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index | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990
July 1, 2003
Hello everyone,
It's been a long time. Hope you're all doing well this summer.
Just a short update for now. Over the Rhine has finished a new double album. It's called OHIO. OHIO contains 20 new songs and over 90 minutes of music. If you have as much fun listening as we had recording, it's going to be a good year all around.
Virgin/Back Porch will release OHIO August 19th in the USA, and across Europe and in South Africa on September 8th.
You may recall that we had thought maybe we would record two projects simultaneously: one more sparse, the other full-bodied. In the end, it felt like the songs belonged together, so we surrendered ourselves to our first double album.
OHIO is our tenth project overall, and we will be doing a special edition on vinyl in a gate-fold jacket. Much more on all this later.
I'm not sure what happened, but while we were recording OHIO, we made peace finally with the idea that this music has a lot to do with why we're here. Writing and recording songs is just what we do, and I think we're letting go of the suspicion that maybe there is something more important lurking around the corner. While we were making OHIO, I had the calm but happy realization that barring some unforeseen catastrophe, we'll still be making records 20 years from now. It's good to know what it is that you're meant to be doing.
It looks like we'll be touring all of the USA once again this Fall, and we're looking forward to seeing all of you again. Our booking agent is confirming dates now. In a few weeks, you'll start to see some routing posted at overtherhine.com. We're planning a release concert at Bogarts here in Cincinnati on August 30th. Then we'll start in the Midwest, head East, then out to the West Coast and South through Texas, New Orleans etc. Stay tuned for more at overtherhine.com.
In the meanwhile, if you're planning on seeing the band at Cornerstone this Friday at midnight, you'll hear some of the new songs from OHIO for the first time. We've got a wonderful five-piece band with us that we're considering for the Fall tour, and we're feeling pretty cathartic these days, so hang onto your chairs. Karin and I are also performing an acoustic set on Thursday at 6pm, and we're doing a songwriting workshop Thursday at 4pm. So, stop by and say hello if you're in the vicinity.
Also, our good friend and mentor Dave Nixon is looking after our booth this year. We've got some fine new t-shirts hot off the presses to check out, and if you're just in need of some good company, feel free to stop by for a little conversation. Dave is one of our all-time favorite people.
There have been hundreds of details beckoning in regard to the impending release of OHIO, but I think things will start to settle down in a few weeks. We'll get the website updated and begin taking advance orders for OHIO, in case you'd like to reserve a signed copy with a few special treats thrown in.
In the meanwhile, I'm off to proofread the liner notes and credits one last time before we let them go.
Till we meet again,
Linford Detweiler for Over the Rhine
ps Discussion list folks: Do you have any favorite double albums? Least favorite? It's hard to imagine the history of rock 'n' roll without The White Album, London Calling, Exile on Mainstreet, Songs in the Key of Life etc. Where have all the double albums gone?
September 1, 2003
Note from Karin:
Hello everyone and thank you so much for coming out this weekend in support of the release of 'OHIO'. You gave us much to be thankful for. I can't tell you how great it felt to be able to see you all, and of course, how amazing it was to play our songs for you under the stars.
A special thanks to those of you who came bearing gifts, or Mojo, as we like to say. I have managed quite a collection of treats over the years and Linford can vouch for the fact that I keep it all! Thank you Annabelle and Bill for the flowers and treats and a big tip of the hat to Keith for driving twelve hours from New York to spend the weekend with us at the shows! I heard a rumor that one couple flew in from Portland, Oregon? Is this true? Thanks to all the listees who keep that on-line torch lit and burning well, and who manage to make every show an event. And of course, thanks to the hospitality staff at both The Dame and the Moonlight Garden venues. You made us feel so welcomed. I am so looking forward to this tour and hope to see you all out there somewhere along the way. Safe travels to us all.
until we meet again,
Karin
Hey y'all,
Hello from OHIO.
