Meaningful Songs: Josh Rouse - Winter in The Hamptons

Josh Rouse - Winter in the Hamptons

I saw Josh Rouse again last night at The Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. The 4th time now I've seen him since around 2013 I recall.

Josh Rouse is a huge favorite of my wife's but I have to admit, the guy has some great tunes, and while I doubt this is my #1 or at least most known/listened to track of his (Comeback (Light Therapy) that probably goes to), I recently came to find this to be quite a mesmerizing, romantic number.

Even just for the "bah bah bah-bah bahhh" chants alone, I have been won over by it.

It's both catchy and sublime in some ways.

I suppose "The Hamptons" being those places in New York (near Long Island?) that admittedly, wealthy people live or go to for Rest and Relalaxtion I think of maybe in a romantic way. Kind of an escape.

Also for the fact the TV Show Royal Pains was set there, so I kind of think of that show and also the now past last decade time frame, etc Both from a time not too long ago, but sometimes I wish I could go back to. The ole' wish I had known Josh Rouse's music when Nashville came out in 2005, seen him live back then (and as many times my wife has, 8), etc as I would have even more nostalgia for it and this song.

But never too late..

Josh Rouse @ The Dakota Jazz Club 5/19/18

So the wife and I and a friend saw Josh Rouse on Saturday Night.

I have said what I have about The Dakota in the recent past (and further back, which I considered it the best live music venue at 1 time, in Bandana Square in St.Paul).

But I do like their policy with 2 shows, when the 2nd isn't sold out, people from the 1st can see the 2nd for free (more drinks?).

Below is the set list for the 1st show at 7PM:

Businessman
Love In The Modern Age
It's the Nightime
1972
Salton Sea
It Looks Like Love
Ordinary People, Ordinary Lives
Comeback (Light Therapy)
Flight Attendant
Women The Wind
Dressed Up Like Nebraska
Simple Pleasure
My Love Has Gone
Winter in the Hamptons
I Will Live On Islands
(solo)
Sad Eyes
(starts solo and then band rejoins)

Encore:
Love Vibration

The 2nd set was not identical and included Michigan (with some help from our table and some others shouting it out), and few other different songs. But overall was  pretty similar.

The thing about this show, compared to the 2 other times I saw Josh Rouse, was HIS BAND was basically on fire! Throughout most of the 1st set, and much of the 2nd set as well. Even having the crowd stand up for the encore, which I've never seen any crowd stand up at The Dakota from memory, and dance.

His bassist was the same, James "Hags" Haggerty from at least the last show I and the wife saw him at The Fine Line. But his guitarist and drummer? I'm not sure.

Both of them and all 4 were really hitting on all cylinders and in great spirits. Songs like "Salton Sea" "Winter in the Hamptons" 'Dressed Up Like Nebraska" and an obvious staple and live favorite "Comeback (Light Therapy)" were among the many highlights.

My wife's friend has said that Josh Rouse's live music outshines his studio work, which after Saturday night, I can totally see. Although after the show I ended up revisiting some of the older tunes from Nashville and 1972 namely, and must say there's a reason I got into those records and bought them on vinyl. The layering and mood totally works on them.

I may try and revisiting and listening to more of his earlier records again, that my wife of course knows rather well. Some I have on CD, some I do not.

But I guess my thought is to not miss Josh Rouse live if possible, other than when he opens for Nick Lowe I suppose. This was the 8th time (or 9th and 10th shows?) seeing him, and I can see why, per when his band is on, they are really good live. A bit like the First National Band show we saw in January. Nesmith's band was on fire, thus he and the music was awesome. Josh Rouse was the same way on Saturday.

Also "Salton Sea" while greater live, has become 1 of my favorite Josh Rouse tunes and 1 of the best songs from 2018.

Josh Rouse - The Embers of Time (2014-2015)

1/14/15 5:49PM
Release date April 7th, 2015
http://www.joshrouse.com/ preorder link there.



