Uncategorized
22 Oct 01

Radio friendly

America's loss is Ireland's gain: we've got Idaho-born, Dublin-beloved JOSH RITTER, in this video interview featuring special acoustic performances - and we're not giving him back

They sure do grow 'em talented in Idaho. You remember Josh Ritter: that bloke who supported The Frames on their Irish tour last year (the grinny charmer with the guitar and the sticky-up hair who wasn't Glen Hansard). The vivid tale-spinning; the boundless, blustery energy of early Springsteen; the quirky but no-less-affecting folkiness of Arlo Guthrie; the melodic sensibility to spare? Yep, that's him, there.

And this is him, here. In anticpation of the March 22nd release of Josh's fine debut album, The Golden Age of Radio (it's already sold some 1200 copies in Ireland at his live shows, but how and ever), and in celebration of his first 'official' Irish release, the Me & Jiggs EP, which has just entered the Irish charts at number 40 - you can watch him play two of his live favourites, including that new single, right here. And then you can watch our very charming video interview. Sweet, eh? Just like the man himself...

ACOUSTIC MINI-SET:
Click here to watch Josh perform 'Me & Jiggs'... 56k 128k
Click here to watch 'Other Side'... 56k 128k

VIDEO INTERVIEW: Click below on the bit you want to watch...

PART ONE Josh recalls his early days in Idaho - including, how hearing a version of Dylan's 'Girl From The North Country' featuring Johnny Cash, taught him that the lute was perhaps not his instrument 56k 128k

PART TWO The songwriting process ("I never shake a tree to get ideas out"). Also: how his hero Johnny Cash's toughest gig was in the Idaho town that also spawned his own "tough" prom date 56k 128k

PART THREE Why - even as other country-tinged songwriters 'lose their dog and lose their job and lose their woman' - Josh prefers to sing happier songs about "the perfect Springsteen day" 56k 128k

PART FOUR How Josh got Framed: making friends with Glen Hansard in Boston, and opening for the Frames on their recent Irish tour 56k 128k

PART FIVE Josh ruminates on how he won the hearts of Irish music fans, and tells how a Dundalk gig taught him "being able to tell a story is a really powerful thing to do" 56k 128k