Josh Ritter Returns to Letterman ("To the Dogs or Whoever")

[@KevinHulten]

ritter gonna be famous like 200 years after we’re all dead. the great ones never great in their time

[@E9oK9kMaV]

i agree, he's so underappreciated. he's an amazing songwriter.

[@leesanfacon1903]

One of the kindest celebrities ever. I have met him twice and he remembered my name. Extremely humble.

[@davidbuck5916]

SO. DAMNED. GOOD. And my favorite iteration of the Royal City Band.

[@amsterdamshusi]

What I love about Josh Ritter, in addition to his beautiful songs, is the fact that he is ALWAYS smiling onstage. You know that he is happy when he's performing. The spirit of the music gets to him and that, subsequently, gets to me. It's just a wonderful experience to listen to him and watch him play.

[@velocitygirl8551]

The first time I saw him perform this at the house of blues in Boston… I almost died. I get the same feeling every time I watch this!

[@uselessidguy331]

I cannot reiterate enough how exceptional Josh Ritter is as a song writer. In an age of standardized, canned music, Ritter transcends the status quo. Your can really hear a part of the artist in this song; he is a brilliant musician and a breath of fresh air.

[@akobrien9142]

Further proof that Letterman has great music taste. Makes me happy to see this.

[@unionironjosh]

There’s a version they did in a basement. And that version hits home.

[@geeback]

Thank 😅you!

[@markatr6]

right up there with paul simon, john prine, townes and so many others as a songwriter, a dynamic performer as well, a positive feeling always, give sme hope that all 'modern day' artists arent just out for fame n fortune with dancing skills & a wacky 'look'...

[@HamCubes]

I love the pure earnestness and joyfulness of these dudes when they perform.

[@CAMPFIRESKY]

I never knew Josh was on Letterman. This was my first time seeing this ! Liam was really going at it ! LOL

[@edwardclark7705]

This reminds me of the Buddy Holly performance on Ed Sullivan. Not just because of the similar aesthetic, but because of how important each are. I watched Letterman every night for his last 25 years (only 5 more than I knew of Josh.) Easily, this is my favorite musical guest and performance (though that Beastie Boys performance a few years earlier is a close second). The happiness in this video is contagious. It's one of the reasons I love JR so much. He can be singing the saddest of songs but still be unable to hide how thankful he is for the life he has and the pleasure he's able to give through his music. He's a treasure.

[@faithmackey1535]

I've never seen a band whose passion for music is so evident through their performance.

[@allmyfriendsband]

Everything about this performance is what it’s all about

[@Drawntoheal]

I'm sad to say that I just found Josh Ritter a few months ago, the bright side is I have so much music to listen to - it's all amazing. Just saw his show in Boston and it's one of the best I've been to.

[@txmedic37]

I've never seen a band show so much joy in making music as Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band. I love seeing them play live shows.

[@davemiller8265]

damn I love this song, pure happiness!

[@ChemistTea]

fantastic

[@Shohidur-m2s]

What a rollicking live version this is!

[@davemiller8265]

this song gives me hope for Spring

[@oakshield]

oh shit son, this makes me happy

[@jcharles65]

Obies Rock! Liz Phair, Karen O, Chris Brokaw, Josh...who else? More to come!

[@artofwong]

Criminally underrated work of downright nasty lyricism.

[@TheGuitardan100]

Johnnie Wong Josh is a lyrical genius!

[@senpaisama]

Perfectly stated.

[@jamesmoisson]

totally about me

[@E9oK9kMaV]

@@TheGuitardan100 I think Ritter is right up there with Dylan.

[@TheGuitardan100]

@smith you’re not wrong!

[@cassnate6259]

Every musician has influences, that's what makes music what it is! Josh definitely channels the likes of Dylan and Springsteen, but if you look deeper into his music, you'll realize that he is a HUGE original talent. Not to mention one of the most kind and compassionate musicians I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.

