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. 

But they weren't on their rear ends by the time the closing numbers came around – and it was another AMAZING show. Let's not forget how wonderfully the seated thing can actually work for a Josh Ritter show – especially in a gorgeous theater like The Calvin – when experiencing songs like "Girl in the War" and especially the new ones "The Curse" and "Another New World." But the band certainly did NOT lean toward the softer numbers tonight.

Opening tonight with "Wildfires" like they did on opening night in DC, it works again as guitarist Austin Nevins (ironically also starting the night seated, playing lap guitar) adds to the slow, practically scary rumbling build of Liam Hurley's drums. Watching Hurley here is again a treat to see how he gets an array of different, crack-fire percussion sounds from using the top then sides then bottom of his sticks on each drum and cymbal in front of him. It's martial arts-like, and it's times like this I wish he was on a huge drum riser above the stage.  Suspended, maybe?  He's a subtle scene-stealer, but a stealer nonetheless.

Then it's into the clack clack clack of "Rattling Locks" – which is quickly becoming my favorite intro to any Josh Ritter song ever.  Similar to how they start "To the Dogs," it's actually a harsh sound at first. It's alarming, it's different, it's weird. I love it. When Nevins' guitar jumps in...well, I've already said it in other recaps, this song is just nasty. The words of this song are just now starting to really jump out too, whether it's the ominous refrain of "black hole, black hole" or lines like "I had a dream where I was dying / but it wasn't no nightmare I was peaceful as I fell / And if I was falling into heaven / Then heaven must be hotter than the bible tells," make this song one that just keeps giving. It's a new highlight to any Josh Ritter show.

It's very clear that – seated show or not – the band was gonna rock things tonight. "Rumors" is next, with a long jam intro that's about as close to a drum solo as they get. When the song kicks in, Josh is jumping around all over the stage already, as if it was the night's closing number. One couple in the audience can’t contain themselves any longer, and take to the aisle to dance. They are asked to take their seats by an usher, however. They'll have their time. It's coming. They and many others were probably ready to burst in their seats, since "Right Moves" is next. And this song is an infectious, irresistible tune with a groove that I defy anyone not to dance. Or tap your foot. Or nod your head. Whatever it is that you do when the music gets ya. Because this one will, every time.

Josh comments to the crowd that he's played the Calvin Theatre only once before, when he performed as part of the Signature Sounds Anniversary concert several years ago. Signature Sounds played a huge role in Josh's career, being his first real record label here in the US. But they were more than just a label. Josh dedicates the next song, the new tune "Southern Pacific" to president Jim (Olsen) – who's in attendance – and Flora (Reed). And there again is that chorus that’s been stuck in my head since band rehearsal: "Remember me to Roxy Anne / You know she's still lovely / Tell her I was on the move / the last time you saw me / that you only saw the back of my heeaaaad…" After the song, Josh tries to say the line once again about playing the new songs being like introducing someone to your parents – but the funny line is actually drowned out by the excited yelps and applause from the audience at the mere mention of a new album!

Though they don’t get another new right away, they're rewarded with a tour first: "Good Man." And it draws the biggest approval applause of the night when those opening lines come out of Josh’s mouth. The seated crowd doesn't hold back during the chorus, belting out the words with Josh. After the song, during a quiet moment, a fan yells out for "The River!" (the Springsteen classic Josh has been known to cover in concert), and the fan’s friends join in the pleading. "Never heard of it," is Josh’s coy reply – to which even the pleaders laugh at and return with respectful applause. Josh can do no wrong with his faithful.

What the audience gets instead, they’ll gladly take: "Girl in the War," and it’s once again a more mellow and appropriately solemn rendition (even the band's set list has a note to play "soft"). The song is just as powerful as always and it's one of the moments of the night in which you're glad you're sitting, listening, and just taking in the powerful words. When they finish, the band gets up and leave the stage – something we've come to expect for Josh's shows – but these days it's for a small handful of Josh solo songs. And I must say, though there's no bigger fan of that band than me, I'm also a big fan of this segment of the performance – where Josh is stripped to just his voice and acoustic guitar. It's how he started, it's how some of his songs often work best, and he seems to become a different performer during this stretch of the show. In fact, it's such a different vibe, that it’s like getting two different concerts in one, or like seeing Josh in two different phases of his career, but in one moment there in front of you. There are many sides to Josh Ritter as an artist, and it's a joy to behold this one at this point of the show.

