Josh Ritter - Our Father's War [Caffè Lena Late Night Sessions]
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- On March 12, 2020, the opening night of Josh Ritter's Book of Gold Thrown Open tour, presented by Caffè Lena at Bethesda Episcopal Church in Saratoga Springs NY, was cancelled due to concerns over the COVID-19 virus. The tour, which was intended to allow Josh to explore his most intimate narrative songs in historic spaces around the country, never happened. This Late Night Session video stands as a tribute to each special gathering along that route that never happened, and a gift to everyone who had planned to be a part of this tour. Caffè Lena is proud to present Josh Ritter's new song "Our Father's War", and to stand behind its powerful and important message.
Filmed in stunning 4k footage by our production partners at Electric City Pictures (www.electricci...) and Diamond Grade Media (diamondgrademed..., the Caffè Lena Late Night Sessions show a new side of America's oldest continuously operating coffeehouse. These live recordings are done after the audience has gone home, when candles are lit and some of the old magic is drawn out of Lena's historic listening room.
Subscribe to the Caffè Lena channel to get updated when the next Late Night Session is published! Get first access to every Late Night Session video, plus exclusive content from live shows and more by becoming a member of Caffè Lena's Patreon community: / caffelena
Late Night production crew:
Executive Producer: Sarah Craig
Music recorded and produced by: Joel Moss
Director/Producer: Rich Schlansker
Director of Photography: Matthew Matossian @mgmatossian @diamondgrademedia
Editor/Producer: Reese Fulmer
Camera Operators: Andrina Wolff @andrinawolff, Terri-Lynn Pellegri
Front-of-house Audio: Joe Deuel
Caffè Lena offers extraordinary music in an intimate venue steeped in history. It has been in continuous operation longer than any other folk club in the USA. First opened in 1960 in Saratoga Springs NY, the Caffè's early years were entwined with the social movements of that era. Emerging artists such as Bob Dylan, The Freedom Singers, Arlo Guthrie, Emmylou Harris and Don McLean took their turn on the stage, alongside esteemed veterans such as Clarence Ashley, Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James and Pete Seeger. The venue has been called “An American Treasure” by the Library of Congress, and has received recognition from the GRAMMY Foundation for its contribution to American music.
“Remember even Jesus had to fight his father’s War.” Josh does it again. Pure genius.
This line is such a concise and brilliant send-off to the central premise of the Gospels, to say nothing of how this father-son relationship is fleshed out in Paradise Lost. And of course it fits the song brilliantly.
It’s a bible or a bullet they put over your heart.
And his father's father's war, and a father before his father's war.
"war improving only on its cruelties with innovations."
A profound "throwaway" line; this song is rich to mine
this is one of the most impactful songs josh has written since thin blue flame
Somewhere, Pete is simultaneously smiling and shedding a tear.
Just listened to this and it brought tears to my eyes as a combat veteran who fought in Iraq 2006-2007. I, btw, am also a Skidmore College alumnus (1984) and lived in Saratoga Springs, NY during the early "80s when the Caffe was going through some tough times. I am glad Caffe Lena still lives!! Thank you for this!!
Not sure what to say other than I loved it.
Always thought Thin Blue Flame was our guide through the 2nd Iraq war. It always breaks my heart.
Happy to see Josh letting it rip. Go get ‘em my friend.
Simply great as is, still I can't wait to hear it on an album!
This is spectacular.
Thanks for watching, Christopher!
When I think the well is running dry, he comes out with gems like this.
Wow! Saw this on Caffe Lena late night sessions after a live performance by my daughter, Jes Hudak. Wow, Josh! Wow!
Just brilliant Josh. Thank you for that
I've listened to this recording at least seven times. This is the best anti-war song I can recall hearing. It's almost impossible to get this degree of insight and sophistication into song lyrics without bogging down the song or sounding preachy. I'm a big Bob Dylan fan but this song makes "Masters of War" seem facile and simplistic by comparison.
This is simply brilliant! Just discovered it today, and I keep coming back to it. Brings me to tears. Josh Ritter is a magnificent singer/songwriter and master of the ballad. Love it!
We’re out of Afghanistan now! But some people who came back will never leave.
I heard this live last night at Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Amazing!
I was there at the Saturday show, and I'm not at all ashamed to say I was still wiping away the tears halfway through the next song. It was brilliant.
To who ever is behind this thank you. I hope when the world gets back to some semblance of "normal" this tour will take place
Holy hell
Wow, a true master, this is unbelievable
Excellent, Josh! And thank you for the Silo Sessions.
Wow
Just fucking wow
Hey this is really good . Happy I found it . Thank u for posting
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