Well, it's just about time. Our suitcases are lying open in the bedroom. There's a hint of crisp Fall weather in the air. The squirrels in the backyard have been stuffing black walnuts in unlikely places. The clouds have had a deep blue backdrop of late and breezes to skid them across the sky...
We're going on the road.
Karin and I drove to Bloomington, Indiana, this past Sunday to have dinner with Paul Mahern, the silver-haired, radiant young man who helped us record the songs on OHIO. Paul lifted a glass and said, Hooray for us! And we laughed and talked our way through a meal outdoors, a cool late summer evening. We agreed that we had all been given good lives. There is such a thing as grace.
Our new double disc set, OHIO, was released several weeks ago. Reviews have been coming in and a lot of critics have taken time to really wrestle with the songs and themes of this accidental double album. Even writers who were unfamiliar with Over the Rhine seem to want to spend a lot of time with the music. One reviewer said he secretly hated the record because he couldn't stop playing it! Anyway, we think of our fans as deep listeners, and we try to make records accordingly. Thanks for all the little notes of encouragement you've sent our way. We look forward to seeing you all soon.
If you'd like to read a couple reviews of OHIO, copy and paste these links into your browser:
http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/o/overtherhine-ohio.shtml
http://www.nynewsday.com/entertainment/local/newyork/ny-p2top23417932aug19,0,7279223.column?coll=ny-nyc-entertainment-headlines
http://promontoryartists.org/lookingcloser/music/ohio.htm
We'll start posting more at overtherhine.com when we get around to it, which might take awhile actually.
We received an advance issue of Paste Magazine #6 and were a bit stunned to see that the editors had devoted 6 and a half pages to OHIO, and given it a five star review. It's especially gratifying, because it's one of the few magazines that Karin and I read pretty much cover to cover. The editors of Paste Magazine are doing a beautiful job of spreading the word regarding music (and culture) they feel is deserving that may or may not receive coverage in the mainstream media. If you haven't subscribed yet, go to PasteMagazine.com. If you're a music lover that enjoys looking a bit deeper, you won't regret it. Each magazine comes with a 22-song sampler cd of new music.
It was through Paste Magazine that we discovered the music of Irish singer, Susan Enan, and we asked Susan to join us, along with Stephen Delopoulos, as the opening acts for the first two legs of our upcoming tour. (Stephen has a song on the forthcoming Paste sampler as well.) We certainly hope you can join us for a wonderful evening of music and camaraderie.
Once again, we're asking for two volunteers to look after our merch on these upcoming dates. Volunteers receive free admission to the concert and a free cd and get to meet many of the fine folks that attend our shows! If you're interested, please e-mail Michele at micbunch@yahoo.com and put "Merch volunteers" w/venue, city and date in the subject.
Here are the tour dates:
(Shows with asterisks are already covered...)
THU 9/18 CLEVELAND, OH Beachland Ballroom w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
*FRI 9/19 GRAND RAPIDS, MI Calvin College w/special guests Susan Enan and Sufjan Stevens (Sufjan has a new cd called Michigan. Nebraska and Ohio were taken.)
