Even though it was his twelfth year coming to Ireland, Josh Ritter still wasn’t quite sure exactly where he had landed.
“I’ve never seen so much skin in my life,” quipped the beaming Idaho troubadour and he wasn’t wrong, as the balmy heatwave wafted over what has to be the city’s most idyllic open air venue. It seemed more California than Dublin 2.
The opening number, a solo version of Springsteen’s ‘The River’, put paid to any notion that the great man himself might put in an appearance. It wasn’t entirely out of the question as Springsteen – a mate of Ritter’s – was in the country, had a night off and had dropped by the same venue last year to check out The Waterboys!
Joined by his Royal City Band, a lean, mean backing machine who punch well above their combined numbers, for the rest of the set he blended new and familiar songs. These included a Dylan-esque, organ-drenched ‘Southern Pacifica’ and an impressive ‘Hopeful’ – the latter a particular highlight with the crowd joining in the chorus. ‘New Lover’, also from his latest Beast In Its Tracks album, was another winner, Generally, a beaming, waist-coated Ritter could do no wrong as the crowds joined him on ‘Lillian Egypt’, ‘Good Man’ and a rocking ‘Right Moves’.
Showering us with appreciation between almost every song, Ritter couldn’t thank the audience enough. His happiness was infectious – and the feeling was clearly mutual as he encored with a slew of favourites including ‘Snow Is Gone’ and ‘To The Dogs Or Whoever’.