- Music
- 18 Jul 13
With thanks to Corona Ireland, the Idaho star played a "one night only" gig for Hot Press competition winners yesterday.
Welcome to the hottest place on Planet Earth. Dublin's 4 Dame Lane is the secret venue for a Hot Press – in association with Corona Ireland – date with a freshly-arrived-in-town Josh Ritter. Having tweeted from the far side of the Atlantic a few days ago, "Lying here wide awake. Can't wait to get back to Ireland", he never could have imagined what kind of heatwave awaited him.
The smile on his face as he's introduced by HP's Roisin Dwyer and greets fans lucky enough to secure a spot backs up his restless, yearning statement.
Tonight is an intimate, acoustic affair as Ritter is joined by the impressively mustachioed Zachariah Hickman. The set-up is perfect for the lyrical winks and nods of 'Rumors', with Ritter's voice always to the fore and augmented simply and gracefully by the guitars.
Of course, Ritter has a new album out, and the selections from The Beast In Its Tracks fit perfectly alongside old favourites. 'New Lover' deals meditatively on his recent divorce. Emotional doldrums are circumvented as Ritter jokes: "I wanted to make a record about divorce that wasn't mean... It was tough! I still threw a few mean things in there."
Another newie, 'A Certain Light', repeats the trick, boasting a contagious, almost mantric melody.
There's a mid set pause as the singer enquires "are you wilting?". It's warm, but luckily there's no mosh pit or pogoing required for this kind of fare. We can just soak up the songs and melt.
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Elsewhere, 'Folk Bloodbath' and 'Galahad' are expertly woven tales that grow in stature with each airing and prove that Josh Ritter has this literate, moving Americana thing down pat.
He drives it home, of course, with a rousing version of 'Kathleen' that has the whole room singing. He's suitably moved, telling us all that he felt like he's spent some time in the wilderness, but is ready to return with a bang.
As for those assembled? Well, he's found it strange to play to a room full of winners. "We normally play for the losers," he smiles. Really, Josh Ritter plays for everyone.