Entertainment For Lively Minds
Is Josh Ritter the nicest man in showbusiness?
Josh Ritter is in the middle of a small Irish tour at the moment and popped into Tower Records last night for a solo acoustic set. He was supposed to do it last week but it was rescheduled on account of the volcano disruption for last night instead.
After the gig, he set himself up in the corner of the shop and people queued to have their cds signed. I've been to a few of these things and usually the act sits at a desk and signs away, occasionally looking up for a picture or glancing towards their handler for a sign that the van has arrived. Last night, as far as I could see, Ritter was on his own and by the time I left he'd been signing (and standing) for over two hours. He greeted everyone with a big hug and gave them as long as they wanted to chat, take pictures and get things signed. He even seemed interested in answering his fans' questions and related with them in a way I'd never seen at a signing before. I know there's nothing remarkable about somebody asking people where they're from, what they do and how they know each other but it must be unusual for a rock star to do it for several hours on his night off when he could surely be doing anything else.
Anyway, he may not be to everyone's taste but I think he deserves credit for engaging with his audience. I'm sure he's already forgotten about everyone he met last night but, at the same time, I imagine they'll be telling their friends about it today and, the next time he comes to town, a lot of them will go along to have a look.
So not only is he nice, but he's smart too! Well done that man.
And for those who are interested, npr are streaming his new record at the moment.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126173168
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Ritter
I lived in Dublin for a few years a while back. They love him over there, don't they? Nice to hear it is reciprocated
I also
remember a Badly Drawn Boy instore in Tower (the one off Grafton St) where one of his numbers was interrupted by his wife ringing his mobile to make sure he'd got to Ireland okay...
Surely it's time
for a nicest/nastiest people in pop thread!
If that's what you think then start one
But I think you'l find most of us vented our spleen fairly recently here http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/famous-people-you-have-met-who-are...
I know
I was joking. That I'm not funny is a cross I have to bear.
Josh and John Prine
Both completely wonderful people. Fantastic songwriters. Josh is also great in concert and may just be the happiest man alive. Josh does Mexican Home on 'Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows' an upcoming 'tribute' album on John's own label, the splendidly named 'Oh Boy' records.
1) Justin Vernon of Bon Iver - Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
2) Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band - Wedding Day In Funeralville
3) My Morning Jacket - All The Best
4) Josh Ritter - Mexican Home
5) Lambchop - Six O'Clock News
6) Justin Townes Earle - Far From Me
7) The Avett Brothers - Spanish Pipedream
8) Old Crow Medicine Show - Angel From Montgomery
9) Sara Watkins - The Late John Garfield Blues
10) Drive-By Truckers - Daddy's Little Pumpkin
11) Deer Tick featuring Liz Isenberg - Unwed Fathers
12) Those Darlins - Lets Talk Dirty In Hawaiian
Aimee Mann
We saw her at the Esplanade here in Singapore last year and after the gig she appeared outside in the foyer to sign CD's etc. There was a reasonable crowd so the wife and I went off to get something to eat. When we came back about 45 mins later, she was still there. There were only a handful of people left but she was happily talking with them, posing for photos etc etc.
Great gig as well
Check out
Daytrotter for a very good Josh Ritter session that you can download for free
Daytrotter
Lots of other fine session on there too - from Aimee Mann to Kris Kristofferson
How did I not know about this already?
What a great site - thank you very much...
Josh Ritter
I was listening to Josh Ritter's The Animal Years last night - what an excellent album that is. I'd highly recommend the track Good Man to anyone who doesn't know him.
Josh Ritter
He sounds like a very nice man indeed. A very good musician too, and he's also married to Dawn Landes who's pretty good too as well.