TORONTO -- The scene was set for a potentially perfect night of music as New York-based alt-country singer-songwriter Ryan Adams played a rare and intimate show in Toronto at the Enwave Theatre, formerly the Harbourfront Centre Theatre, last night.

Joined by the latest five-member incarnation of his backing band The Cardinals, the former Whiskeytown frontman is on the road to support his latest solo effort, the well-received Easy Tiger, in stores Tuesday.

Unfortunately, it seemed the rowdy audience in the lakeside venue that only seats 400 people wanted one thing and Adams, the 32-year-North Carolina native who has churned out eight solo and band albums since 2000, wanted something else.

Taking the stage about 40 minutes later than scheduled, Adams and his bandmates all sat in a row in the dimly lit theatre much to chagrin of some audience members.

"Turn up the lights Ryan so we can see you!" screamed out one woman.

But Adams, in sunglasses, a suit and tie, and hunched over a microphone as he sat on a stool, would have none of that.

"I'm afraid I'm busy singing," he responded. "But thank you."

Later, it got even more tense when a male audience member shouted out something indecipherable, but apparently in bad taste, after Adams claimed he was losing his voice towards the end of his hour and 10-minute set.

"It seems we have a college graduate in the audience," Adams responded sarcastically before performing one more song, Goodnight Hollywood Blvd, and then leaving the stage and not returning for an encore.

Now it should be said that Adams -- who last played Toronto at Kool Haus in 2005 -- is known for his uneven live performances but since getting sober there was hope that he might triumph in concert.

Instead, his often thrilling vocal delivery on such new songs as The Sun Also Sets, Goodnight Rose, Two, Hallowe'en Head, I Taught Myself How To Grown Old, and Everybody Knows, and older favourites Please Don't Let Me Go, Starlite Diner, Blue Hotel, Let It Ride, Dear John, Elizabeth, You Were Born To Play That Part, and Carolina Rain, was often muted by the dark set up and Adam's refusal to be front and centre or even move from his chair.

However, his musicians did sound awfully good, particularly Jon Graboff on pedal steel, Neal Casal on acoustic guitar and drummer Brad Pemberton, with all three often chiming in on vocal harmonies.