Josh also gets more conversational with the audience when he's in solo acoustic mode, this time telling the audience about his days in not-too-far Providence RI and playing open mic nights at The Iron Horse (right down the street there in Nothampton) while he worked at an MRI screening facility. More glimpses into Josh as a performer and as a person, and more connection with the audience that is becoming just as signature as any song he sings. For him, it's a talent. For us in the audience, it's a gift. Josh ditches the set list to play "You Don’t Make it Easy, Babe" and when he forgets the words to one of his own songs this time, he covers by actually singing – in the song’s melody – "I know I already sang this verse." Good recovery, Josh. Again, it's a charming and genuine moment that only keeps the audience on his side. "Rainslicker" (from Hello Starling) is next, and it's another tour premiere. It’s also probably one of the more underrated songs in Josh’s catalogue, and I’m moved tonight by it. There are some real lyrical gems here, and yet the one that always gets me is the simple "...it’s a long time oh such a long time / and I hope for your sake I've changed / and I hope for my sake you managed to remain the same."

Staying solo acoustic, Josh again mentions having just made a new record in Maine with his great band, and it's the perfect time for him to ditch the set list again to play "The Curse." As if this song isn't stunning enough (see my previous show recaps), it's this song that Josh chooses to play in total darkness. You can't see the hand in front your face, all you can do is listen. It's such the perfect setting for this song, as it is a true fable – a bittersweet fairytale even – that will test the limits of your imagination. Tonight, in darkness, it’s emotionally shattering. At least for me. I literally need the complete next song to recover from it. I’ll stop raving about this song soon, I promise (note: that's a bold faced lie).

It helps my recovery that the next song is the jubilant and wildly popular "Kathleen," which Josh stays solo acoustic to do. And it illicits the biggest approval applause of the night, since "Good Man." Before the applause has a chance to fade, the band is back on the stage and jumps right into the rocking "Mind’s Eye," which gets a lot of folks stomping their feet below their seats. They have to contain themselves a bit, but Josh doesn’t. And by the time the song segues right into the new rocker "Remnant," he is all over the stage. With this being brand new to almost everyone in attendance, it’s Josh himself who is most into this song, and it’s the most "into" it I’ve perhaps ever seen him. The band shines on this one too and you can tell by Josh’s jumping around that they’re his favorite band to rock out to...

Before slowing down the pace a little for "Monster Ballads," Josh tells a story about how Mark Twain left Huckleberry Finn unfinished for seven years before deciding how it would end. Josh says that about how long the "Fung Wah bus" takes from New York to Boston. Though he's mentioned his recent bus trip to the other audiences on this tour, it’s this crowd that truly gets it; it’s obvious that many people there are familiar with that economical option to get from NYC to Boston. Still laughing from that, the audience welcomes the always fun "Lillian, Egypt" next. Sam Kassirer again segues his piano solo into "Little Drummer Boy," and it's certainly been perfected over the last couple of shows. It works so well that it even draws Josh over to the piano to sit, and listen affectionately to Sam’s seasonally spirited tickling of the keys.

It's after this song that the fan yells "They won’t let us stand! They’re making us sit!" You can tell that no one wants the crowd to stand more than Josh, but he warns them that they might want to wait: the next song is "more an interpreted dance" number. That's one way to describe the new song "Another New World." Other ways would be: beautiful, haunting, majestic, long, romantic, big, sad, and remarkable. The tale of a man who searches for new lands at the price of his true love (his ship) is quickly becoming one of the more talked about songs after the shows. In fact, it’s not a tale. It's a saga.

"If you want to stand, now would be a good time!" Josh says as he begins to strum the furious opening acoustic chords of "Harrisburg." Whoosh! The entire audience is on its feet in less than a second, no exaggeration. The show, as it has done all week, ends with a rousing bang as the band heads right into "To the Dogs or Whoever." The once all-seated theater has been transformed into a huge rock club, with fans pressed up against the stage, singing along, screaming, and losing their minds. It's an awesome, awesome thing to witness, let alone be a part of.

Congratulations are also in order for "Zack and Valerie." When Josh returned to the stage for the encore with just Austin Nevins, the yell from the crowd comes, "She said 'yes' Josh!" Apparently, a loyal fan chose tonight’s concert to propose to his girlfriend – with ring and all – and it included an early wedding gift from Josh: the couple’s favorite Josh album, signed by Josh before the show for the special occasion. I don’t think the next song "Moon River" – the classic cover Josh and Austin then do – could have been more apropos.

The rowdy as ever "Snow is Gone" is even more welcomed by the crowd before "Come and Find Me," still sounding better than it ever has over the years, closes the night.

That’s three shows in three nights, and if anyone managed to be at all three like I've been lucky enough to do, they would attest that it's a different concert every night. Because between the rousing rock numbers, the classic fan favorites, the stunning new songs, that band and Josh playing solo acoustic...I don’t know a music lover out there who wouldn't leave a Josh Ritter show right now completely satisfied – and then some.

In fact, I don't want to know that person.

On to Burlington!