 |
| photos - video - guitar chords/tabs - message board - links - misc |
 |
|
| Josh Ritter performing at Club Cafe in Pittsburgh. On Doug Rice's Josh Ritter Fansite. Part of "June 2005 Shows". Songs from Josh Ritter's new album include peformance of "Best for the Best", a premeire. |
| Date: Tuesday June 7, 2005 Venue: "Club Cafe" in Pittsburgh, PA The Big Deal: No, this show didn't carry the significance of others on the short tour. So what's the big deal? Well, other than the Southpaw show that opened the tour run, this was the only other headlining show for the public. This meant a full set, die-hard Josh fans who drove from miles and miles, and a more intimate setting. It was also the setting of a Josh Ritter premeire: For the first time ever, Josh would perform a song called "Best For the Best," a song from the new album. |
| "Club Cafe" is a cool little venue that Josh has played before, and attracts some of the best in independent rock. I call it "small" - and it is, compared to the other places we're visiting on this tour - but "intimate" is a better word. Parking a tour van outside isn't easy, though (and we have a nice little altercation with a police officer). The highlight of the amenities, actually, is an office upstairs for the artists that has a photocopier, separate bathroom, and - most importantly - a high speed computer. This is a treat while on the road. In fact, only six days on the road and I'm already way out of touch with emails. So out of touch, in fact, that I don't get our buddy Del's (he set up the joshritter.com message board) email that he'll be driving into Pittsburgh from Cleveland for the show. We wanted to have him there as our guest, but like a true fan he had already bought a ticket and was outside, on line. Ah, we'll get ya next time, Del (or did we already - at Whelan's?) |
| . |
 |
| June 2005 Entry > Introduction > Brooklyn > Philadelphia > Boston > New York > Pittsburgh > Knoxville > Bonnaroo |
| > Josh Ritter Fansite > Features > June 2005 Shows > Pittsburgh's Club Cafe |
| Josh Ritter and his Band Rock the Small, Packed House |
| Review: This show is one for the memories, living on in the hearts of the people who were there. Literally. Because not many photos were taken (I only took the one above). It wasn't recorded. No setlist was grabbed. And to be honest, as I manned the merchandise table and kept busy, I'm having trouble remembering much of this show (!). But several things about this night stand out... |
| Speaking of friends, I also finally get to meet "Emily," an old friend of Josh's and someone I've emailed on and off for quite some time. Meeting people in person at the shows that I've only known through email is definitely one of the highlights of a Josh Ritter show for me. Whether it's in Pittsburgh or Dublin, whether I only know them or they only know me (and the Fansite), it's always fun. A girl named "Jackie Jones" is also in attendance, and was kind enough to send along the photos of Josh you see here on this page. Thanks, Jackie! |
| Though we have to start our drive toward Tennesse after the show, the hotel isn't too far so we have some time to kick back and enjoy the local Pittsburgh flavor. We make our way down the street to "Dee's" for some well-deserved beers and a game or two of billiards. Some new friends meet up with us. The drinks are so cheap, I'm convinced the bartender is messing up or extremely kind. Zack contends that Pitt is just a cool town with low prices. So my beers go down a lot, uh, smoother. |
 |
| Josh and the band's set goes just great. The place is packed, and there are many long time fans/friends in attendance. "Kathleen," "Anne," "The Bad Actress," "Other Side," "Snow is Gone," are among the songs played, much to the audience's delight. Again, I wasn't able to observe the actual show in all its glory -- but one particular song really made me stop everything I was doing and focus on the stage: one of my favorite songs from the new album, "Best For the Best," is played by Josh, solo. It's a beautiful song that I've also heard Josh soundcheck, but didn't know if and when it would make it's first public appearance. It's on this night in Pittsburgh. And it sounds just awesome. "Best For the Best" is a soothing but sad song about moving on. Consider "Once I knew a girl in the hard, hard times / She made me a shirt out of fives and dimes / Now she's gone but when I wear it she crosses my mind / And if 'the best is for the best' then the best is unkind." After the show, Josh tells me, "I really wanted to try this one out, solo. And it felt really good. It felt right." |
| "Wolves" is once again played near the end of the concert, and once again I almost break things and hurt people around me by jumping up and down.... |
| . |
 |
| Spirits are high, and though the shows have all gone great so far, the excitement is really in anticipation of the next few days. Psyched about the tour so far and even more psyched about the rest of the week, we say goodbye to Pittsburgh... |
 |
 |