At Just the Right Time, Josh Ritter at City Winery
Written by Emmi Jacqueline - Photography by Emmi Jacqueline
The first and only time I saw Josh Ritter live was around 2011, but it was definitely in Lawrence, KS. I was introduced to his music by a horrible college boyfriend and it took me a few years to disassociate the music from that rough time in my life. Since then, Josh Ritter has been a staple on every train, plane, or road trip. Each of his records contributes songs to the soundtrack of my everyday life. He has a unique way of arranging music and lyrics that tells a story, pulls you in, and leads you down a rabbit hole of history and emotion. Unfortunately, I had never met another person who shared my passion for this fantastic musician and dragged a friend promising a night of unforgettable music and at least two record store stops.
Walking into City Winery St. Louis, there was already electricity in the air. The crowd was buzzing as the staff guided everyone to their seats in the packed venue. As we nestled into our seats, none other than Missouri’s own Austin Jones sat down across from us. Immediately Austin and I started sharing notes and comments on songs, joking about how some songs you have to explain 2-5 other folk songs first to understand the full depth and context. To start the night knowing someone else understood what we were about to experience was electric.
As Josh took the stage, looking adorable as always in a fun print button-up and silver sneakers, the crowd was immediately eating out of his hands. He didn’t even have to sing to make it happen. While it was just him on stage, and nothing else, it didn’t feel empty or like a band was missing. Just Josh, his guitar, and all of us sitting close.
As he launched into Henrietta, Indiana followed by Right Moves, you could tell he was hitting his stride. This was what this man was meant to do: play music, share stories, and smile like it’s the best time he’s ever had. He paced it all so well. Changing the tempo back and forth between slower and faster songs, he took the audience on a journey spanning his career.
He soon played a clear crowd favorite, Folk Bloodbath. As the tune ran along, everyone was moving in their seats while singing along. Folk Bloodbath is an essential for Josh Ritter fans, a blend of folklore and music. He shares the story featuring Hangin Billy Lyons and Stacker Lee (or Stagger Lee, depending on who’s telling the story), both notable folk legends from St. Louis. As the song ended, he looked up at the crowd and it felt like he had just noticed we had been there this whole time.
As he worked through the rest of the set, the crowd was hooked. Josh’s vulnerability on stage with his passionate singing and subtle dance moves carried the candle-lit room. The energy coming from the crowd was just as warm and comforting. We all shared an incredible and intimate set with Josh.
When he started to play Kathleen, there was a sigh of relief in the room almost. Thank goodness he was getting to this classic. My eyes filled with tears while he shared the story of Kathleen, the desire to love and be cared for expressed with every word and chord.
As he runs through some of his newer material, we are reminded of his own journey and what he can add to ours. He filled our heads with warm songs and thoughts about true love, returning to nature, and being present in the moment instead of always longing for the future. Then again he picked up the pace with Getting Ready to Get Down (another song that mentions Missouri). The lyrics could hardly leave his body fast enough, it was like watching a man possessed with the need to purge. Then again slowed it down with "Here at the Right Time" and its gut-wrenching lyrics of “Tell me I got here at the right time; And if I did, it’s probably the first time”.
He saved “To the Dogs or Whomever” for the encore and ramped up the energy one last time. This time, the words couldn’t leave any of us fast enough, but we all sang along and finished out the night with Josh’s unique sense of wonder and love of the present moment.