This was to be Karyn's first OtR show -- after reading Etcetera Whatever, she decided she finally had to come see what this Over the Rhine business is all about (my other sister, who I'd just spent the weekend with at Newport, has been a fan for years). We'd agreed to grab an early dinner before the show, so when she arrived around 4:30 we ducked into a nearby noodle shop where we split a cold bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and had a delicious meal of fried calamari with wasabi sauce, kimchee, and seafood with noodles in a hot & sour tomato broth, while watching all the Lower East Side street activity through the open window beside us. We strolled back to the venue about an hour before show time and sat in the lounge outside the performance room to make sure we were at the front of the line to get in. The band was doing their sound check and I checked in with Juicy between songs. He informed me that management won't allow any outside recording during shows for broadcast (which didn't surprise me), so I reconciled myself to the prospect of sitting up front and hootin' & hollerin' like the normal fans. When sound check was over, Jake came out front and I introduced him to Karyn and we chatted about Newport and the tour for a few minutes. Then Juicy appeared and steered us to a table up front to sit with a very nice guy named Adam from Montclair NJ whom he had befriended at the festival the day before and invited to the show. The three of us were seated about 5 feet from Karin in the tiny performance room, which really is about the size of a large living room -- maybe 20 small round tables with chairs around them, with a small stage at the front and the sound booth and a little service bar in the back.
The first show began at 8:15, and it was just magic from start to finish. The whole band and especially Karin were totally on, and I could see my sister transfixed and smiling throughout the entire performance which was really fun for me.
This was the set list, although they axed Miss Ohio because they had to clear the room for the second show.
I was delighted to hear Professional Daydreamer (one of my favorites from Ohio), which I think I've only heard them perform once before. Kenny Hutson turned in some great solos, as did everyone else in the band. The crowd was wonderful at both shows, practically silent during the quieter songs and very effusive otherwise. Our table was no exception -- I'm looking forward to hearing myself on XM!
My sister and Adam were both downright stunned by the performance, Karyn thanking me several times for inviting her (although she complained "That woman has such beautiful eyes, she needs to keep them open a little more!"). Before the end of the early show, my son and longtime OtR fan Chris arrived and was on the long line to get into the late show, and I sent Karyn out to find her nephew and give him the ticket I'd brought for him while I held onto the table. Adam decided to stay for the second show, even though he hadn't originally planned to.
The late show was absolutely mobbed, with every chair filled and a few additional people standing in the back. The band rose to the occasion, turning in a performance even more inspiring than the first, and Chris also had that "Wow!" smile on his face during the whole show. Here's the set list:
They didn't get to Latter Days since there was another show following them at 11:00, but Miss Ohio was absolutely killer (first time I've seen them do it) with Kenny peeling off some great licks -- I saw him on the way out and told him I thought he was a great addition to the band, which brought a big smile to his face.
The band had to break down and Chris had to work this morning (and I had to bring him to his friend's apartment way uptown before driving home to Long Island), so we didn't stick around afterward to chat. I expect they'll only broadcast one of the two shows on The Loft which is a shame, but you XM listeners can all look forward to a great broadcast whichever one they choose!
I was keeping an eye out for Meredith, although I'm not sure I'd recognize her since we've never met face to face. Were you there, Meri?
