The show was amazing. We were a few folks back just about halfway between Karin and Linford - my favorite place to see a show. First the not-so-great, just to get it out of the way: the Knitting Factory really is a hot, muggy place, and the lights were positioned so that it was really hard to see much of Linford at all - more of a blue/black silhouette of a piano player than the piano player himself. And, on a more personal gripe, it's never easy to stand for an entire show, but my back was extremely aware of the fact that I am nearly six months pregnant. The kiddo seemed to like the show, though- I was getting kicked like crazy the whole time! I think she was dancing. I am very much hoping to score a chair at the Coach House.

The sound was great, and I still can't get over how nice it is that there is no smoking at shows out here. Although I think the laws have changed in Ohio now, right? I remember leaving the Odeon and Brady's reeking of cigarettes.

I didn't catch a setlist- it was very similar to the other shows, but with a few nice surprises... a second encore of Latter Days! It was actually quite a long show, especially after the shorter double-billing sets with Hem last year. Highlights: the full band arrangement of Ohio, Karin on piano/ Linford on bass for B.P.D., THE TRUMPET CHILD... wow, even without horns it's an AMAZING song, Mickey's crazy drum solo on Who'm I Kidding, the irony of North Pole Man being played to an LA crowd in September (tee hee), and of course Don't Wait for Tom. There was a big belly laugh in there, too. After they'd finished up this gorgeous, intense rendition of the Trumpet Child, Karin sort of sheepishly said something like, "And now here's a trashy song I wrote" and launched into Who'm I Kidding But Me.

They seemed happy, and like they were having so much fun. While we were walking the dog today we talked about how present they seem on the stage- there isn't an artifice about them at all. Their frequent smiles at one another, the audience, and themselves are so genuine. I love the new album and can already tell it will be one of my favorites, and to see the songs performed live only confirmed how great they are.

It was rainy, and there were a couple significant pools of water on the roads and freeways. I hope everyone got home safely.

I can't wait to read Karin's tour diary about the show! Thank you so much, dear Over the Rhine. You fill me up with all the things I need most: gospel and Ohio and hope and frisky love songs.

wow...thanks katherine! this is making me REALLY look forward to the show tonight in San Diego and tomorrow at Coach House! steph

Not sure if you've been to the Coach House before, but most of the chairs on the floor and table areas are really bad. Your best bet is to try and score a booth or the stools back by the bar. The crappy chairs are setup at the long chuck-wagon style dinner tables and at the small dinette tables off to the left side.

Do you have to order food/drinks to sit in the booths/chairs? I think I would infinitely prefer a bad chair to no chair at all. Thanks for the heads up!

Oh, and I wanted to add that I enjoyed Griffin House. We have one CD of his that we haven't listened to a whole lot, but he was quite good live. He interacted with the audience well and played some really good songs. Can't argue with Johnny Cash covers.

i too was at the knitting factory show, and after reading karin's review of the venue, i never would have guessed that things were so rough for the band and crew. if it was a difficult day, they did such an amazing job of hiding it! you are all right, the venue was run down and i am thinking they might be able to find a better place to play for the christmas tour next year. it was my third otr show and my first since moving to the west coast and an absolute treat in every way. to the other fans that were there, way to support the band! everyone was so great that night.

[quote name='katherine' date='Sep 22 2007, 09:18 AM' post='227892']
"The show was amazing...the Knitting Factory really is a hot, muggy place, and the lights were positioned so that it was really hard to see much of Linford at all"

Yes, it was incredible, although I agree about The Knitting Factory. Also, they seemed to have some sound problems; there was that horrible feedback during Griffin House's set, and it seemed early on they were having to make some adjustments.

Latter Days was a surprise, but I was glad to hear something a bit older. Although I really like Trumpet Child, Good Dog Bad Dog remains my favorite album. The Ohio arrangement was a bit jazzier than the album version, and I really enjoyed hearing it live!

"It was rainy, and there were a couple significant pools of water on the roads and freeways. I hope everyone got home safely."

I white knuckled it all the way back to OC. There were a lot of accidents on the freeway, and the visibility in Hollywood was virtually non-existent. I also hope everyone made it back okay.

Wait a minute... I finally have to move away from the Orange County area and now, all of a sudden, there's another person on here who's living down in OC?? How'd that happen?