Last night, in the center of downtown Buffalo, a 135 year-old church seemed to wake from a lengthy slumber to take some of it's most lively breaths in nearly a century. Providing the life force for such an awakening, were the musical tidings of Josh Ritter and his Royal City Band.
Having seen Josh Ritter perform on several occasions, most recently this past Valentine's Day, I knew well of his abilities to capture and intrigue a crowd. However, his aptitude for seizing an audience's attention was most effectively on display last night. From the intimate notes of a solo performance of "Idaho", to the foot stomping, hand clapping, raucous "To The Dogs of Whoever" that closed the show, the crowd of 500 slowly melded into one beating unit. A performance so captivating, it led my Dad to call it "One of the best concerts I've ever seen."
The setting for such an event was Asbury Hall at Babeville on Deleware Avenue in downtown Buffalo. Babeville, the affectionate moniker given by owner and Buffalo native Ani DiFranco, is housed at the site of the Deleware Asbury Methodist Church. Built in 1876, this historical landmark fell into disrepair in the 1980's and 90's. Facing demolition, Righteous Babe Records president Scot Fisher and Ani DiFranco proposed renovating the Church as a multipurpose entertainment venue in 1999. The result is a simply breathtaking concert venue. From the refurbished hardwood floors and railings, the the pews in the balcony, to the stain glass windows lining the outward walls, Asbury Hall is a magnificent place to see a concert. The view from virtually any vantage point is unobscured, allowing audience members to spread out throughout the floor. Downstairs, the Ninth Ward is a beautifully crafted lounge, providing concert goers a place to socialize before the show. Having returned to Buffalo from the DC area, this is exactly the kind of concert venue that has been noticeably absent from Western New York area for years. Mere blocks from the city's nightlife hub that is Chippewa Street, I can only hope that Asbury Hall at Babeville continues to grow in popularity. Asbury Hall has the potential of becoming a consistent destination for all kinds of national music acts.
After taking in the venue's details and personality, the night hit its first strides when opening act Sean Rowe took the stage. Rowe is an outstanding songwriter, who gets right down to business upon taking the stage. He too captivated the audience with his rhythmic guitar style and deep voice. His performance of "Jonathan" off his newest release Magic, and his closing song prompted an enthusiastic response from the crowd. It's not often that an opening act has the entire audience hanging on every word and note, but that's exactly what Sean Rowe accomplished.
Now to main event of the evening. Assessing the crowd as we stood in line, it was clear that Josh Ritter already had some loyal fans. Many held his newly published novel Bright's Passage as they waited for him to take the stage. Others seemed a little unfamiliar, as this was Ritter's first time in Buffalo. As the night proceeded, the line between unfamiliar and die hard fans became blurred. Ritter took the stage at approximately 9PM accompanied only by his acoustic guitar. From their he performed a hushed version of "Idaho" an homage to his home state.
Following "Idaho" Josh Ritter's Royal City Band joined him onstage for crowd favorites such as "Right Moves" and "Wolves". At the end of "Wolves" Ritter fell to his knees and howled along with the crowd before singing the last verse seemingly to the moon. Those familiar with Ritter's work know of his incredibly complex and dynamic lyrical style. Many songs include references to the Bible, and to angels. As one can imagine, these allusions to religion took on an extra meaning as the concert took place in an old church. One such song "Harrisburg" was a definite crowd pleaser, though it may not have been for the religious references. Toward the end of the song, bassist Zach Hickman sang a rousing portion of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game", which the crowd thoroughly enjoyed.
