after having a little time to rest, recuperate, recover and reflect a little bit, it's still kind of hard to put this past weekend down into words. the only thing that could have possibly made it better was for more of you to have been along for the ride. karin summed it up pretty perfectly earlier today, much better that i ever could, but i kind of feel the need to take a shot at it anyway.

as someone mentioned earlier, every time i think these guys may not be able to match, much less top what i have seen previously, they seem to turn it up a notch, jiggle a few things around and blow me away once again. friday night was right up there with the best shows i have ever been to, not just OtR shows, best shows ever. everything was perfect, the venue, the weather, the people, the set, the playing and karin was in rare form, vocal and otherwise. i'm not sure if she has ever sounded better. it was intense, it was heavy, it was light, it was fun. it was perfect. saturday night was right there with it, great set and incredible fun. sunday was also amazing, the the radio gig caused a little juggling to the set, but they were once again, right on the money, equally intense and still having a blast doing what they do. with the addition of the thursday night in-store at jo-beth, four shows, four nights, three states and i couldn't have asked for anything more. it was perfect.

and the people, wow. as with the music, when i think i can't be more impressed with a group of people, a group of friends, well...quite simply, i am. and i continue to be. i think the new friends, lisa and shannon, at 3rd & L there for their first OtR show experience were equally impressed by the people, the friendships and the fun as they were by the music. and they were pretty damn impressed by the music. thanks to all who made it what it was.

it was perfect.

the music:

i think 'perfect' is the right word.
was so great to see everyone again, and to meet some new faces, too. you all really are the best!
from the 3 absolutely incredible otr shows, to cd shopping at 4 stores in 3 cities, to ice cream at graeters (sue loved it, and she got some shoe shopping in too), to hanging with apples at lebos after the moonlite show and seeing the king of karaoke- mr. bruce lachey in action, to the always great pie in louisville, to road tripping with keith and bill (and getting back to louisville from lexington tired, but then staying up sharing some wine and good talk until 3AM), to driving down to nashville in what felt at times as though we were in some sort of a nascar race, to the last goodbyes after the eating at the ultimate greasy spoon joint, yes, it was perfect.
thank you everyone,
when are we gonna do this again?

Yeah that was all really nice, but what made my weekend was Karin holding up her left hand and wiggling her ring finger when she sang "Or is it for a little bling-bling?" at The Dame. And I think she was looking at me!

It was an extraordinary pleasure traveling with you two gents, and of course with Sue (whom I hope is writing Karen right now to tell her how much fun these musical trips are ). The shows were indeed all outstanding, and it was soooo good to spend time with many of my "fruity" midwestern friends again after being disappointed by my snowed-out trip in March, and great to meet some new ones as well. So many thanks to all of you who were a part of it!

Having seen 3 of the 4 shows last weekend (we'd hoped to make Nashville but work schedules got in the way), after the whirlwind tour the past 6 months have been since my very first show, I have to agree. These were definitely some of the best - the band just gets better and better. There were so *many* little moments like the one Keith mentioned (of course, I giggle every time I hear Karin sing "bling-bling" in that song anyway...don't know why, it just tickles me). The Moonlite Gardens show just blew me out of the water.

I have to say, there is very little that can top being there to watch someone else discover the musical joy that is OTR for the first time, and knowing you helped bring that moment into being. Our girlfriend and her mate drove down to Cincy from Columbus, and then we all trekked to Lexington together and back on Saturday. Seeing her mate so *totally* into the show (and him a musician himself) made my heart soar. As did that knowledge that her dancing to "Trouble" didn't go unnoticed (even by the band). And overhearing Juicy's comments to 'Yote when he came over to be introduced. Oh yeah, *that* was priceless.

But the topper for *me* was the last encore at The Dame. (warning - mushy segue) After falling apart to "I Want You To Be My Love" at the Southgate House in June - during our longest separation and the only OTR show I've ever been to without him - being able to dance with 'Yote through that and "Drunkard's Prayer", singing them to each other as we danced, and knowing that I won't have to face those songs without him again... And seeing the tears in *his* eyes when they played "We're Gonna Pull Through" the night before... Yeah, those rank up there with my absolute favorite memories ever. Ever.

Over The Rhine (and to a somewhat lesser extent, Ellery) has provided the sound-track for the absolute happiest nine months of my life. And it just keeps getting better. As do they. Can't ask for anything better than that.

(Of course, the fact that after giving me the best birthday gift *ever* last year at a pretty little church in Norwood - that being when 'Yote and I finally met face to face after 3 months of e-mail - the fact that the universe has seen fit to have the Taft Show fall on my actual *birthday* this year definitely kicks it up a notch.)

Wow, you brought tears to my eyes. Drunkard's Prayer is definitely on my wedding reception playlist (30 days and counting!). That is one the most naked songs ever written. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to meet you and 'Yote (is that that IrishCoyote fella?) at the Dame, as I was there with Keith, Bill, Amanda and Stiv, Kent & Sue, and my future sister-in-law, Rosie. It was a GREAT show, and they were so on. I didn't have Trumpet Child yet, and haven't been to many shows recently, so it was wonderful listening to them really have fun with the new stuff, and then getting to listen to the new album after. Thanks also to Keith for offering me his extra seat, and to Bill for getting Keith that extra seat. Y'all's da bombs.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Awwwwwwww. And yeah...particularly the line "You're the hunger on my bones all the nights I sleep alone" *sniffle* That was the hardest part of the weeks between visits... See, we tend to sleep all tangled up in each other...we're always touching. Always. Gods I'm glad I don't have to sleep alone anymore...




Wow - we saw Keith, Bill, and Kent & Sue...wonder how we managed to miss the rest of you! Of course, well...we were kinda busy with our guests (and obviously a little preoccupied with each other from time to time)...

I'm sure we'll cross paths again in the next several months - by the time we hit Taft (on my birthday) I may very well have 7 more shows under my belt.

Especially since we're so close. I live in Jeffersonville, across from Louisville. I used to make a lot more regional shows, but I've been a bit preoccupied with family life for a while now. Don't know if we'll make Taft this year, though I would certainly love to.

Sounds like you forlks had a great run of shows and a great time. Wish I could have joined you. I do have plans to come down for the Taft shows however so maybe I will be able to catch you-all then. Sounds like it will once again be a fun time.
a.j.

Yes, it was amazing.
We'll *definitely* be at Taft (if it wasn't enough that we're *both* locals now, it happens to fall on my birthday).
See you there!

Euphrates

i just found these...

the "gang" @ robert's on broadway...


a late breakfast @ "the hermitage" after the show...


kent & sue

Whew !! I only experienced 1/3rd of THE weekend...the Coney night of that weekend....one of the best I've ever seen / heard (maybe OHIO a few years ago topped it ) These pics, Bill, are great....especially appearing now when I was just listening minutes ago coming back from grocery-ing to Shawn's recording of that cool, cool night. Tnx, man