Josh Ritter has returned to his second home for a run of shows and on Monday, October 23rd he stopped by the Cork Opera House for a sold-out show. Performing his third album Hello Starling in full on its 20th anniversary, it was a night full of promise and it didn’t disappoint.
Having opened with a mix of favourites from his extensive discography, including a belting version of “Wolves”, Josh Ritter unfurled Hello Starling with its delicate first track, “Bright Smile”. From there the band treated the audience to a lively set which Josh seemingly couldn’t stand still for; his dainty dance moves and broad smile were a joy to behold.
All the classics were covered: “Kathleen”, “Snow Is Gone”, and the epic “Wings”. The songs stayed close to the originals and were performed as if released to the world for the first time, all youthful enthusiasm. Midway through his Hello Starling set, Josh took a break to read “dedications” – short notes from audience members devoted to someone special. Heartfelt messages aplenty, the show went on with the crowd now truly feeling the love.
Watch Josh Ritter perform “Kathleen” at Other Voices below.
Speaking about the tour, Josh said, “When I wrote Hello Starling, I was playing coffee shops and open mics. By the time it came out, I was on tour with The Frames and Joan Baez. I was practically living on the road, hearing my songs on the radio for the first time, staying up all night, touring Europe, doing all these things I had only dreamt of. It was a grand time.”
Upon closing Hello Starling with “The Bad Actress”, Josh continued his catalogue hopping that included a stirring rendition of “Girl in the War”. And while his adoring crowd hummed and sang along with every song, there was complete silence for the show’s final song, “The Curse”. A story about a mummy and his malign love affair with an archaeologist, the audience hung on every word until the piano played out and the lights came up. And so the crowd departed in high spirits, or to quote “Bone of Song”:
“And as night had come I turned around and headed home,
With a lightness in my step and a song in my bones.”
More on Josh Ritter
To hear and pick up copies of Josh Ritter’s great music, visit his website. To see what he gets up to on tour, follow him on Instagram.
G.M
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