Adams coverBryan Adams and Jim Vallance

Live debuts on the Prisoner Promo Tour: 10

SongDateVenueLocation
Prisoner2016-12-04Factory TheatreSydney, Australia
Doomsday2016-12-04Factory TheatreSydney, Australia
Breakdown2016-12-04Factory TheatreSydney, Australia
Anything I Say To You Now2016-12-04Factory TheatreSydney, Australia
We Disappear2016-12-04Factory TheatreSydney, Australia
Broken Anyway2017-01-26Rough Trade EastLondon, England
Still A Cage2017-01-26Rough Trade EastLondon, England
Shiver And Shake2017-01-29KrøssetOslo, Norway
Streets of Philadelphia2017-01-26Rough Trade EastLondon, England
Karma Police2017-01-28BBC Radio 2London, England

Tour debuts on the Prisoner Promo Tour in order of appearance

Factory Theatre, Sydney, Australia
2016-12-04:
Anything I Say To You Now
Breakdown
Cold Roses
Do You Still Love Me?
Doomsday
Everybody Knows
Fix It
Haunted House
Kim
Outbound Train
Peaceful Valley
Prisoner
Shakedown On 9th Street
Stay With Me
Tightrope
To Be Without You
We Disappear

Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Australia
2016-12-06:
Dirty Rain
Gimme Something Good
I Just Might
I Love You But I Don't Know What To Say
Let It Ride
Magnolia Mountain
When The Stars Go Blue
When The Summer Ends

Studio Coast, Tokyo, Japan
2016-12-09:
Am I Safe
Wonderwall

The Pasadena Civic, Los Angeles, California, USA
2017-01-21:
Ashes & Fire

Rough Trade East, London, England
2017-01-26:
16 Days
Broken Anyway
Rats In The Wall
Still A Cage
Streets of Philadelphia
Was I Wrong?

Sirius Radio, The Spectrum, #28, Los Angeles, USA
2017-01-27:
Run To You

BBC Radio 2, London, England
2017-01-28:
Karma Police

Treadwells, London, England
2017-01-29:
Shiver And Shake

Apollo Theater, New York, New York, USA
2017-02-16:
Come Pick Me Up

Support acts on the Prisoner Promo Tour

Reviews of shows on the Prisoner Promo Tour

2016-12-04 Factory Theatre, Sydney, Australia
“These feelings are so raw, if you ate them, you’d get worms” – was a quip from Adams that summed up much of the lyrical atmosphere you’ll find on his new record. Following on from his Taylor Swift cover album 1989, Prisoner is Adam’s own breakup record, with songs about breakdowns (in a song called “Breakdown”) and death making themselves overtly present.
Full review: The AU Review

2017-01-27 The Soup Kitchen, Manchester, England
Little did I know that when I shared one of Ryan Adams new songs ‘Doomsday’ onto some of my friends Facebook walls on Friday morning that I would be watching him play an impromptu gig to 150 people at Manchester Soup Kitchen the very same night!
Full review: Louder Than War

2017-02-20 Fingerprints, Los Angeles, California, USA
When Fingerprints owner Rand Foster was asked before the show if he had any specific reason for having Adams at the record store, he responded with a titter, “We love Ryan… It’s taken 17 years, I always knew he’d make a great in-store performance.”
Full review: Long Beach Post

Posters: 10

Photos from the Prisoner Promo Tour: 59

Videos from the Prisoner Promo Tour: 60

Unsorted videos (6)
Am I Safe (2)
Anything I Say To You Now (2)
Breakdown (3)
Cold Roses (1)
Come Pick Me Up (2)
Do You Still Love Me? (4)
Doomsday (3)
Everybody Knows (1)
Gimme Something Good (1)
Gosh, I Love Toast (1)
Haunted House (3)
I Love You, But I Don't Know What To Say (1)
Let It Ride (1)
Magnolia Mountain (1)
More Pleasure (2)
Outbound Train (1)
Peaceful Valley (4)
Prisoner (4)
Rats In The Wall (1)
Still A Cage (1)
Streets of Philadelphia (2)
The Greatest Cat In The World (1)
To Be Without You (5)
Was I Wrong? (2)
We Disappear (1)
When The Stars Go Blue (3)

Audio recordings on Internet Archive of shows on the Prisoner Promo Tour: 5

Click the headphone icon to go to the show page.