The highlights from last night are almost too numerous to list. There's "The Curse", which is waltz-like song about an Egyptian mummy brought back to life by his affection toward a female archaeologist. My Dad having heard this song for the first time described it perfectly, saying that each and every note was deliberate and placed perfectly. The midpoint of the show consisted of a brief solo set from Josh Ritter consisting of the beautifully encouraging, glass half-full "Still Beating", the hilarious "Galahad", and perhaps the most brilliant post apocalyptic love song ever written, "The Temptation of Adam." "Galahad" and "The Temptation of Adam" both are excellent samples of Ritter's lyrical ability to tell a story. "Galahad" tells the tale of Sir Galahad's quest to drink from the Holy Grail, as an angel questions his decision to leave Earth for Heaven. Ritter asked for all the lights to be turned off for the song "The Temptation of Adam", a love song with a missile silo serving as the backdrop. The protagonist in the song, considers pressing the "great big button" to end to world, if it means he gets to stay with his love for the rest of time.
The regular set drew to an end with the juvenile love song "Kathleen" which included an impromptu wave that swept through the audience, and "Change of Time" which ended with Josh singing the chorus, as the crowd sang "Rough Seas" back. It was magical hearing the entire crowd singing in unison. As the set ended, everyone rose to their feet. Stomps were heard from the balcony as the audience beckoned Ritter to come back with his incredibly talented band.
Their wish granted, Josh Ritter took the stage for the encore. Much like he began the show, Ritter came only his acoustic guitar for an unplugged cover of Bruce Springsteen's "The River". Every tuned in ear hung on each note played. As the song ended, the band rejoined Ritter on stage for "Real Long Distance", and "To the Dogs or Whoever". At one point I looked to my right, and in this eclectic crowd ranging widely in age, I saw a man no younger than 70 dancing I dare say "wildly" to the last song of the night. Josh Ritter had done it again. He had every last one of us.
What an amazing night! I knew full well that Josh Ritter would put on a good show, but seeing him do so with my Dad made this night special on a personal level. Music and our love for it is something my Dad and I have in common. It was a blast to turn him on to something new and spend time with him. Thanks to Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band as well as everyone at Asbury Hall for putting on such an amazing show!
Showing posts with label Josh Ritter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Josh Ritter. Show all posts
Friday, July 8, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Cover Thursdays- No Wedding Day Smiles, No Walk Down the Aisle
Tonight I'm taking my Dad to see Josh Ritter at Asbury Hall in Buffalo. I've seen Josh Ritter live at least four times, and every time he's put on an excellent show. His mastery over his complex lyrics and the enthusiasm he brings to the performance are both incredible. However, what I'm most excited about, is seeing a concert with my Dad! We've gone to shows together before, but now that I live in Maryland, it makes seeing a concert together a little more special. Since moving in 2007, I've made great friends in Maryland and have grown to really enjoy my job. The biggest drawback is only seeing my family for a few weeks thoughout the year. So tonight isn't just about the music for me, it's about spending time with my Dad.
Because the concert falls on a Cover Thursday, here's Josh Ritter performing "The River" by Bruce Springsteen!
Because the concert falls on a Cover Thursday, here's Josh Ritter performing "The River" by Bruce Springsteen!
Check back tomorrow for another concert review! Also, Josh Ritter just published his first novel, entitled Bright's Passage. If you're looking for a good summer read, I'm sure the storytelling skills Ritter employs in his songwriting translate beautifully to a novel! Go to his website and check it out!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Concert Review: Josh Ritter @ 9:30 Club, Washington, DC- 2.14.2011
Last night, while jumping up and down and chanting "I thought I heard somebody calling/In the dark I thought I heard somebody call!" as Josh closed out his set sometime after 11PM on a Monday night, I had just one thought in my mind: How on Earth could anyone in this room not be having the time of their life right now?! And after three previous Josh Ritter concerts, I feel that I am now qualified to proclaim that it is impossible to have a bad time at a Josh Ritter show...Impossible!
Let's start with the whole premise of the evening. I first heard about this particular show some time in November or December via email from Josh Ritter's website. The email dubbed the show and the three preceeding shows as a "Valentine's Day Brawl." Instantly, I had my Valentine's plans, as I knew Josh and the band would have something special up their sleeves. They didn't disappoint.