[@jonathanlantzy7526]

15 years man.... I've seen Josh a few times live since this and what a damn pleasure

[@sarahem78]

I love Josh!!! And it's so awesome to see how happy they all are to preform. He brings a great energy to the stage and he's so wonderful to see live!

[@thatericguy1]

nice to see band members who are happy, smiling, obviously having a blast.

[@googleisgay3289]

Jesus, that's the way to make a debut.

[@StephenEdgar]

Of all the Josh Ritter videos I have seen this is by far the best performance I have ever seen the band perform.

[@nwbpwner12]

As a person who knows Ritter personally (I live in his hometown), I can say that he's an amazing person.

[@nontajoin719]

I love that drummer!

[@uselessidguy331]

Such a nice guy. A gift and a blessing to the music world.

[@TriumphT140]

Seeing Ritter live is magical, he is just SO happy to be up there doing what he's doing, that plus his music just makes your heart glow.

[@Boonie22]

Just saw him in Carrboro NC. It was the best concert I have ever seen and probably will ever see. He played every song with the same enthusiasm and energy as the last. Simply Incredible.

[@intergalaticSonic7s]

the drummer looks so happy ... its contagious! :)

[@distiller56]

drum fill on the end was bamf

[@ZachByrd]

Lawd have mercy this is outstanding. I'll be seeing Josh in Atlanta tonight. Should be amazing.

[@Mike_Anonymous]

Only thing better than being in David Letterman's audience is being their with Josh Ritter as the guest.

[@StanleyBradshaw]

this... thats the happiest drummer.

[@jkorn1]

Wow...what a great performance. Can't get better than that!

[@justinmc16]

this guy is super talented

[@dwilson94]

Saw him perform this at the Wiltern Nov. 19th 2009. Pretty wild performance so much fun!

[@bnj962]

Josh Ritter is awesome live. He's a great performer.

[@katclarke]

wonderful, absolutely. in my top ten albums of all time! if you can, go see him live!!!!

[@musicqueen05]

Such a belting performance of an excellent. Ritter is just amazing; lyrically and melodically!! He deserves much more attention than he gets.

[@foresstguy]

I've watched this video many times and the drum fill takes me by surprise every single time. Amazing...

[@geeksquad4ever]

That was AMAZING!!! It just cracks me up to see Josh jump around like that!

[@uselessidguy331]

The best live song I've ever heard...saw him last Saturday @ the 9:30 Club in DC. I'll put Josh right on par with Dylan in his prime. I've never seen a more genuine, sincere live performance...the guy is magical.

[@JEP177777]

What a fantastic song !

[@Ichimaru84]

hes from my town too! which means we must be from the same town

[@TheOfficialCaseMade]

Saw this dude on think TV two days ago at like 3 in the morning,and I just loved his energy,it looks like he is having so much fun up there playing,I couldnt find the band name because I fell asleep,but i finally found it,and he is a phenomenal musician.

[@TamaraVallejos]

Wow, that was awesome.

[@xXThatChadXx]

are you talking about Josh Ritter's Guitar? i dont know what Josh plays but the other Guitar player has a Danelectro

[@nmjr.6732]

Such an early Springsteen influence n thw band has as much dun as the e street band..incredible

[@nevanmcc]

Mr. O'Neill. Flip you for showing me this video. Cant stop watching it. Brilliant brilliant stuff. Great band behind him too

[@dotsie7320]

good! more great stuff from josh and band to send out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Always cheers me up on the dumbest of days.

[@romkesijtsma]

Just saw him in Groningen(The Netherlands) Easterday the first,very good performance! We enjoy:)

[@kcgman]

amazing song!

[@0123juls3210]

[@panchovans]

brillaint, totally agree with comment below - this guy is class and always smiling on stage. what if other musicians had half his presense! also love the r=drum roll at the end and letterman's comments v funny :)

[@VideosTimes2]

Not sure they come any better than Josh Ritter!

