Josh Ritter's Blog, page 3
May 27, 2020
April 3, 2020
Silo Sessions Poster Available Now
Super excited to release this limited edition silkscreen poster for the Silo Sessions, designed by our friend Matthew Fleming. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Citymeals on Wheels. Get yours here!
December 11, 2019
“The Gospel of Mary” Out Now
I wrote “The Gospel of Mary” last summer, but returned to it, added to it, amended it, and basically worried over it like an injury. Like many, I have been horrified by the Administration’s treatment of our fellow human beings, shocked by the lack of empathy, and furious and bewildered by the depths to which we seem to have sunk.
This isn’t a song that I wanted to wait for a record to release. If it works as a song, it’s because the story is true.
I have been performing it now for a little while, and got the chance to play it with Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires for a Tiny Desk Concert. But I wanted to record it and I got the opportunity to work with The Milk Carton Kids one afternoon in Los Angeles. I want to thank them for being so great and for working on this important song with me.
Listen here.
December 10, 2019
A Book of Gold Thrown Open
I was thinking back to some of my favorite concerts over the years, and I realized how many took place in spaces that were special in their own right. Cathedrals, synagogues, strange and storied theaters, each bring a special kind of glow to the performance.
I was also feeling the urge to play some of my quieter, more narrative songs that I may not always get the chance to perform during larger rock shows.
So I decided to put together a tour that would allow me to play these songs, and some new ones that I’ve been writing, in some of these beautiful spaces. I decided to call the tour “A Book of Gold Thrown Open.”
I’ll mainly be solo, but it’ll be a fun chance to have a few special guests and accompaniment. And most of all, I’m looking forward to singing these songs. I hope you can make it! Presale starts tomorrow 12/11 at 10am local, sign up on joshritter.com now to get the password. General onsale this Friday 12/13 at 10am local.
In the spirit of the tour, there’s a new song called “The Gospel of Mary” that I recorded with The Milk Carton Kids in Los Angeles. Listen here.
Rock on, and thank you.
NEW TOUR DATES:
March 12 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Bethesda Episcopal Church
March 13 – Boston, MA – Sanders Theatre
March 14 – Brooklyn, NY – Murmrr Theatre
March 17 – Washington, DC – 6th & I Synagogue
March 19 – Pittsburgh, PA – Carnegie Lecture Hall
March 20 – Chicago, IL – Fourth Presbyterian Church
March 21 – Grand Rapids, MI – Fountain Street Church
March 22 – Bloomington, IN – Buskirk-Chumley Theater
April 21 – Los Angeles, CA – First United Church
April 22 – San Francisco, CA – Herbst Theatre
April 24 – Portland, OR – The Old Church
April 25 – Seattle, WA – St. Mark’s Cathedral
November 27, 2019
October 3, 2019
Tiny Desk with Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires Out Now
My Tiny Desk concert with the awesome Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires is out now! I’m so honored and grateful to them for joining me. I spent a lot of time trying to decide what songs to sing. In the end, I decided that I wanted my three songs to be ones that looked at the humanity and inhumanity on display all around us in the United States at this moment in time. We did two songs from Fever Breaks, and a brand new one called “The Gospel of Mary.” Thanks to NPR Music for having us, and thank you everyone for listening. Watch HERE.
August 30, 2019
Losing Battles with The Milk Carton Kids (Amazon Original) – Out Now!
Last time I was in LA, I met up with The Milk Carton Kids and we recorded a few songs. We did this stripped-down and trippy version of “Losing Battles” that I think is super cool and is out today via Amazon Music.
You can also watch a video of us performing it in the studio here.
We had a blast recording this! Thanks again to Kenneth and Joey. You guys are tremendous.