The night started with Scott Hutchinson (from Frightened Rabbit). Having just been introduced to Frightened Rabbit a couple months ago, I was very much looking forward to his performance. With only his acoustic guitar Scott Hutchinson had the early arriving crowd's attention with his stripped down arrangements, his straight forward and frank lyrics, and his Scottish sense of humor. For me, the highlight of his overall outstanding performance, was him singing "Backwards Walk." Hutchinson's steady repetitive strumming coupled with his heart wrenching lyrics about letting go of a relationship instensified throughout the song! As with any crowd during and opening act, the audience was a bit chatty. However, during this particular song you could sense their attention progressively being drawn to the stage, until virtually all ears were tuned in as he repeated the song's knockout line, "You're the shit and I'm need deep in it." Hopefully he'll be returning soon with his entire band. I'll be in line for a ticket.
Now on to Josh. As advertised, Valentine's Day was the muse of the evening. The microphones and stands were wrapped in roses. On a table to the left of the stage candles were burning. Josh Ritter came out by himself, almost to the surprise of not only the audience but also the light and sound technicians. As he started the first song of the night, "Come and Find Me," the lights still hadn't been brought down or his mic turned on. But after a quick restart, and a whispered, "If I could trace the line that ran/Between your smile and your slight of hand/I would have guessed that you put something up my sleeve" the evening had officially started. After his intimite opening, the rest of the band joined Josh Ritter on stage for "Good Man", and "Lillian, Egypt", both of which picked up the tempo of the show.
Now, like I said, this night was full of surprises. The first surprise came 5 to 6 songs in when Josh introduced the "Cupid" for the night. Josh Ritter and the Band asked their fans to submit dedications to be read aloud at the "Valentine's Day Brawl" shows. Out came Cupid with a hat full of dedications! This was a very creative and thoughtful idea to get the audience ever more involved. The dedications included the hilarious (a love letter to Bassist Zack Hickman's handlebar mustache takes first prize), heartfelt (one particular message from a soldier overseas comes to mind) and a marriage proposal (she said yes)! You won't find something like this at many shows these days! Reason #1 you'll have a great time at a Josh Ritter show.
Other highlights of the night include solo performances of "The Temptation of Adam" and "Girl in the War" as well the performance of "Harrisburg." For those not familar with "Harrisburgh", the band usually slows down about midway through and interludes into a cover. Past renditions include "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" and "Wicked Game". This time Josh sympathized with us singles in the crowd by discussing the irony in the advances of Western Civilization and our inability to understand human courtship. Probably the funniest quote of the whole night came when he said, "It's a world in which man has touched the moon... but there are soooo many other things men would like to touch." Then he sequed into "Once In A Lifetime" by the Talking Heads before returning to racous end to "Harrisburg."
Surprise #2 came when Josh Ritter's introduction to the song "Kathleen" started with the statement, "Now it's time for things to get awkward". What followed was a slow dance accompanied by a stirring sax solo and enhanced with dim lights and a disco ball. As you can imagine, it was a pretty cramped dance floor, as the show was sold out. However, Teresa and I managed. We even utilized Teresa's beer! "Kathleen" is about Josh's prom in his home town in Idaho. It's a fitting song for a slow dance. Apparently, boys outnumbed girls by so much, that the boys would stand in line to dance with the girls.
Surprise #3 followed shortly after. Prior to the show, folks at 9:30 club handed out glow sticks to everyone in attendance. As the band performed "Lantern" the lights were dimmed, and everyone held their glow sticks high as Josh sang, "So if you've got the light/Hold it high for me." I can only imagine what it looked like from the stage or the balcony. It must have been an amazing scene.
