Nothing but positive vibes emanated from Josh Ritter and The Royal City Band when they played an energetic Valentine’s Day Brawl at Terminal 5 on Saturday, February 12.
I have come to the conclusion that Josh Ritter is the most genuinely happy performer I have ever seen on stage. He exudes such a humble graciousness that resonates throughout the crowd even before he hums a note or strums a chord. It is no surprise that he also has incredibly cool friends. The Office’s Rainn Wilson and John Krasinski surprised everyone with an epic introduction for Josh and The Royal City band. Rainn recited prose he, or as he claimed, an MIT computer program, created from a collection of Josh’s lyrics. John hardly contained his excitement and jovially greeted his pal to the stage.
Once Josh began performing, it was clear he wanted to be nowhere else. The audience was treated to an array of melodies from Josh’s multifaceted discography, including selections from the April 2010 album So Runs The World Away, Josh is an incredibly skilled lyricist and storyteller, and “The Curse” wholeheartedly embodies that. The eerily romantic tale of an ancient mummy brought to life by an interested archaeologist, beautifully unfolds from Josh’s imagination. The Royal City Band’s Sam Kassirer’s haunting piano playing carried the lyrics through the song. Liam Hurley’s visual interpretation of the song is also deserving of a nod. A performance of the old west saga “Folk Bloodbath” also exemplified his intriguing storytelling. Continue reading »
Frightened Rabbit brought their Scottish folk-rock to a sold out Webster Hall on Wednesday. Frontman Scott Hutchison mentioned playing to an empty basement in Brooklyn about three years ago (during “the Golden Fuckin’ Globes), and the venue change is a telling sign of how far the band has come. Frightened Rabbit is currently on an ambitious North American tour in support of their latest release, The Winter Of Mixed Drinks. The set included a mixture of the new tracks and songs from The Midnight Organ Fight, their breakthrough 2008 album. Continue reading »
Although winter may have a cold, dark connotation, Frightened Rabbits’ A Winter of Mixed Drinks is anything but. From the first notes the album is a spring of refreshing Scottish folk. Thus, the late March release of the album could not have come at a better time. New York is ushering its residents out of their hiding places with decent weather for the first time in many months. And A Winter of Mixed Drinks is the perfect companion for this rebirth. Continue reading »
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