Josh Ritter

Now here’s a guy who likes what he does. Moscow, Idaho’s own Josh Ritter goodnaturedly rocked this low-key establishment to a standing-room crowd that lapped up every lick, lyric, and quip he gave them. “He has not stopped smiling,” my cohort being introduced to Ritter for the first time mentioned at one point, and it was true. Josh Ritter may be one of the more eloquent troubadours on the road these days, but he’s perhaps also the happiest fella on the planet.

So be it. His glee is our gain when a high-end plugged-in folk show like this is the product. Polished and affable, Ritter and his similarly merry henchmen tumbled through the clap-tastic rockers and hushed ballads with equal measure and sharp shooting.

And this is a man who shoots from the hip. The Uzi-styled lyrics of “To the Dogs or Whoever” didn’t disappoint. Ritter tore through his words with breathless gusto, tagging on the sedated “Wildfires” at the end for good effect. First song “Good Man” was rendered even more gorgeous than the album take. When it’s not literate understatement or moving narrative (“The Temptation of Adam” conducted in a missile silo of all spots), it’s slap-happy fun with the good ol’ boys on stage. We’re all invited to their party, and we’re just tickled pink to come.

Take multi-talented bassist Zack Hickman’s hilariously matter-of-fact response to a fan who blurted out “Magnum P.I.!” about his handlebar moustache when Ritter introduced his right-hand man: “This does not look like a Magnum P.I. moustache. You need to watch more television.” Hickman then launched into a zany little tale about how he makes his own moustache wax on the stovetop, and it was all downhill from there.

And yet, uphill. Up’s the only way when Josh Ritter’s in the room. Near show’s end he commanded audience members to grab a partner. “We’re gonna do a 30-second slow dance,” he instructed. “I know it’s a joy killer for some, but we’ve gotta make the corn grow.” Wait, what? But really, who cares? Josh said it. Needless to say, the man from the Potato State can commiserate with his Indiana audience.

“Girl in the War” makes for a devastating, localized take on world conflict without picking sides insofar as labeling a war as “moral” or “just.” It could be any war from any time. That’s just Ritter artfully crafting songs with universal appeal and a profoundly personal bent all at once.

To reiterate: The dude has something special. He may be the only singer-songwriter working today who can mention monster ballads and the Stations of the Cross in the same breath in song and make it work. He didn’t do “Monster Ballads” on this night, but he got his already-hoppy fans to downright dancing around on “Rumors,” a song about everything at once and (likely) about a breakup: “So you’re gonna have to show me how that dance is done, the one where somebody leaves someone.” It’s a standout among this man’s many ecstatic daggers.

An encore of “Since You’ve Gone” name-dropped chlorophyll of all things (again, only Josh Ritter) and made the final case that everyone’s favorite huckster poet could do no wrong. “Don’t tell anybody I did this,” he warned with that perpetual smirk. “It’s not much of a song.” The feel-good climate at a Ritter show could be attributed to backstage ganja maybe, but one’s more inclined to think the simplest: He’s just that damn happy. Does it make you wonder what truly irks the guy? Yes. Does it make you want to irritate him? Hardly.

What to even say? The players were on top from start to finish and riffed off of Ritter’s infectious vibe with aplomb. These are guys who know each other quite well and like each other even more. “Am I making all the right moves?” Ritter asks in one ditty. The response on this eve was a resounding “Hells yeah” and a deep yearning to see more singers get out there and act like they’re glad to get to see the nation and the world like this, doing what they do. Even at nighttime this brother brings the sun.

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