The main set closed with "Change of Time" which highlights Josh Ritter's lyrical genious. I can't believe I've gotten this far in the post without mentioning that Josh Ritter may be the best lyricist on the music scene. Nearly every song is pure poetry. This was a great closing to an amazingly diverse main set. The encore began with a solo version of Josh Ritter's new song "Galahad" and ended with the band's energetic version of "To the Dogs or Whoever."
The two hours and change of music was a blur. It was a great way to spend Valentine's night. If you get a chance to see Josh Ritter live, I'd highly recommend it. I can't phathom a situation in which your mood doesn't improved during the show. If you could bottle Josh Ritter's enthusiasm and sell it as a pill, I'd guess the cases of mood related disorders would sharply decrease.
My concert fix has been met for now, but I'm already looking forward to the next show.
Thanks for reading!
Let's start with the whole premise of the evening. I first heard about this particular show some time in November or December via email from Josh Ritter's website. The email dubbed the show and the three preceeding shows as a "Valentine's Day Brawl." Instantly, I had my Valentine's plans, as I knew Josh and the band would have something special up their sleeves. They didn't disappoint.
The night started with Scott Hutchinson (from Frightened Rabbit). Having just been introduced to Frightened Rabbit a couple months ago, I was very much looking forward to his performance. With only his acoustic guitar Scott Hutchinson had the early arriving crowd's attention with his stripped down arrangements, his straight forward and frank lyrics, and his Scottish sense of humor. For me, the highlight of his overall outstanding performance, was him singing "Backwards Walk." Hutchinson's steady repetitive strumming coupled with his heart wrenching lyrics about letting go of a relationship instensified throughout the song! As with any crowd during and opening act, the audience was a bit chatty. However, during this particular song you could sense their attention progressively being drawn to the stage, until virtually all ears were tuned in as he repeated the song's knockout line, "You're the shit and I'm need deep in it." Hopefully he'll be returning soon with his entire band. I'll be in line for a ticket.
Now on to Josh. As advertised, Valentine's Day was the muse of the evening. The microphones and stands were wrapped in roses. On a table to the left of the stage candles were burning. Josh Ritter came out by himself, almost to the surprise of not only the audience but also the light and sound technicians. As he started the first song of the night, "Come and Find Me," the lights still hadn't been brought down or his mic turned on. But after a quick restart, and a whispered, "If I could trace the line that ran/Between your smile and your slight of hand/I would have guessed that you put something up my sleeve" the evening had officially started. After his intimite opening, the rest of the band joined Josh Ritter on stage for "Good Man", and "Lillian, Egypt", both of which picked up the tempo of the show.
Now, like I said, this night was full of surprises. The first surprise came 5 to 6 songs in when Josh introduced the "Cupid" for the night. Josh Ritter and the Band asked their fans to submit dedications to be read aloud at the "Valentine's Day Brawl" shows. Out came Cupid with a hat full of dedications! This was a very creative and thoughtful idea to get the audience ever more involved. The dedications included the hilarious (a love letter to Bassist Zack Hickman's handlebar mustache takes first prize), heartfelt (one particular message from a soldier overseas comes to mind) and a marriage proposal (she said yes)! You won't find something like this at many shows these days! Reason #1 you'll have a great time at a Josh Ritter show.
Other highlights of the night include solo performances of "The Temptation of Adam" and "Girl in the War" as well the performance of "Harrisburg." For those not familar with "Harrisburgh", the band usually slows down about midway through and interludes into a cover. Past renditions include "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" and "Wicked Game". This time Josh sympathized with us singles in the crowd by discussing the irony in the advances of Western Civilization and our inability to understand human courtship. Probably the funniest quote of the whole night came when he said, "It's a world in which man has touched the moon... but there are soooo many other things men would like to touch." Then he sequed into "Once In A Lifetime" by the Talking Heads before returning to racous end to "Harrisburg."
