Show Recap #6: Lewiston, ME - Bates College - 12/7/09

Many of you have asked - or maybe just wondered - about why the final show of this mini tour (Bates College) was omitted from Last Night's Show treatment.  Unfortunately, I was not able to travel with the band for this particular show, and thereby could not include the Recap, photos, or setlist.

But thanks to Seth Warner and photographer Phyllis Graber Jensen, we now have Josh's edited setlist and a few fantastic photos.  Thanks Seth and Phyllis!  Note to readers: the gentlemen you see joining Josh and the band onstage in one of the photos are the Manic Optimists, one of Bates College's all-male rock/pop acappella groups who had arranged a version of "Good Man," performed that night...

See more photos below.

Tour Video #6 (Bonus): Before Soundcheck in D.C., Dec 1st (Ol' 55)

As promised, though the Northeast December tour has finished, I'll be posting some bonus material from the week on the road with Josh and the band.

Here, Josh is captured before soundcheck gets underway, singing a certain little Tom Waits song, at The 9:30 Club in Washington DC...



Even more to come!

Special Guest Show Recap: Burlington VT, by A.M. Saddler

I'm happy to bring you all a 'bonus' show recap from a special guest: A.M. Saddler.  "Tony" is one of the best kept secret legends in rock music photography, capturing most often and notably Bruce Springsteen.  You've seen his photographs in Rolling Stone and on the websites of everyone else from Phil Lesh to Josh Ritter.  After attending the Burlington, VT show (12/4/09 at University of Vermont), Tony offered up this review of the show - and, thankfully, his always great photographs...

Some of you know me, some of you don't. You could say that my job is much like the old adage of capturing lightning in a bottle... I'm the guy who takes photos. Occasionally I speak (hell, I can even roll over, beg and play dead). Woof.

Doug "Wordsmith" Rice has been giving you the details on Josh's late fall quickie through the Northeast. Doug gave you the trees, maybe I should focus on the forest. In other words, I will give you the big picture.

It's Not Over...

Hey folks!

Yes, the tour is over.  I didn't want it to end, either.  But come on back!  Because while the shows have stopped for now, what I captured during them - in my memories and with my camera - are still lurking.  And I'd love to share more with you all, my fellow Josh Ritter faithful.  So look for BONUS material to come, including more photographs and perhaps most fun of all: more behind-the-scenes video clips of Josh and the band.

Let me just say also that it's been amazing to see the wonderful comments people leave here and in person at the shows about what I was trying to do, and about what the band does onstage.  Absolutely amazing.  Thanks to everyone for tuning in and spreading the love for the music...

But stay tuned!

Tour Video #5: During Soundcheck in Troy NY, Dec 5th (Rumors)

I never realized how beautiful "Rumors" actually is.  That's Sam Kassirer's piano playing for ya...

Hope you enjoy.



Bonus video clips from the week's tour to come...

Show Recap #5: Troy, NY - Troy Savings Bank Music Hall - 12/5/09

"Now those memories come back to haunt me / They haunt me like a curse / Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true / Or is it something worse? / That sends me dowwwn to the River / I know the River is dry..."

Last night's show at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall was one for the ages. The fifth show in as many days, and Josh and the band pulled out more surprises and curveballs than they have all week. Not one, not two, but count 'em FOUR tour premieres last night, including one of Josh's newest songs followed immediately by one of his oldest. Huge music hall. Huge snow flakes barraging the venue outside. Huge piano for Sam Kassirer on the stage. Huge voice from Zack Hickman for "Wicked Game." Huge encore and cover song. Huge night.

Tour Video #4: Backstage in Troy NY, Dec 5th (Wicked Game)

The 4th in my series this week of capturing the band each day, at work and at play behind the scenes. In this clip, bassist Zack Hickman is captured backstage in Troy, NY just about an hour ago after stringing one of Josh's guitars before soundcheck. The night before during a concert in Burlington VT, the band segued from their song "Harrisburg" into a certain late 80's classic by Chris Isaak...

Show Recap #4: Burlington, VT - Univ of VT - 12/4/09

"What a wicked game to play...to make me feel this way...what a wicked thing to do!  To make me dream of you...no I don't wanna fall in love....with you".

Yes, those are the words of Chris Isaak.  But you haven't truly heard that song until you've heard it belted out from Dr. Zachariah Jebediah Obidiah Book of Revelations Hickman to a sold out University ballroom.  Read on.

Last night's show, the fourth of this little tour in as many days, found Josh and the band on the campus of The University of Vermont in Burlington.  If you've been tracking the concerts here on this site, you know that each show has been different from the shows before.  This one was certainly no exception; the band once again strayed from their setlist, they played at least one tour first ("Wolves"), the audience was almost completely young college students this time, and most alarming of all: dry campus.  Take away a band's extra towels or something - fine.  But mess with their whiskey?  Bad things could happen.

Show Recap #3: Northampton, MA - Calvin Theatre - 12/3/09

"They won’t let us stand up! They're making us sit!"

