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. 

There's a totally different energy already to this show that differs from the night before; they hit the ground running tonight.  After "Locks," it's "Rumors' - which draws a huge enthusiastic response from the audience after the opening seconds, and it's Austin Nevins who again steals the show during this song by absolutely riiiiiipping.  At this point, I'm looking around the theater and wondering how many fans were there who hadn't seen Josh perform in a long time, perhaps expecting a couple folksy opening numbers.  Not tonight.  At least not yet.

But the crowd, of course, is on Josh's side from the start.  In fact, when Josh has to slow the pace to an almost standstill after these two rockin' numbers to tune his guitar, the audience waits, patiently.  And when he finishes and gives the guitar a big, slow test strum, the audience hoots and hollers as if he just finished a great jam.  Josh can't do wrong tonight.  "Right Moves" is next, which gets most of the audience (a very full room, packed on the floor) dancing.  The new song "Southern Pacific" is next, and tonight Josh introduces it by saying "these (new songs) are the awkward teenagers of what hopefully one day will be....Brett Favre."  I think we know what he means, even the Eagles fans there.  The gorgeous chorus of this song was still stuck in my head from the night before, and this didn't help it go away.  It's perhaps the only new song Josh has been playing that is very subtle - both lyrically and melodically.  And it figures into the set perfectly.

Then there's a fun surprise for us fans.  The next song starts with a catchy, upbeat and groovy vibe.  New song?  Then Josh starts singing, "Now my work is done / I feel I'm owed some joy".  "Bright Smile" is an old fan favorite ballad, and arguably a Josh Ritter classic, but it's got a fresh new spin!  The guy next to me, after recognizing it, turned to his group and exclaimed "Whoaaa!"  That sums up my reaction as well.  It's a TREAT.  With everyone still buzzing about what they just heard, the band jumps right into "Lillian," which is once again a party both onstage and on the theater floor.  Kassirer's piano jam, as it did the night before, turns into "Little Drummer Boy" and it's again just as fun.

The show then steers away again from what the audience got the previous night.  Tonight, the audience is treated to the full band rendition of "Girl in the War," as opposed to the solo acoustic version Josh did in Washington, DC.  This song is never not emotional, never not powerful, but tonight it's the best it has sounded in awhile.  After, Josh lightens up the mood a bit by talking to the audience - something I've always appreciated in Josh's - or any artist's - performance.  He makes no bones about it, announcing, "Sorry, I'm just gonna talk awhile.  I have this friend named Rocky..."  Then there's stories about his high school prom, dating, and how he and Rocky painted a girl's name on their town's water tower.  It's not just a genuine and entertaining part of the show, it's downright rewarding trivia for the hardcore fans who I'm sure immediately thought of the lyrics of "Me and Jiggs".  These stories between songs - a la Springsteen - is an integral part of a Josh Ritter show,  and I welcome his connection with us in the audience during them every time.  Every time.

"Kathleen" is up next, and Josh tries it solo acoustic as he did the night before.  Another highlight of the night, especially for the longtime fans who consider this his signature song and for those who crave the acoustic folksy Josh.  For me, I can NOT believe this is the same concert and same artist that opened the show with the absolutely nasty "Rattling Locks."  It's a real feat - the range of Josh Ritter's music and performances.  It's incredible, and I don't know many other artists out there pulling this off.

Josh stays solo acoustic for another changeup from the previous night, and gives us "The Temptation of Adam."  The crowd is thrilled judging by their burst of recognition applause (always a cool thing to hear for a soft ballad).  But this is the one song of the night where Josh shows that this is, indeed, only the second show of the mini tour and the first time he's played this song in awhile.  As he did in Washington DC, Josh pauses to remember opening lines of verses and has to start a couple over.  It's no biggie - in fact, it again somehow (I don't know how he does it) comes across as genuine and charming.  He covers himself during one long thinking pause by stalling with the remark, "...the ending is just...so sad..."  It's funny.  And true.  But as he keeps strumming and delaying the next words, he comes clean.  "Oh no" he says.  He's drawn a blank.  Josh knows his audience though - and they know him even better.  So Josh, like an actor prompting for his line, has no problem asking, "Who's got it?"  Fans shout back in unison, excited to lend a hand, simply, "Something tells me!"  And with the huge smile on his face never disappearing, Josh jumps right back into it with "Oh Marie there's something tells me things just won't work out above / That our love would live a half life on the surface / So at night while you are sleeping I hold you closer just because / As our time grows short I get a little nervous."  The song's clever beauty takes over again, and everyone forgives...

