Josh Ritter Live at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles

Regular readers are undoubtedly familiar with our affinity for Josh Ritter here at the Ruckus. His unbridled passion in his live performances is a huge part of why we enjoy him so much. Josh and the Royal City Band’s concert at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles is a prime example of this.

Ritter’s performance is a perfect mesh of the depth of emotion in his songs and a great joy that comes from a love of performing. One moment the man is somberly leading the crowd, without amplification and in darkness, through the powerful “Thin Blue Flame,” the next joyously working a humourous monologue about LA that emerges into a playful cover of Talking Heads’s “Once in a Lifetime” (and that monologue and cover occupying the middle of “Harrisburg”).

Josh himself isn’t the only source of this perfect meld of seriousness and joy; His recording and live cohorts, the Royal City Band, exhibit it as well. Between moments of flawless performances, the band can be seen exhibiting the biggest, most genuine smiles. The fantastically-moustached bass player, Zack Hickman, took Josh’s encouragement that the crowd slow dance to “Kathleen” to point out to some apprehensive audience members that he saw “a lot of talky talky and not a lot of dancey dancey.” “This is not optional,” he cheerfully reiterated.

The night ended with Josh and opening act/Frightened Rabbit singer Scott Hutchinson dueting the Everly Brothers’ “Stories We Could Tell,” followed by a rousing performance of “To the Dogs or Whoever,” the fast and joyous opener to his fifth album, The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter.

Josh Ritter – To The Dogs Or Whoever