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| Josh Ritter performing at The Cutting Room in New York City, broadcast live on 90.7 WFUV radio. On Doug Rice's Josh Ritter Fansite. Songs include Wolves, Idaho, Anne, Golden Age of Radio. MP3'S available for download. |
| Date: Monday June 6, 2005 Venue: "The Cutting Room" in New York City The Big Deal: This was a private show for members of public radio 90.7 WFUV in New York - a big supporter of Josh's music and one of the best radio stations in the country. So it was not only great to play for this audience, but the music would reach farther than that: the concert was broadcast live over the radio in NYC, as well as live across the world online. |
| "The Cutting Room" is a small room - but a real classy one. The bar/lounge area outside the listening room is actually three times the size of the listening room, and combines swanky, timeless decor with dated, retro fun (like a Pac-Man arcade game). After soundcheck, drummer Dave Hingerty sat himself down there and fed in quarter after quarter. As I watched, he asked, "Do ya know how to play it?" "Yeah, of course" I said, a bit confused by his question. "Well,'" he replied, "how do you play?" I didn't know he meant it literally. So I filled Dave in on the whole ghosts-turning-blue thing. |
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| June 2005 Entry > Introduction > Southpaw > Philadelphia > Boston > New York > Pittsburgh > Knoxville > Bonnaroo |
| > Josh Ritter Fansite > Features > June 2005 Shows > Cutting Room (WFUV) |
| Josh Ritter and his Band - Live Over the NYC Airwaves |
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| Review: This was the start of a big week. We had off the day before, and geared up for a big week that would start in New York, and end at the biggest music festival in the world, "Bonnaroo." |
| After some playing around with the setlist, Josh goes for a walk, Sam goes for a snack (delicious cookies), Zack reads. I tear into the Josh Ritter merchandise, organizing the inventory and setting it up to be sold at a separate table. At most shows, this is where I spend the majority of my time while the band is onstage and afterwards. But once this is set up, it's time to kill as we wait. A walk around. A beer. Some Pac-Man. |
| Once showtime arrives, it's more exciting than usual, because there's a "countdown" - an actual countdown. Unlike other shows, when the band comes out when they're good and ready, this show must start at an exact time, when it'll be "Welcome! We are LIVE on the radio from the Cutting Room in New York City!" So the countdown starts when WFUV radio host Claudia Marshall comes onstage to welcome the members and prep us for the broadcast. Then it's LIVE. After an intro for the radio audience and a quick "Thank you!" from Josh, it's right into the quiet and haunting thumping of the song "Idaho." Josh's voice silences the room. Sam will slowly layer in a subtle touch of organ, and Zack will add the hum of his bass by using a bow across it. But this song is a lyrical and vocal showcase for Josh. And it's a perfect opener that hypnotizes the audience. |
| SETLIST: 1. Idaho 2. The Other Side 3. Bad Actress 4. Snow is Gone 5. Roll On 6. Me and Jiggs 7. Man Burning 8. Monster Ballads 9. (Interview with Claudia Marshall) 10. Anne 11. Wolves 12. Golden Age of Radio 13. Kathleen |
| Songs like "The Other Side," "Bad Actress," "Anne," and "Golden Age of Radio" are fan faves, but have an all new presentation - especially Anne and Golden Age. Sam, behind the organ and keyboards, has several new sound effects toys. And the "rockin" segments of these songs are REALLY cooking. "Anne" finds the band harmonizing beautifully on this re-awakened classic, and "Golden Age of Radio" has a wonderful new spin: as I mentioned in the Southpaw review, the band now pleases fans of the up-tempo version (as heard on the record) as well as fans of the slow ballad version (heard in recent concerts) by combining them; the song starts in ballad form, then kicks into the fast version, and barely lets up. It's the perfect compromise! |
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| "Idaho," "Monster Ballads," and "Wolves" are the new songs tonight. I've mentioned "Idaho" earlier; "Monster Ballads" is pared DOWN, and consists mainly of just Josh singing and on guitar, with Sam adding beautiful piano. It's a great rendition. And "Wolves." Ah, "Wolves"..... Again: this is, without a doubt, my favorite song on the new album, and just could be my favorite Josh Ritter song to date. It's amazingly written and rocks, with classic Josh Ritter imagery and metaphor: "One day I just woke up, the wolves were all there! Wolves in the piano, wolves underneath the stairs, wolves inside the hinges, circling around my door, at night inside the bedsprings, quick and across the floor! I just don't know how they found me! I'll never know quite how....!" If this song wasn't so footstomping happy and euphoric, the song would be downright scary. Plain and simply, in my opinion, this song is just KICK ASS. |
| The show ended perfectly, with Josh and the band returning after the main set (and broadcast) to play a few special songs for the members-only audience. I sell cd's and shirts, Josh meets and greets audience members, and the band starts loading us out. But there's time before leaving to kick back with a beer or two, have a laugh. |
| Rain's coming down, though, and we have a long drive out to Pittsburgh for a show the next night. So it's on the road we go..... |
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| HEAR some of the show! |
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| [ mp3's ] |
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