Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band

I wasn’t planning to write about this show. In fact, I haven’t felt like writing about a show in a while. There’s something about this time of year that just restricts the creative expanse—echoing a time of self-protection and rest, not a call to the creative. In truth, the inspiration and desire just hasn’t been hitting like it once was.


Until tonight. Until I saw a band I’ve seen (probably) 20+ times take the stage at Union Transfer—Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band. While I’m sure I saw Ritter a few years before what I’m about to recall, the first I have photographic evidence of seeing Mr. Ritter and his Royal City Band was at the State Theatre in State College, PA in 2009. I can’t remember what he played; I can only remember being with a dear friend, who stuck around after the show with me to meet Ritter. Then ensued awkward hugs that brought me near tears, and a signed ticket hoping for me, “may all your dances be slow dances.”


Flash forward almost 15 years, Josh Ritter and The Royal City Band took the stage shortly after 8pm (oh how I appreciate an early start). Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hello Starling, I expected the band to start with “Bright Smile,” but the band bounced around their extensive catalog before kicking off their celebrated album. We sung along to “Kathleen,” felt the feels during “You Don’t Make It Easy Babe,” and bounced around while (ironically) singing “Snow is Gone” (the irony being it had just freshly snowed in Philly that morning). 


Ritter brings a humble power to his lyrics, always supported by and acknowledging the band around him, which still includes a couple members who have stuck with him for a while—Sam Kassirer and Zack Hickman. You can tell they know each others’ rhythms in their souls, effortlessly transitioning between one ballad to another. 


At one point Ritter exclaimed “I know nothing about this but I remember it all.” While that sentiment could apply to so many things, it resonated with me and my own creative process. When creating, writing, painting, sculpting, I have no guidepost of what I’m doing. I didn’t outline this post before writing. I don’t know what I’m going to create when I sit down at a pottery wheel. I have no magical, deep expertise that allows me to do these things. But I do them. And a I remember the feeling, the joy of creating for the sake of creating, and I remember it all. Thanks for giving me the reminder I needed, Mr. Ritter.


I'm underneath your window now it's long after the birds have gone to roost
And I'm not sure if I'm singing for the love of it or for the love of you
But I've flown a long way honey hear my confession then I'll go
I'd rather be the one who loves than to be loved and never even know
Hello brown one hello blue one
​Last night's feathers exchanged for new ones