Saturday night we saw Josh Ritter perform. The Aladdin Theatre I must say is a fantastic venue. Not only does it have GA seats but the theatre itself has this old school feel to it that was perfect for a Josh Ritter/Laura Gibson acoustic show. The stage had an old table and lamp on it and gave it the feel like it was an old time radio show and that's exactly what it felt like. We only caught the last few songs of Laura Gibson but now wish we would have seen more.
Josh Ritter came out full of energy and with a huge smile on his face. You can see the joy that performing his music gives him. He kept saying throughout the night, "this is so much fun" and it was clear from his performance that he meant it. The first few songs he sang I was absolutely captivated by how crystal clear his voice is live when he's singing his slower songs. The mix of how amazing the acoustics are in this place and just his natural voice was mesmerizing. Not only is he is a great songwriter but he's a funny and as Kelli called him several times, quirky guy. He's certainly not pretending when he gets on stage! But it wasn't one of those annoying, "man i wish this guy would shut up and play." The crowd was listening and laughing at every word he said.
It's clear that Josh is just a country boy who grew up in small town Idaho (and from the last I heard still lives there in his down time) that loves playing his music about wolves and girls. Somehow Josh has kept the phoniness and cynicism of the music industry from seeping through. That alone is an achievement. He does not have that pretentious, messiah, i'm so angry to be up here crap that so many musicians have. He had a smile on his face almost all night and loved every minute of it. At the same time you can see how the showmanship of Elvis and Johnny Cash has really influenced him and his music.
Three of the best moments of the show were as follows:
1. When he turned out all the stage and house lights and sang Idaho in complete darkness.
2. His eight minute performance of Thin Blue Flame which included alternate lyrics throughout.
3. At the end of the show he put down his guitar, grabbed his glass of wine, stepped out from behind the microphone and sang a closing tune in the free air. I'm not sure what's more impressive. The acoustics of the Aladdin Theatre or Josh Ritter for being able to fill the entire place with his voice.
One way or another, I've seen so many concerts in the last five years but this one ranks in my top five easily.
5 comments:
looks like dustin has a man crush...
sounds like it was a great show.
I'm glad you enjoyed the show. I like the Aladdin a lot, though I'm not a man for seats...a least when I don't know that the place has them, show up late, and have to sit in the aisle of the balcony to see sufjan play.
On another note, I've met Laura Gibson a coupla times as we have a few mutual friends. Definitely talented, but could use a little more soul perhaps. Maybe Josh Ritter could teach her...
sounds incredible...i love ritter's music.
andrew, i just heard she goes to Imago Dei, is that right?
i'm so glad you got to see him finally! i'd like to go see him again sometime when he's not just opening.
it's always impressive when someone can fill an entire room with their voice alone...unplugged. Matt Wertz did a show like that once, barefoot, completely unplugged, in St. Louis and no other shows of his can quite compare.
oh yeah--Shannon Carter and 2 LCC students are in Portland this week on their Week of E! actually, st. john i think?
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