newcritics

Once I knew a girl in the hard hard times
She made me a shirt out of fives and dimes
Now she’s gone but when I wear it she crosses my mind
And if the best is for the best than the best is unkind

Josh Ritter opened with “Best is for the Best” last night at Park West. Anyone who has read my blog from time to time probably has picked on the fact that I like Josh Ritter. I know I’ve plugged him before and you may think that it’s because he makes me all atwitter or something equally silly. Honestly I go to see him live each time he’s in town because you feel better on your way out than you did on your way in. He’s not just a dreamboat singing love songs. His latest album Animal Years, while playing with Twain-inspired imagery, deals with war and loss, as well as love.

Josh was recently on Talk of the Nation with Thomas Ricks, a Washington Post journalist who was discussing his new book, Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq. For Ricks, who spent a lot of time in Iraq, Josh’s songs have become the soundtrack to the Iraq war. Josh’s songs aren’t political screeds, and he’s discussed how he doesn’t like quid pro quo political songs, but two of his songs, “Girl in the War” and “Thin Blue Flame“, are obvious reactions to Iraq and this administration. “Girl in the War” describes an argument between Peter and Paul.

Peter said to Paul you know all those words we wrote

Are just the rules of the game and the rules are the first to go

But now talking to God is Laurel begging Hardy for a gun

I got a girl in the war man I wonder what it is we done

Sunday he dedicated “Thin Blue Flame” to the men and women serving in Iraq, and those living there as well. I got a single of this song in the mail long before Animal Years came out and I would drive around town listening to it on repeat. It’s a long song and I would hear different verses differently and better as I listened, but the crescendo of drums near the end always moved me. When I finally heard it live, the drummer from the other band joined his band for that moment. The drummer sneaked on stage and I didn’t know he was there until the crashing.

Now the wolves are howling at our door

Singing bout vengeance like it’s the joy of the Lord

Bringing justice to the enemies not the other way round

They’re guilty when killed and they’re killed where they’re found

If what’s loosed on earth will be loosed up on high

It’s a Hell of a Heaven we must go to when we die

Last night was a solo show, so it was just Josh and his guitar for this song. It seemed more personal this way, and his anger was palpable, though he tried to smooth for the end of the song. It’s his anger and honesty and confusion that make this song work.

I don’t want you to think that you get a super heavy show with Josh. That’s not true at all. He charmingly will spin us tales about all sorts of things. Sunday he dedicated his song “Good Man” to Mandy, the British personality of his new GPS system. He also dedicated “You Don’t Make It Easy Babe” to the Clarion Hotel chain, which has odd names for its lounges throughout the country. His favorite being Scenarios in Albany, NY.

He has an earnest yet playful charm coupled with an honesty and thoughtfulness that is hard to duplicate. He had a new suit for this tour. His black suit has been replaced with a white one, which looks too tight from many nights on stage. His hair and beard were bushy and wild, but his smile was there all the same. My friends and I sat above in the balcony, with a bird’s nest view of the stage. As we left, snow was beginning to fall, and one friend’s only complaint about our seat was that we weren’t close enough to get the warmth of his grin.

We didn’t stay to get a hug and a chat with Josh, but I urge you all to see him when he comes next to your town. Check out him live and let me know if you agree with me. And stay and get a hug. They’re the greatest.

Babe we both had dry spells

Hard times in bad lands

I’m a good man for ya

I’m a good man.

[Cross-posted.]