Murder ballads are a traditional form of folk music; musical retellings of notorious crimes as part of an oral tradition that stretches back centuries. However, most were told from the perspective of a third party, or that of the killer. Ghost Ballads is a literary songwriting collection that flips the script on the traditional murder ballad, by using the form to recount crimes from the perspective of the ghosts of the victims; exploring their experiences and the implications of their death, rather than the killer’s justifications.
Josh Gross is an Oregon based writer, musician, and troublemaker. He's written a half-dozen books, a lot of plays, and about a bazillion songs. He is a is co-founder of the comedy troupe Puppeteers for Fears, and guest-hosts the “Rogue Sounds” segment on Jefferson Public Radio. In a previous life, he was a print journalist for alt-weeklies throughout the NW. When not writing, or on tour with PFF, he's most frequently found shouting at the sky, or performing with his band, Thunderchud.