LOCATION: Brady's, Kent, OH
LINEUP: Brian, Linford, Karin, Terri, Mike, Jack
REVIEW BY: Chris Emery
Wow! All I have to say is that the sextet lineup of Over The Rhine is really coming into their own as a real, live, performing touring band. I admit I was quite skeptical when I saw them the first time. And, honestly, anyone who saw them the first couple go-rounds will admit that it was more than a little rough around the edges. They have worked out the kinks, and are once again a kick-ass live band. Ok, ok..I admit I miss 'Daddy Untwisted' and 'If I'm Drowning' a little, but hey...we've got new songs that rock, and we're all moving ahead, right? The setup: Brady's is quite small - probably the smallest place I've seen them in yet. It was bursting to the seams with people. My guess is that there was somewhere in the neighborhood of 75-90 people there. There's the main floor, which has the stage setup at one end, well, not really a stage - no raised platform, but an area set aside for the band, then there is a service counter for the kitchen area, and order taking, etc. They have a balcony above the main floor which is nice, but over half of it is actually *over* stage right. Consequently, I saw neither Jack nor Linford all night. The roof causes the walls in the balcony to slope in rather dramatically near the outsides. you would think this would detract from the acoustics of the place, but it ended up being a very *good* sounding venue. All directions stage POV. Linford was set up to the extreme stage right, with the leslie cabinet a-spinnin'. He was looking better than he had been in recent times. He's been looking a little beat down and worse for wear lately. I wish he'd grow the goatee back - he looks about 10 years older without it. Jack had his gear scattered around behind Linford. Has wearing what is quite possibly the ugliest shirt I've ever seen in my life. It looked like the same fabric my grandparents have for their circa 1972 bathroom curtains. Pedal steel is here again - judging from its prevalence in the newer material, I'd say it's a permanent fixture. That's fine by me. Good pedal steel is a good thing. Just ask me about 'And You And I' sometime. Oh yeah...Jessyka wrote in the notes here that Jack had "huge ass hoops in his ears, and a *serious* case of 'bedhead'". I can't argue. ;-) Brian, behind the omnipresent bulletproof glass, literally had his back against the wall. ;-) Karin and Terri had two stools placed symetrically in the front. Looks like Karin got another haircut. It had been growing out, but now it's in some kinda shag. Terri had her hair *up*. (for jg, presumably) She looked fabulous, as always. No sway, though. :-( Mike took up the rest of the back left corner with his gear. His effects rack was actually sitting on the kitchen counter right next to the meat slicer. Trippy! The setlist: Faithfully Dangerous Tumbleweeds The Seahorse/Instrumental Summertime outro (no vox) All I Need Is Everything Etcetera Whatever Everyman's Daughter I Will Remember Moth Whatever You Say Poughkeepsie Anyway June (!) Goodbye *encore Jack's Valentine (featuring Snoop Duggy Dug) Lucy Latter Days *2nd Encore Rhapsodie (Linford/Karin) (!!!!!) Bothered The show (highlights): *Faithfully Dangerous* I can't get excited here. It's a good opener, but nothing too special. *Tumbleweeds* I didn't like this one a whole lot the first time or two I heard it, but it's really grown on me. This is a good one. *The Seahorse* *All I Need Is Everything* *Etcetera Whatever* *Everyman's Daughter* Again, here goes the obligatory _Good Dog Bad Dog_ mega-mix. If you've read *any* of my past five reviews, you know my feelings on this, so I won't bore you. Performed well, but nothing to write mom about. *I Will Remember* This has fast become my favorite of the new material. They've reworked it some since they debuted it at Canal Street in Dayton a month or so ago. (Has it really been that long????) There's a lot more of Jack on the pedal steel, which he's really good at. It starts off a little slow, then immediately sucks you in. I can't wait for a good recording of this to surface. (Tapers! Where are you???) *Moth* This one is a little more complex. It hasn't snared me yet, but I can feel its pull.... ;-) *Poughkeepsie* It's about time to retire this one for a while..it's been played almost constantly since late '95, and it's getting a little tired. *Anyway* You know, I don't remember this song much at all. I think I was a little distracted or something. Hmmm.... *June* I tell ya, they need to record this one live. If you've only heard the _Eve_ version of this, then you have *no idea* how much it rocks. I was so very happy happy joy joy when they started it. I had to drop a note on Jeff Klaum so we could share our joy. ;-) Jack was rippin' on this one. The only thing missing is Mike's bass solo. Hey...this can be a fifteen minute song - I'm cool with that. *Goodbye* This song just plain rocks. I *LOVE* it. I kinda have this secret hope that it never gets put on a record, because a studio recording will *never* do it justice. ***encore*** *Jack's Valentine* Wow. This moment alone was worth the drive from Columbus. (apart from meeting jg's gorgeous dearly beloved, that is) Linford had a dysfunctional microphone, so Karin was soliciting a volunteers from the crowd. Duggy practically dived off the balcony volunteering, and she selected him to come on down. He went down and took Terri's stool Dug was *definitely* up to the task. Being the ham that he is, he rose to the occasion. Duggy knew all the tricks...even inserting a "hale yah" at one point. Before the "...falling on your fabulous sword" line where Linford makes the women hold that note for a while, Dug made them hold it longer than usual, and in the middle of it, looked over, and said into the mic, "You go, girlz" It was one of those magical moments that happen ever so rarely. I'm glad Dug got to do it, and I'm glad the rest of us were there to see it. Oh yeah...Jack did a killer guitar solo. He's really improving, and meshing better with the band. My opinion of him is slowly reversing. *Lucy* *Latter Days* We were all pretty distracted at this point, Dug having made it back to the table. Again, why they close with 'Latter Days', I'll never figure out. ***2nd Encore*** I think this one might have actually been an encore, but I'm not sure. *Rhapsodie* Oh my god, my jaw dropped when I heard this start up. I love this song, and I thought I'd *never* get to hear it live. Karin's voice was crystal-clear. It brought tears to my eye. It was one of those moments. *Bothered* The orchestrated version of this song makes a better closer than 'Latter Days'. I still like the _Eve_ version better. Mikey's a great bassist! HE can do it!!! Summary: This was one of those magical shows that happen once in a blue moon. Everything clicked, everything was in sync. The band was into it, and the crowd was *way* into it. It was simply amazing.