Ryan Adams06/12/2016Enmore TheatreSydneyAustraliaThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams24/01/2017BBC 6 StudiosLondonEnglandThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photos
Ryan Adams18/02/2017Rough Trade NYCNew York, New YorkUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photosThis show has poster(s)
Ryan Adams21/02/2017KCRW - Morning Becomes EclecticSanta Monica, CaliforniaUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photosThis show has poster(s)
Ryan Adams22/02/2017Amoeba MusicHollywood, CaliforniaUSAThis show has videoThis show has audioThis show has concert photosThis show has poster(s)

Interviews during the Prisoner Promo Tour: 17

2017-01-19
The interview jumps right into the making of Prisoner.
Apple Music

2017-01-25
Ryan Adams phoned in to Kyle Meredith’s show to talk about his new album Prisoner, as well as bald eagles, the Affordable Care Act, Women and LGBTQ rights, the environment, guitar pedals, metal music, and his detractors.
WFPG

2017-01-31
”Trump är som Jokern, nu måste alla vara Batman” Ryan Adams skräms av – och skäms över – Donald Trumps politik. ”Jag vet inte om han är en människa”, säger den albumaktuelle sångaren till Café.
Café

2017-02-03
We took a little bit of a break there, over Christmas and the New Year, but our interview podcast Midnight Chats returns this witching hour with Ryan Adams, who I met at the Langham Hotel last week. I’m pretty sure we managed to hit all the important topics you’re probably after from your music podcasts, from Lil Bub to Ryan’s label Pax Am.
Loud And Quiet

2017-02-06
Ryan Adams is set to release his sixteenth studio album, Prisoner, on February 17. Ahead of its release, the prolific musician stopped by Steve Earle’s Hardcore Troubadour Radio show in Outlaw Country (Ch. 60), where he talked about the early ‘90s music scene in Chapel Hill and how his taste evolved into alt-country. The former frontman of Whiskeytown — an early ‘90s alt-country band that formed in Raleigh, North Carolina – detailed the music scene in the area and its unlikely connection to c
Outlaw Country Radio on SiriusXm

2017-02-06
Ryan Adams joins Liv & Nick in our Podcast room at Rough Trade East to have a chat, play some of his favourite tracks and talk about his new album, 'Prisoner'. Ryan picks a series of tracks that have influenced him including songs by Sonic Youth, The Melvins, Dinosaur Jr. and The Cure.
Rough Trade Radio

2017-02-11
Ryan Adams on loss, Springsteen and Whitesnake. Following his grandmother’s death and a painful divorce, Ryan Adams has worked through his losses in his music.
The Saturday Paper

2017-02-13
Singer-songwriter Ryan Adams knows there's a stark difference between the way he views the work throughout his career and the popular perception of it. Whether it's his years in Whiskeytown or his song New York, New York becoming a rallying cry after 9-11, Ryan tells Marc why history has created a different narrative of these events than what he experienced at the time and how that guides what he's doing today.
WTF Podcast

2017-02-15
I'm definitely an anglophile - DiS meets Ryan Adams
Drowned in Sound

2017-02-15
Peering into the Abyss with Ryan Adams. We join the newly-divorced singer in LA to dissect his 16th LP 'Prisoner,' but wind up discussing loneliness, black holes, Taylor Swift, and everything in-between.
Noisey

2017-02-15
?Questionnaire for Ryan Adams. Now, faster than any new fan could possibly digest all that his discography has to offer, Adams is ready to uncage Prisoner. It’s a record that many have been quick to categorize as an emotional response to Adams’ highly publicized divorce from Mandy Moore, but for him, it was an exercise in learning more about himself. Sure, the songs are emotionally intense and flirt with “the rough edges life,” but they also spawned deep introspective questions like “What does i
Music Junkie TV

2017-02-16
Ryan Adams: 'My songs are always just storytelling - they are not political and don't have an agenda'. Having learned how to cope with both Meniere's disease and divorce, singer/songwriter Ryan Adams says ploughing it into his new album has been cathartic.
Belfast Telegraph

2017-02-16
'LET'S CUT TO THE CHASE' Singer Ryan Adams talks divorce, heartache and breaking free …. the personal journey of his new album ‘Prisoner’. It is clear Adams has moved on since his divorce and the album includes as much optimism as it does sadness.
The Sun

2017-02-17
Ryan Adams: ‘There’s a lot of fight and a lot of light’. On new album Prisoner, Ryan Adams chronicles the private emotions behind his marriage split with Mandy Moore. ‘My life depended on making it,’ he says
The Irish Times

2017-02-24
Ryan Adams talks death, divorce, recovery and explains his new album ‘Prisoner’ track-by-track
NME

2017-02-27
Ryan Adams On His Newest Studio Album. Revived and reacquainted with his core sound after a tumultuous decade, Adams looks back to show us the future
Nylon

2017-03-03
Burnt-Out Pedalboards & Fucked-Up Guitars
Post To Wire