Surprise #2 came when Josh Ritter's introduction to the song "Kathleen" started with the statement, "Now it's time for things to get awkward". What followed was a slow dance accompanied by a stirring sax solo and enhanced with dim lights and a disco ball. As you can imagine, it was a pretty cramped dance floor, as the show was sold out. However, Teresa and I managed. We even utilized Teresa's beer! "Kathleen" is about Josh's prom in his home town in Idaho. It's a fitting song for a slow dance. Apparently, boys outnumbed girls by so much, that the boys would stand in line to dance with the girls.
Surprise #3 followed shortly after. Prior to the show, folks at 9:30 club handed out glow sticks to everyone in attendance. As the band performed "Lantern" the lights were dimmed, and everyone held their glow sticks high as Josh sang, "So if you've got the light/Hold it high for me." I can only imagine what it looked like from the stage or the balcony. It must have been an amazing scene.
The main set closed with "Change of Time" which highlights Josh Ritter's lyrical genious. I can't believe I've gotten this far in the post without mentioning that Josh Ritter may be the best lyricist on the music scene. Nearly every song is pure poetry. This was a great closing to an amazingly diverse main set. The encore began with a solo version of Josh Ritter's new song "Galahad" and ended with the band's energetic version of "To the Dogs or Whoever."
The two hours and change of music was a blur. It was a great way to spend Valentine's night. If you get a chance to see Josh Ritter live, I'd highly recommend it. I can't phathom a situation in which your mood doesn't improved during the show. If you could bottle Josh Ritter's enthusiasm and sell it as a pill, I'd guess the cases of mood related disorders would sharply decrease.
My concert fix has been met for now, but I'm already looking forward to the next show.
Thanks for reading!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Valentine's Brawl!- Josh Ritter: My Eyes Get Washed Away In Chain Reactions
It's only been two weeks, but Josh Ritter is already reappearing on the blog, and for good reason! A concert! I can't think of a better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with a good concert! I'm lucky enough to be attending Josh Ritter's show at the 9:30 Club tonight in DC. It will be my 4th time seeing Josh Ritter, and he always puts on a good show so I'm very excited.
To share my excitement, here's a video of probably the best apocalyptic love song ever written! Not only is it my favorite Josh Ritter song, but probably in my top 5 songs of all time. The lyrics are just amazing from beginning to end. I wish I could write like him. Here's "The Temptation of Adam"
Stay tuned for a concert review!
To share my excitement, here's a video of probably the best apocalyptic love song ever written! Not only is it my favorite Josh Ritter song, but probably in my top 5 songs of all time. The lyrics are just amazing from beginning to end. I wish I could write like him. Here's "The Temptation of Adam"
Stay tuned for a concert review!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Josh Ritter: Decibels In The Belfry
Hello, and welcome to "The Music's Never Loud Enough", a blog dedicated to bringing you live music performances with the intention of spreading music to new ears. Here's the thing, nothing makes me happier than introducing new music to somebody. However, I can't write music, nor can I perform it. So, I figured I'd try to spread it instead.
The format will be quite simple. I'll update with one video of a live performance on a quasi-daily basis, with nothing more than an accompanying blurb about the artist and/or video. If you enjoy it, GREAT! Send it to a friend, pass it forward. If you don't, check back another time for something new. Feel free to leave suggestions. Finding new music for myself is right up there with sharing the music I love with others.
So without any further delay, here's Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band performing the song "Rumors", whose lyrics inspired the blog's title. ENJOY!
The format will be quite simple. I'll update with one video of a live performance on a quasi-daily basis, with nothing more than an accompanying blurb about the artist and/or video. If you enjoy it, GREAT! Send it to a friend, pass it forward. If you don't, check back another time for something new. Feel free to leave suggestions. Finding new music for myself is right up there with sharing the music I love with others.
So without any further delay, here's Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band performing the song "Rumors", whose lyrics inspired the blog's title. ENJOY!
If you like what you heard, catch Josh Ritter and his Band live! The tour starts February 10th in Philadelphia, and continues into March. Get your tickets here.
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