The shout came from the audience between songs, toward the end of the night. "Oh no," Josh replies. "Revolution." And this highlights the obvious difference between last night's show and the two previous ones on this tour: tonight was in an all-seated theater. Yes, the band again shook up the order of some songs, Josh again premiered a couple songs for this tour, and Josh ditched the set list a few times once again. But it was everyone on their rear ends that made this show a little different from the rock clubs previous. 

Tour Video #3: Backstage at the Calvin Theatre in Northampton, Dec 3rd

Here's the third installment of our tour videos each day, folks - this time I managed to capture Josh a few hours ago, backstage before soundcheck, playing a Merle Travis song called "Dark as a Dungeon."

Hope you get a kick out of it...



More to come!

Show Recap #2: Philadelphia, PA - The TLA - 12/2/09

Clack clack clack clack clack!! Clack clack clack clack clack!!

Last night's show at the TLA in Philadelphia opened with a bang, or should I say "banging."  Literally.  After the crowd got a quick, warm hello from Josh, the first lone sounds they were met with was a violent - though rhythmic - clanging of sticks from all over the stage.  In addition to drummer Liam Hurley's, bassist Zack Hickman and keyboard player Sam Kassirer were armed themselves, simply clashing away.  When Austin Nevins enters the fun with some nasty guitar, the harsh clack clack clack continues.  And it ROCKS.  Josh starts singing - in an almost spoken word even hip-hop style, Sam ditches the sticks to lean on the keys before ditching his post again to clash away with sticks and it's JOSH who runs over to play the keyboard for him.  The audience just got introduced to "Rattling Locks."  Obviously a new song, it's also a brave, in-your-face way to open a show!  I wrote yesterday that the new songs were exactly that - in your face - but this is ridiculous.  And awesome. 

Tour Video #2: Practicing "Moon River" in Soundcheck on Tuesday, Dec 1st

Our second installment in a series of behind-the-scenes tour videos from Josh's tour this week captures Josh and Austin rehearsing the cover of a classic during their soundcheck at The 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. last night.

Hope you dig...



More to come!

Show Recap #1: Washington DC - The 9:30 Club - 12/1/09

"Playing new songs is like introducing someone to your parents. You wonder what they’ll think..." Josh said halfway through his show last night in Washington, DC It’s a metaphor he’s used before about playing something new, but this time he added, "...but you can’t hide tattoos...especially ones on your forehead."

This perfectly sums up last night's show and what it was all about: the new Josh Ritter songs the sold-out 9:30 Club audience heard Tuesday night. Whether with an unrelentless pounding on the drums ("Remnant") or chill inducing new narratives ("The Curse" and "Another New World") – they're just in your face. You can not NOT look at them. Or listen. Which is exactly what the crowd did.

Tour Video #1: Band Rehearsing on Monday, Nov 30th

Here's the first installment in a series of video clips shot during the tour this week, capturing Josh and the band behind-the-scenes. Hope you enjoy...


More to come!

The Tour Starts: Band Rehearsal, Monday 11/30

I'm sure many musicians out there might contend that you can always tell how a tour is going to go, just by how rehearsal goes. Or maybe what the bus is like. Or if everyone's plane or train gets them there on time, or how healthy the singer is.

I don’t know. I'm not a musician. But I've jumped onto Josh's tour bus a few times in the past, and there IS something very exciting about the night before, packing up the trailer with gear, loading your suitcases onto the bus, and getting on the road.

Last night was no exception. For me...my train ride from the Jersey Shore to Boston was nothing short of relaxing, with much anticipation – and it was on time. I took 15 steps off the train at Boston's South Station and walked into, literally, a man rushing the other way. It was Steven Tyler, of Aerosmith.

A Preview: Behind-the-Scenes Video to be Posted During Northeast Tour

Hello again everyone,

Just wanted to give everyone a taste of what I hope to bring here this upcoming week (every day!) to "Last Night's Josh Ritter Show": exclusive video clips of Josh and the band while on tour - whether it's during soundcheck, on the tour bus, or backstage - I'm hoping to capture these artists off the stage, at work or at play.

To whet your appetite, here's one from the last tour I rode along for...  Hope you enjoy...


More like this, hopefully coming soon.

A New Site to Track Josh's Northeast U.S. December Shows

Greetings folks!

Doug here, from joshritter.com, pleased to be putting up the first post on a fun new endeavor for my fellow Josh Ritter fanatics...

I'm thrilled to say that I will once again be on tour with Josh and the band, this time for their quick week-long string of shows in the Northeast U.S. It's an exciting time to be Josh Ritter - and even more exciting to be a fan. Josh's new album is now fully recorded and being prepped for release, and the band is sure to be shaking up their concerts with new tunes, new approaches to old favorites, and throwing in a couple surprises. It's going to be one hell of a way to finish 2009.

To be honest, I won't be able to contain myself. So this time around, I'll be reporting to you each and EVERY DAY, bringing concert recap and reviews from the night before, Josh's actual handwritten set list, photos, and most fun of all: a video clip of the day, candidly capturing Josh and the band while on tour, behind the scenes.

So check back. Each day!

More later,
D

[josh ritter set lists videos concert last night's show]