LOCATION: Devou Park, Covington, KY
LINEUP: Karin, Linford, Brian, Mike, Terri, and the N. Kentucky Symphony
REVIEW BY: dustyvolum@aol.com
Opening with a sublime selection of orcherstra music that sounded great, but the selection was foriegn to me, we were fittingly primed for what was to come. Next the NKS played a couple of my favorites. Gymnopedies 1&3 from Erik Satie. Beautiful, my only complaint was that they skipped number 2. Now the reason most of the blankets were thrown out. Our beloved group of traveling musicians was introuduced and opened with a collaborative effort on Latter days (daze). We first heard Linford on piano and then Karin joins in with the unmistakable vocals. Gradually the orchestra joins in a little at a time only hinting at what was to come. If you are a fan of Karin and Terri harmonizing, try picturing them backed by a full orchestra. strings, woods --simply beautiful. We can hear Brian keeping time in the background and Linford on the piano. Gracefully and into the end of the song the flutes back the vocals and give this beautiful and saddening song one of the most indescribable feelings. The crowd was eating it up. Faithfully Dangerous: This one was more OTResque though more slow in tempo than we are used to on the CD. Karin giving each performance her own unique touch blended so well with Terri I actually thought I was hearing a recorded track being played back. Terri has quickly dispelled any initial misgivings I had about her joining the band. The soon becoming trademark of piano and drums/bass was fully realized in this song although I can only imagine what Jack will eventually add to this little bit of history. This song ended so beautifully, you almost felt guilty. The next segue spoken by Linford seemed aplogetic in that he said they were just going to 'do what they were told to by playing a few songs and [in a sense] being good'-- this eventually meant no encore... Poughkeepsie: Just a bare, slow groovin' (very touching) rendition with just the band and Terri inputing a little more on this one that I've seen in the past. Once again very nice harmonizing. With a little less screaming at the finish (due to the subject matter I'm sure), Linford just accepted the applause with a simple '"thanks" One side note that may be of interest. I've noticed in the last few shows Karin has started to sing "I'll just ride on the backs of the angels 'in flight' " instead of "tonite" Its probably not as significant as I'm making it, but I've just wondered if there is a story behind it All I Need is Everything: starting off with Brian beating the tempo with his sticks, Karin begins and we hear a nice arrangement of flutes and then a backing of violins comes calling.... Although this song turned out very good with the orchestra and the extra guy on bongos, I thought this song lacked the same symphony feel that made the others really gel with the NKS. I think this is one of the harder songs they have released of late and the orchestra kind of missed that aspect of it. It kind of came off as slightly calipso -- Maybe I'm wrong what do any of you think? Next was the NKS with John Adams' "Shaking and Trembling his first movement from the shaker lupes. It was at this point that we saw who was who. Most of the younger crowd went to the bathroom or to walk around and talk during this piece. Many of the older folks who we thought couldn't be there for OTR were still planted in their seats blissfully--no offensed intended to anyone of any age... :o) After this a brief intermission and I walked around looking for any members of the band to tell them I was in awe... no luck. When I got to the back of the theater, they had all retreated back inside and I respected their privacy. After the intermission, we were treated to the much fanfared "six harp" Celtic Symphony. Seeing all those beautiful harps (over $100,000. worth according to conductor James Cassidy) gave me an instant appreciation. My girlfriend remarked that it would be nice to decorate your living room with one! Danny Boy: James Cassidy introuduced this song as one that was played earlier in the morning at the funeral of Princess Diana -- Elton John stood out the most to me and was very moving I thought... Abdulmajid: Written by David Bowie, Linford lent his musical talent on the keyboard. His horizons just keep broadening! Mary's Waltz: The conductor just simply said "Let's do some Mary's Waltz, and thats all I remember. This song was the highlight of the evening for me. The first time I've heard it live and the orchestra just spoiled me. This song has so many Christian overtones (and undertones). You have to feel moved regardless of your faith though. I thought this song simply put was Karin at her pinnacle. Several times throughout the song I felt chills going up and down my spine. "you have to close them, she whisered her warning. Be sure to open them before it's morning" "We have a secret like lovers discovering guardian angels with limbs white as lambs wool with expensive perfume on our feet" This song is so moving and probably one of my all time favorites despite it's late arrival on the recording scene. Man does this song pack a punch or what? Oh well I'm sure your tired of *my*ramblings. Jacksie: The open air and the clear starry night set such a mood for the music. The ampitheatre looked out to a huge grassy lawn that was simply engulfed on both sides and rear by plunging hillside and was completely surrounded with trees. After seeing the thin silver moon rising over a large group of tall Oaks and Maples and seeing hundreds of people with blankets spread onto the ground, I noticed a few flickering candles poised here and there over the hillside and the occasional flame, golden, and almost magical, paired with the subtle and entrancing sounds of Jacksie being played to a full orchestra completely overwhelmed me. I just closed my eyes and fell into Heaven on earth--nothing could touch me. Jack's Valentine: Very nicely done and Terri once again seemed to help out a little more than I remember in the past. Linford seemed to abandon the usual cadence of the song and put a little more tempo to it. The result was almost like he sang some parts of the song. Very nice and no complaints from me. Dancing Queen: I have to say this song garnered the most response out of the audience. Several folks did just that and twirled and danced all over the front grass. Let me go a step further here and say that this song if nothing else showcased the huge talent of Karin and possibly displayed a range of vocal prowess I have never seen before. I would add Terri to this statement, but I am not that familiar with her vocal style and so was not really that surprised. I would say however that the full extent of this little cover tune has yet to be fully realized. I could see Karin and Terri as a complete vocal pair. I hate to keep rehashing things but the harmony possibilities seem endless and I for one wouldn't mind one bit to someday own a girls only recording with K&T featured. (hint hint) The evening closed with an orchestral version of Jimmy Hendrix's Purple haze and by the time they were finished, I would guess that one quarter of the audience had already left. I eventually found Linford and heartily congratulated him on a job well done. One of the best shows I have attended! I talked to Todd Kearby and he seemed to share my enthusiasm as well. He said "they ought to do more of these shows" to which I had to agree and I tucked my t-shirt under my arm and drove off feeling somehow a little bit lighter. The world had redeemed itself for just a little while and for a short time nothing else mattered.