one of my favorite music traditions took place saturday night, over the rhine: live on the banks of the ohio river @ moonlite gardens. and what’s not to love? my favorite band, incredible music, some of my favorite people on the planet and a beautiful, old, historic venue sitting on a curve in the ohio river w/cicadas, crickets and birds providing the background ambiance. as has happened several years in the past, rain threatened all day long, but we must be livin’ right because, once again, after a late afternoon shower, the heavily predicted rain disappeared and a blue sky joined just around show time. just incredible.
these “end of summer” over the rhine shows have happened for years (OtR first played moonlite gardens in the summer of 1994) and become a ritual of sorts for the diehards, a wonderful introduction for new fans hearing them live for the first time and everyone in between. as always, so great to see everyone and share in all the friendship and joy that weekends like this bring.
moonlite shows are always special; for the history and tradition, the incredible setting, the people that attend, the ever-standing fear of downpours, but mainly for the sheer joy that the band seems to have for playing this wonderful, beautiful place. and saturday night was no exception, the show was excellent, a nice mix of new and old. i am loving the new stuff, especially “laugh of recognition” and karin officially announced that lucinda williams joined her for a duet on “undamned” on “the long surrender.”
“the long surrender” is their new, joe henry produced album, that will be officially released on 1.11.11, i have been fortunate enough to hear it and it is a truly stunning piece of work.
karin was in great form and linford spent the least amount of time behind the piano that i can ever remember, choosing to stand up front, next to karin while playing acoustic, and man, did this suit him. his style of playing was the most animated that i have ever seen, and his playing far more out front and inspired than i can ever remember. he was on fire and lighting up the louden. he rocked it.
jake and kenny were in typical fine form adding the proper flourishes, subtlety and texture in all the right places at all the right times, these four have become a great, solid unit that really enjoys playing with and off of each other, the “vibe” is obvious and can be, both, seen and heard.
as always, a great damn show and a great damn night…
jake bradley
kenny hutson
feelin’ artsy…
what we need is music 