[@walkerlg]

Yes agreed

[@mikeytikey1]

Frightened Rabbit brought me here - Scott Hutchison is touring with him now & if they think he's good then he must be good. And he is. Very.

[@karmakelly]

Oh that was superb..you guys were rocked that one out! Best thing I've seen on tv in months :)

[@rosepose88]

wow so awesome to see you guys kicking it! you really WENT for it, I just love watching this!!!!! love you all, rose p

[@drummerboyrocks]

amazing performance!!!! :-)

[@leftcoastpunk]

He's my role model.

[@pythoniac]

he's austin nevins, the new lead guitarist. i serious asset for the band, too. :-)

[@petermorningsnow]

Through his music, he makes a life devoted of saving others attractive . . . But in fact it doesn't work like that, the life, unless you were born a lucky devil.

[@Ichimaru84]

@musicqueen05 I met him when my choir performed with him.

[@FXMAN66]

Thanks for sharing. WTF does that have to do with the clip?

[@jjulian4775]

wow

[@tinymech]

Why not is the real question

[@sayacate]

awesome! where did you find his address? I couldn't find it...

[@Ethonadon]

tom selleck on bass!

[@googleisgay3289]

Catholicism sheds itself to hear this. True catholicism.

[@reallist8050]

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa tf son

[@googleisgay3289]

tf

[@ThisIsWar257]

does anyone know what kind of guitar josh is using? he seems to like that company, im just not sure what it is

[@nickdurrett]

this guy makes me want to cut off the computer, throw my televison out the window and just write more and more songs... he is off the chain

[@funniestbone]

@mikeytikey1 That would be the best. concert. ever.

[@jonsays]

its a creston. creston guitars are handbuilt in vermont by a cool guy. google creston guitars.

[@darkcanuck]

god like

[@libertiny]

G-R-E-A-T comment my friend!

[@jeffbendoski8364]

Tim Meadows - "It turns all of your bad feelings into good feelings...it's a nightmare!" Josh Ritter - "I'd like to try me some o' dat c'caine." 10 minutes later - Alright, again! Faster! Faster!

[@leftcoastpunk]

@Grawp55 I have to disagree. It's not frantic or pretentious....Consider how great literary poets such as Robert Frost, Ralph Waldo Emerson and even modernist writers such Jorge Borges often create great works of art using allusions, abstraction and other literary devices...yet...a lot of their work (especially Borges) seems very meaningless to the casual reader when, in fact, there are reasons and meaning behind every line and word used....There is a reason behind the madness as they say.

[@AUSSIEGAL34]

Lol he has the same last name as me xD

[@cmcelroy222]

Sometimes everyone in the band is a drummer

[@beseeingyou6]

Mark Wallberg does Bob Dylan

[@aidanban]

More like John prine meets Dylan...

[@futureman7587]

🌈⚡🌈⚡🌈

[@akroyd]

jachri, "she MAKES THE MOST OF HER TIME BY lovin me plenty..."

[@pythoniac]

nice one, doug! :-) shame about the sound, though, liam sounds like he's playing in the bath. :-(

[@nmjr.6732]

E street band version 2.0

[@0123juls3210]

@thistledown never! :)

[@jamesmoisson]

acctually i compare josh ritter to nostradamus but whos counting?

[@CrazySurferChic]

amazing, but the drummer is slightly TOO happy for my comfort!

[@blue2blueinthenight]

It sure is good were entitled our point of view. To even use his name in the same sentence as Dylan at this point is sheer naivety IMHO.

[@jimbojim68]

Dave says "Nice to meet you" but it was the band's second appearance. What's up, Dave, you don't know good music?

[@MinnenAudio]

I like Ritter much more than Dylan. Sorry to the Dylan fans

[@grimatongueworm]

Cool song, but, um, I wish the bass player would just play the frigging bass and leave the drums to the um...DRUMMER! :-)

[@zdarkmind]

@bstreich23 you redefine gayness.....

[@bstreich23]

I'd rather listen to Bieber