1 Some Days I'm Golden All Night 3:20
2 Too Many Things On My Mind 2:50
3 New Young 3:30
4 You Walked Through the Door 3:23
5 Time 3:13
6 Pheasant Feather (feat. Jessie Baylin) 3:20
7 Coat for a Pillow 3:27
8 Jr Worried Blues 3:06
9 Ex-pat Blues 3:03
10 Crystal Falls 4:30

New song is okay. Some of the stuff online about it says it harkens back to the Nashville style, which if it is, I and my Josh Rouse fangirl gf, will be happy. The Happiness Waltz was good, and probably better than his previous record, but at the same time, I haven't longed to listen to it recently. But maybe The Embers of Time will be more so.





from Josh's site


Pre-order the New Album,
The Embers of Time, Now at iTunes
“It’s my surreal expat therapy record,” observes Josh Rouse about his new LP, The Embers Of Time out April 7 via Yep Roc Records.  The album takes inspiration from his self-admitted crisis of confidence and bouts with existential psychotherapy in his adopted home of Valencia, Spain. 

The 10-song collection of originals contains some of Rouse’s most beautiful arrangements and complex songwriting to date. First song and lead single “Some Days I’m Golden All Night” channels Glen Campbell-style Countrypolitan pop mastery through Self Portrait-era Dylan confessional lyrics.

Josh Rouse - The Happiness Waltz (2013) (Pledgemusic)

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/joshrouse/

Well, another one of these campaigns of course, but certainly for a worthy artist like Josh Rouse, whose another one of my girlfriends favorites, but I caught onto. I like a handful of his tunes, and the Nashville record especially.

It says it's coming in March (19th according to the story below), so add it to the growing list of early 2013 records. He's as 13% right now, hopefully that number will go up soon. The campaign has 60 days left, although as evidenced with Revere's, campaigns can get extended.

http://www.yeproc.com/josh-rouse-returns-with-new-album-the-happiness-waltz-set-for-march-release

Josh Rouse returns with new album THE HAPPINESS WALTZ set for March release.

.........................................................

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Josh Rouse will release his new album, The Happiness Waltz, on March 19 of next year.  Sonically, The Happiness Waltz takes a trip back into Rouse’s early-2000’s period, a time when so many of his longtime fans really came on board. A number of the new tracks could easily find a home on the AM radio of the late 1970’s, nestled between some of the biggest songs of the day. Lyrically, The Happiness Waltz is very much an album in the present, featuring some of Rouse’s most personal songs to date. Rouse reunites with producer Brad Jones, who produced and engineered two of his most beloved albums, 1972 (2003) and Nashville (2005).  The Happiness Waltz was recorded in Valencia, Spain at Josh’s studio Rio Bravo; with overdubs and mixing completed at Alex The Great in Nashville, TN.

After nine acclaimed studio albums, residing all over the U.S. and touring the world, Rouse found his muse for The Happiness Waltz in what is most near and dear to him, his new family. In 2005, the Nebraska native moved to Spain, where he now spends the majority of his time with his wife and two young children. The thoughts and perspective gained from his experience as a husband and father pervades the 12 songs that make up The Happiness Waltz.

The Happiness Waltz is filled with Rouse’s thoughtful, delicate and infectious pop craft, a sound that has become his signature. The subtle grooves of “It’s Good To Have You” and “Julie (Come Out Of The Rain)” blend seamlessly with the poignant “The Ocean” and “Our Love” and the jovial “A Lot Like Magic” and “City People and City Things”. The common thread running throughout The Happiness Waltz is derived from a newfound wisdom that can only be the result of life-changing transitions. For Rouse, it is his loved ones who have provided the inspiration.

In a time when music careers come and go faster than ever, there is something to be said for an artist who has maintained a level of consistent quality output, building a solid body of work that spans over 15 years. The Happiness Waltz is a sure sign that Josh Rouse will not be ending that streak anytime soon.