Into Finn Air

We got into Helsinki at 4pm yesterday, as the sun was going down and the temperatures were dropping from frigid to the sub-zeroes. The wind was doing its whipping and the hotel bar was populated with people who didn't look out of place wearing large, chunky sweaters. Plus, the hotel had one of the things I was most excited about seeing in Finland: a real sauna. I decided to stay in.

I changed and headed to the basement, but when I got there it was the usual type of hotel sauna, a little larger perhaps, and currently populated by two Catalonians. The sauna was lackluster, its heat regulated by thermostat to insure nobody died and no fun was had. I picked up enough of the conversation between the Catalonians to learn that Andalusian women are the most beautiful in the world.

After supper with the Swell Season folks I did a little research and found the experience I was looking for: Sauna Kotiharju Oy. It was across town, and apparently the only traditional wood-burning sauna in city limits. It's been going for 80 years and there were a few descriptions in English that made it look promising. I decided to go the next afternoon before soundcheck.

Europa, Europa!

I’m backstage at the Tradgar in Goteborg, Sweden. The river is ice, but the people are warm. And the coffee, for a reason I’ll never quite understand, is seen to with special care here. Maybe it’s the frosted, aspirin color of the light that leaves everyone wanting a beverage that tastes as spartan as the landscape. We’ve been having great shows, the Swell Season and I. After a little time to get back in the groove of a thirty minute solo opening set, I found my feet finally, and am now rolling into each night with a real sense of excitement.

These halls are gorgeous. In Vienna we played in the Museumsquartier, and I went to museums and walked around in the cold until I found hot wine. I had one and then I had another as I watched people ice skate to techno. After that I walked around city hall. Vienna has the only monumental marble buildings I have ever seen that still somehow manage to be graceful. It’s no surprise that the waltz comes from here; the three quarter time rhythm is tremendously solid, but like these huge granite buildings it somehow avoids being stocky, and lifts itself with real beauty. I loved it and took full advantage of my day off there. I even managed to do laundry.

Prague, Brno, Zurich...

Hello All!

I'm sitting backstage in Zurich, in what looks to be the retired throne of some Habsburg Prince. It is gilt-laden and has the kind of crushed velvet that might look tacky anywhere but here, in this jewel box of a city. Today is the first day I'm really over my jet lag. Experience has taught me that for the first three or four days of a tour in Europe I just have to let myself go where the winds of lag take me. If I'm tired (and not on stage) I sleep, and if I'm hungry, I eat. Gradually the good old pineal gland in the reptilian part of my brain aligns itself to the light cycle and I start to fall into the rhythms of morning, coffee, run, lunch, wander, work, soundcheck and show.

This is my fourth night on the road with the Swell Season, and it will be the third show. The first two were in Prague and Brno in the Czech Republic and I was just getting my feet under me after as long time of not playing solo. Today, though, it's 4 p.m. and I already have my suit on.

"Josh Ritter and the 'Royal City Band'"!

Hello again all!

Currently it is COLD here in New York. Really cold. Idaho cold. I trudged against the wind today, finding my way to and from the dentist without freezing anything too major off. Now I'm packing for my trip to join the Swell Season in Europe for the next month. I am thrilled to be joining my old friends on this exciting trip. For one thing, it is such a pleasure to be able to spend time with them. Since things started getting busier several years ago, we've seen less and less of each other. Now we get the chance to hang again, and I am really looking forward to it.

Secondly, we are going all over Europe, beginning with the Czech Republic and from there to points exotic from Zurich to Helsinki. I'll be in touch with photos, notes and maybe a few recordings as well. It's going to be great, so stay tuned. Also, anyone that wants to say hello, I'll be out front after the shows each night!

"10" (It's Good to be Back)

Hello All!

I've been away from this blog for quite awhile, but I'm back now and ready to get started on a pretty big 2010. I can't help feeling a certain need to account for what I've been doing over my time between posts. So, with the New Year, comes Book of Jubilations, a new posting site for your faithful, fitful roving correspondent-at-large. Many thanks to Doug Rice for setting it up!

I've been busy. My new album is done, and as I write we're just tying up the loose ends and, dotting the t's and crossing the eyes.

Coming Soon...

...new blog entries from Josh Ritter, chiming in from backstage, or the tour bus, or home, or most likely an airport terminal.

Until then, check out Josh's latest blogs on his Myspace page, and for the latest touring information visit his official site.

More to come!