Josh then ditches the set list to play the haunting "Wings" - this time quickly getting the total darkness he requests from the lighting person.  The band rejoins Josh for the song's finale, which is a wonderful touch since most of the audience can't see their return in the dark; they can only hear the hum of Kassirer's keys and Hickman's bass suddenly swell in, practically like a magic trick.  It's immediately back to a full on rock show though when the lights come up - and so does the volume - for "Mind's Eye".  It's an assault on the audience who were just seconds ago swaying in the dark with their eyes closed.  The assualt turns into a legitimate attac though when the song's closing drum beat transforms into a new, driving beat.  It's the new song "Remnant," in which Josh ditches a guitar altogether to belt out a relentless tumbling of words at the mic in front of the band's groove.  Folks, this is as different  for Josh Ritter as perhaps the new songs get.  It's a new head banging (yes, head banging) favorite of mine that is sure to surprise fans on their first listen.  Then thrill them.  It's an exhilarating part of the show, for both fans old and new.

Again throwing in a song not played the previous night and ditching tonight's set list, the band brings the pace back down to a mellow vibe with "Monster Ballads" before doing another first on the tour, "Chrystal Chandeliers".  A Johnny Cash cover, it fits the venue wonderfully since chrystal chandeliers (well, they were chandeliers anyway) are actually adorning the theater's ceiling!  Josh asks them to be turned up for this song, and they are - so bright that it's like "last call" at a classy dinner party.  It's such a great cover for this band to play, and I hope it makes its way into the shows to come.

Now fully recovered from the one-two punch of "Mind's Eye" and "Remnant," it's time for another haunting ballad - the new song "Another New World."  To call this song simply a ballad would be a crime.  Like "The Curse" (criminally not played tonight, especially after I wrote yesterday that it's one of the greatest songs I've EVER heard), "Another New World" is neo-classic, a storyteller at his best.  Invest in this song when you hear it; it's a tragic tale that will absolutely transport you outside the walls of whatever theater or club you're in.  When it's over, you'll forget where you are.  Trust me.

Like a rollercoaster ride of course, the audience is shaken back to reality with the always rollicking "Harrisburg," which seems to spark extra approval from this Pennsylvania crowd.  Before the audience can slow down, the band kicks into "To the Dogs or Whoever" - this time opening the song with that great banging on the cymbal from bassist Zack Hickman.  Talk about exhilarating...not many songs get more exhilirating than "Dogs".  And I still contend that Josh and the band play it faster and faster each time they play it.  It's going to implode soon.  It has to.  It's just a furious burst of lyrical bashing and instrumental clashing that, in my opinion, is now a definite classic.

The set closes with yet another song not played the previous night, the rousing fan favorite "Snow is Gone."  Hearing the crowd belt out the lyrics louder than Josh is always a joy here.  The calls for an encore come in the form of a rhythmic stomping from the crowd.  Josh returns with just guitarist Austin Nevins, and delivers the cover of "Moon River."  It again elicits a few chuckles from people upon realizing what song it is.  Because it IS a curveball of sorts.  And it again silences the packed floor; Josh's voice rarely sounds prettier and Nevin's tasteful guitar sliding is something to behold.  Hope this rendition is included in all the shows still to come...

The show concludes with a sing-a-long-filled "Empty Hearts" before Josh leaves the audience with "Come and Find Me."  This is such a great way to send the audience home.  This, too, has been referred by some as Josh's signature song, and it puts his peerless songwriting and the talents of his band fully on display.  And everyone walks out grinning.

My grin was the biggest, though.

On to Northampton...

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