Road Trip to Cinci for Over the Rhine

I've recently found myself digging out my old Over the Rhine CD's for fresh listens. I'm listening to their album "Eve" as I write this.

I'm especially excited because I'll be going to Cincinnati to see them play in December. I've been to Cinci several times but never to see OTR. Each December they do a special Christmas Concert at the Taft Theatre, and I've considered going in the past (especially when they performed with Sixpence None the Richer), but for some reason I've never made the trip.

This year's Taft concert is extra special. They are celebrating 20 years of making music and they've divided the concert into two nights. December 19, will focus on the first 10 years and December 20, the second. I'm especially excited because the first night will include former members Ric Hordinski and Brian Kelley.

I've been a fan of the band since the early 90's. My first OTR album is a cassette copy of "Patience." But for some reason I never caught the band live while Brian and Ric were part of it. I had so many chances since they came through Michigan quite often. The first time I saw them was sometime in the late 90's while they were touring in support of "Good Dog Bad Dog." There shows have been among my favorites each year. Whether I've caught them at the Ark, an outdoor festival, or Calvin College, there has always been something magical about Over the Rhine live. Much of that is captured in the amazing songs they've written over the years.

That said, I have to admit I've regretted never seeing the original four piece band live. Their live shows were legendary. The band had more of an edgy rock sound. Right now I'm listening to "Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander" and I get excited thinking about the band doing this live.

My personal favorites are "Circle of Quiet" and "Within Without." The December 19 show might be incomplete if those songs don't find their way on the set list. It has been fun watching the discussions on their web page posting board as people discuss the songs they have to see. They may have to play into the wee hours of the morning to make all their fans happy.

I'm also looking forward to night two of the concerts. Karin and Linford have continued the OTR legacy beautifully with albums like "Ohio," "The Trumpet Child," and "Drunkard's Prayer." OTR is different but they are still a powerful force to be reckoned with. "Ohio" is one of my favorite albums from 2003. These two nights will be a wonderful celebration of this band, a band that deserves far more recognition and acclaim.

Sam Phillips at The Ark - 9/9/08

Sam Phillips performed at the Ark in Ann Arbor on Tuesday. After a 35-minute intermission she opened the show with “I Need Love” from her CD Martini’s and Bikinis, but she quickly turned the focus to her new CD, Don’t Do Anything.

"I Need Love" had one of my favorite lyrics of the night:

i need love
not some sentimental prison
i need god not the political church
i need fire to melt the frozen sea inside me
i need love

For the past 11 years Sam has worked with her former husband T Bone Burnett as the producer, but on Don’t Do Anything she stepped into the producer’s role, and did an excellent job carefully crafting these sometimes painfully beautiful songs.

One of the things that stood out was that Sam is such a charming performer. She took time to interact with the audience. She wasn’t afraid to admit when a performance didn’t meet her expectations. One of the audience members complained about the loudness of the drums. While many performers would have dismissed the complaint Sam waited so the gentleman could be seated in a better spot. Her graciousness and concern for everyone was evident.

Speaking of drummers, Jay Bellerose was amazing to watch. He had so many percussion instruments to work with, including noisemakers that were attached to his ankles. He was able to play with such finesse and complimented the songs beautifully. But he wasn’t afraid play with more force when necessary. Jay was a true joy to watch, especially on the song "My Career in Chemistry."

But the main focus was Sam’s compelling songs. In the past her songs were built on layer upon layer of interesting music, but since Fan Dance she’s been exploring simpler yet more intriguing song styles. She strips away the unnecessary to get to the heart of the song.

Some of my favorite songs included "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us," "I Need Love," "One Day Late," and "My Career in Chemistry."

At the beginning of the show Sam mentioned what a beautiful day it was in Ann Arbor. She said she was tempted to take the performance outside, leading a parade through the streets. The night was even more beautiful after Sam’s compelling performance.

Jill Jack and Billy Brandt opened the show. Jill is so at home on the stage. Though Sam and Jill are such different performers, Jill was able to win new fans with her very heartfelt performance.

Sam Phillps is coming to the Ark

I'm really excited. Tuesday Sept. 9, I get to see Sam Phillips at the Ark in Ann Arbor. Her new CD, Don't Do Anything, is wonderful. It is exciting to see her step out this time as the producer. She learned alot during the years that T Bone Burnett produced her CD's.

My favorite song is "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us." It was great hearing Allison Krauss and Robert Plant cover it on their latest CD but Sam makes it extra special.

My one complaint about Sam's CD's is that they are way too short. These days a 35 minute CD seems 10-15 minutes too short.

I hear that Sam is touring with the Section Quartet. They have an album of classical quartet covers of Rock classics. There is nothing like a quartet covering RadioHead or David Bowie. They are all over Sam's latest CD and I'm sure they'll help make the show extra special.

I'll post some information on the concert next week. Another treat is that Jill Jack will open the show.

3000 CD's

I read an article about a guy who has over 300,000 albums and CD's. It fills eight rooms. Wow, and I thought I had alot. I told my wife about him last night and mentioned that I was well behind and needed to get to work catching up. She told me I could sleep in the car.

Why Me - Does the world really need another blog?

I've enjoyed reading blogs from various friends and I've often thought, "I should write one of those." I've usually wised up quick and realized I probably don't have the time for this. But for some reason this time I got further along and actually created the page.

What will I write about? Definitely music. With over 3,000 CD's in my collection I have an opinion or two to share about some of the new music I'm listening to.

I also think I'll throw some thoughts in about popular culture, media, and faith. That probably gives me enough to keep me busy for awhile.

One of my loves is volunteering at Trinity House Theatre. You can find out more about this little theatre at http://www.trinityhouse.org/. Our season opens next weekend with a Peter Mulvey concert. I'm excited because I've been trying to get him to play here for awhile. He's a very fine singer, songwriter and guitarist. The intimacy of the theatre will help make it a very special night, I'm sure.