The Cardinals (rock band)

The Cardinals
The Cardinals, live at the Manchester Academy, England, November 2008
Background information
Origin	New York City, USA
Genres	Alternative country, rock, country rock, jam rock
Years active	2004–2009
Associated acts	Ryan Adams, Willie Nelson, Gin Wigmore
Website	www.cardinology.com
Past members	Brad Pemberton Jon Graboff Neal Casal Ryan Adams Catherine Popper J.P. Bowersock Cindy Cashdollar Chris Feinstein Jamie Candiloro

The Cardinals were an American rock band that were formed in 2004 by alternative country singer-songwriter Ryan Adams and fronted by him until 2009. The band was featured on Ryan Adams and the Cardinals albums, Cold Roses, Jacksonville City Nights, Follow the Lights, Cardinology and III/IV. Though credited as a solo Ryan Adams release, the 2007 album Easy Tiger also features the Cardinals.

Regarding the band's name, Adams states that he "suggested the Cardinals because it was my high school football team."

Along with their work with Adams, The Cardinals recorded an album with Willie Nelson in 2006, and following Adams' departure in 2009, The Cardinals recorded an album with singer-songwriter Gin Wigmore.

The Cardinals first began as a duo when singer-songwriter Ryan Adams met J.P. Bowersock through his friend Ryan Gentles, manager of The Strokes, who were also Ryan Adams' neighbors in New York in 2001. J.P. Bowersock and Ryan Adams rehearsed and performed in New York at various clubs under the name The Cardinals and were eventually joined for a short time by G.E. Smith, of the SNL band fame during the late 1980s and 1990s.

After recording the album, 29, Adams suggested to J.P. Bowersock that they might form a touring band. Brad Pemberton was the first member to join reuniting Ryan Adams and Pemberton who had toured together until Adams' Love is Hell album. Following Pemberton, was Catherine Popper who initially played double bass for the band.

The first touring lineup of Ryan Adams and the Cardinals consisted of Ryan Adams, Brad Pemberton, JP Bowersock, Catherine Popper, and Cindy Cashdollar. The band toured in 2004 and recorded Cold Roses. Cashdollar left in 2005. Jon Graboff was a hired replacement for the next two years until he became a full-time member for their final album as Ryan Adams and The Cardinals.