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| BACKSTAGE... Before showtime, spirits were high - but also a little bittersweet. This leg of the tour hasn't been a very long one, but it's been a very special one. I truly witnessed up close how much the Band loves being in Ireland, loves their Irish fans, and how much they value their time here. For me personally, I also realize that this is my last night with everyone, and I try to thank them as best I could. Erin extended some Valentine's Wishes to them, but I think it was about more than just holiday wishes... |
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| SHOW #3: The Opera House |
| Next Page, After the Cork Show |
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| Josh Ritter Fansite Homepage |
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| After a day travelling down to Cork and visiting the Rock of Cashel, we didn't have a ton of time to check-in to the hotel and get over to the Cork Opera House, where the band had to soundcheck and prepare... |
| Before the show... |
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| A Valentine's hug and kiss between Erin and Zack. |
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| Emily and Flora workin' the very busy Merchandise table. |
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| The Cork Opera House.. |
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| I am IMMEDIATELY impressed with the Opera House: a big, brightly shining structure that seems to beckon people toward it! Though very modern looking, it has a very unique appeal. Those glass windows above the entrance lobby are actually the windows to the pub inside, which made for a really cool place to get some pints before, during, and after the show. What a cool theatre... |
| The vibe before the show was a little different, but just as electric as it was in Dublin. There was a great sense of anticipation and excitement: it was Valentine's Day, Josh's EP was just released the day before (and had already sold out at the merchandise table), and it was the last performance on this Irish leg of the tour... |
| INSIDE THE THEATRE... This picture (at left) is what the Opera House looks like from behind Darius' drums. It's a clean, modern but grand theatre with a deep balcony and good sound. |
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| THE CONCERT |
| ONSTAGE PICTURES My location for this performance was behind the soundboard with tour manager John Vickers and my little mini-disc recorder, trying to preserve the show for us fans to relive for years and years to come. So unlike the show in Dublin, I had a great location to enjoy the show - a little TOO good: free to pop out for beers without bothering anyone and having a nice little tabletop in front of me, I found myself on cloud nine with ERIN'S GREAT SET, the anticipation of Josh and the Band, and two pints in front of me the whole time....You could say that I was "celebrating".....early. |
| Too far from the stage to take any pictures, I had to rely on a couple Cork Friends, who were seated way up front. LOUISE CONNOLLY took the two great photos above. Close by in the front row, JOAN MULCAHY took the awesome pics below, including the two at the bottom, which are my two favorite "onstage" pictures so far. Thank you SO much, Louise and Joan!! |
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| HIGHLIGHTS of a great show As I mentioned, I recorded both Erin's set and Josh and the Band's. This show was very similar to the Olympia show in Dublin as far as the setlist, but the vibe was very different. Since the Opera House is completely seated, it led to a calmer sense of enjoyment and appreciation. Now, this is NOT "better" or "worse." Just different. In Dublin, the rockin' songs ROCKED and nothing could beat that intense party atmosphere, but the quieter songs were a little more of a challenge - especially for some fans to hear. Here in Cork, you could hear a pin drop among the attentive audience through much of Erin and Josh's set, but they also rocked out when feelin' it. Erin's set was extremely fun, with a lot of crowd interaction. She was amazing. Like it had been the night before, her "Song about the States" (Rhode Island is Famous for You) was a big hit, as was the rockin' choruses of "Oh Estelle!" (La Petite Mort - Click HERE for a sound clip from Erin's set!). I was in heaven when Erin played a song that I had requested earlier during our car ride, A Better Wife. And no one will forget Erin's gorgeous version of the Matt Nathanson song Angel, dedicated as a special Valentine to Josh and the band. Highlights of Josh's set will have to be re-lived by listening to the recording I made. Email me for a trade! Memorable moments for me included a new song, Good Days, which is - of course - beautiful. My favorite Josh song recently, though, just may be Here at the Right Time, a 'newer' unrecorded song that features some of Josh's most brilliant songwriting ("I was a pretty poor cure / But my love for you was always sure / The bucket was broken / But the water was pure") and Josh played it both in Dublin and in Cork. Of course, Kathleen and Snow is Gone brought the house down and California was beautiful (I'm really, really digging the whole Zack-joins-Josh-onstage-with-another-acoustic-guitar-and-harmonizes presentation). Erin McKeown joined Josh onstage for a duet, Tonight You Belong to Me (featuring a whistling solo by Sammy), which was a show-stopper. Overall, an unforgettable show... |
| This night, however, was just beginning... |
| Valentine's Day in Cork |
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| Sam's "whistling" solo is the perfect ending to Josh and Erin's Valentine's Day duet, Tonight You Belong to Me. |
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| .Josh and Zack, harmonizing on California. |
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| MP3'S from this show! |
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| One of the most talked about Josh Ritter songs, |
| An amazing, as-yet-unrecorded song, |