23 July 2019 (gig)
27 July 2019
If you’ve released an album entitled Sermon on the Rocks, you’d imagine feeling quite comfortable in a north London church. But Josh Ritter is suffering. It’s one of the warmest days London has seen in years and the city has been sweating all day. So has Josh Ritter; ‘boy this church is hot’ he observes. Before gently assuring us ‘I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong’.
This second of two nights in London is part of a rare UK tour for the American and it is obviously rather special for him. He spends much of the night in awe of his surroundings and the audience, gleeful at their understated adoration. Ritter’s loved for his storytelling and varied Americana and tonight those different layers are on full display.
Moving between the likes of soft-rock of Tom Petty-esque Homecoming and Lantern to the bluesy Henrietta, Indiana and the gentler reverential The Curse, Ritter’s songs seem to benefit from tonight's surroundings. The first half is technically superb with classy guitar slides and double bass rhythm but the momentum is lost a little as the set moves down the gears.
Not only is this London at its hottest, it’s also the day Boris Johnson is confirmed as the new prime minister. Ritter says it’s been a strange day but ‘let’s just all look after each other’. Perhaps a prayer in the pulpit will help? When he moves to that higher stage the acoustic set loses some of that early edge and the night gently peters out. Not that the crowd agree - taking to their feet twice for a standing ovation before and after a short encore.