SAT 9/20 CHICAGO, IL Schuba's w/special guest Susan Enan
SUN 9/21 CHICAGO, IL Schuba's w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
TUE 9/23 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Fine Line w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
WED 9/24 MADISON, WI Luther's Blues w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
FRI 9/26 DUBUQUE, IA Busted Lift w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
SAT 9/27 ST. LOUIS, MO Duck Room w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
SUN 9/28 MEMPHIS, TN Hi-Tone w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
TUE 9/30 KNOXVILLE, TN Pilot Light (Note new venue) w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
WED 10/1 LOUISVILLE, KY Uncle Pleasant w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
THU 10/2 INDIANAPOLIS, IN Birdy's w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
FRI 10/3 BLOOMINGTON, IN Vertigo w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
SUN 10/5 CRITTENDEN, KY GRANT COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS (Near Cincinnati,
afternoon show) w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
THU 10/9 PITTSBURGH, PA Moondog's (Note new venue) w/special
guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
FRI 10/10 PHILADELPHIA, PA North Star Bar w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
SUN 10/12 NEW YORK, NY Bottom Line w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
MON 10/13 NORTHAMPTON, MA Iron Horse w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
TUE 10/14 BOSTON, MA TT the Bears w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
THU 10/16 ARLINGTON, VA Iota w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
FRI 10/17 ASHEVILLE, NC Stella Blue w/special guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
SAT 10/18 ATLANTA, GA Echo Lounge w/special
guests Susan Enan and Stephen Delopoulos
SUN 10/19 NASHVILLE, TN 12th and Porter w/special guests
Griffin House and Stephen Delopoulos
FRI 10/24 DAYTON, OH Canal Street Tavern
SAT 10/25 DAYTON, OH Canal Street Tavern
SUN 10/26 BERWYN, IL Fitzgerald's
We'll start with the above, and work on the West Coast dates a little later. We're still finalizing a few things... Stay tuned for more at overtherhine.com...
If you'd like to be among the first to join our new "Over the Rhine Street Teams", and help spread the word about our music and the above, please e-mail OTRteams@yahoo.com for more info.
We think you'll love this five-piece band. We've been blessed through the years with the privilege of collaborating with a lot of good people and players who have taught us much. But wow, fasten your seatbelts. We are so looking forward to this.
We'll be sending out information soon regarding the forthcoming special edition of OHIO on vinyl! My head's spinning like a broken record player...
Have a wonderful Fall and come say Hello.
Godspeed,
Linford Detweiler
October 22, 2003
Over the Rhine: Upcoming dates, volunteers etc
Hello from OHIO,
We're home once again for a tiny break. We start our trip heading West this Friday: save a bus bunk for me.
It's been exciting and rewarding to take these new songs out on the road this Fall and let them explode in concert. Thanks to all of you who found your way and spent an evening with us. Your feedback has been so encouraging. The current five-piece band is very special. We hope to see you soon.
Once again, we're rounding up some merchandise volunteers to sell our cd's et cetera at the upcoming shows. If you're interested, we get you into the show for free, and give you the cd of your choice at the end of the evening. Please e-mail otrvolunteers@yahoo.com if you'd like to help out. (We need two volunteers for each concert.)
Also, we're still working on developing our street teams. If you're able and willing to help put up posters and fliers near a venue where we're playing, or at your college, or around various neighborhoods or wherever you think it would help to get the word out in regard to an upcoming Over the Rhine concert, we'd really appreciate the help. Again, please e-mail otrvolunteers@yahoo.com for more info. We'll have the label send you some fliers or you can immediately download and customize your own fliers at:
http://overtherhine.com/story/bandbio/index.html
When responding to otrvolunteers@yahoo.com, please put your city and either "Merch" or "Street Team" in the subject heading, e.g. DENVER/Merch. Thanks again. We really appreciate your help. As Karin is prone to say, without all of
you, we'd be homeless.
The Eastern half of the USA has been so beautiful this Fall. It seemed like we had one perfect Fall day after another, crisp blue air, leaves turning. We're heading out now to see how the other half lives. Hope to see you soon.
UPCOMING OVER THE RHINE FALL DATES--WEST COAST LEG
Fri Oct 24: Dayton OH, Canal Street Tavern
Sat Oct 25: Dayton OH, Canal Street Tavern
Sun Oct 26: Berwyn IL, Fitzgerald's (Near Chicago)
Mon Oct 27: Kansas City MO, Grand Emporium
Wed Oct 29: Denver CO, Lion's Lair (Two shows)
Thu Oct 30: Colorado Springs CO, 32 Bleu
Fri Oct 31: Colorado Springs CO, Woodmen Valley Chapel (acoustic, opening for Bebo Norman)
Sun Nov 2: Boise ID, Neurolux
Mon Nov 3: Seattle WA, Tractor Tavern
Wed Nov 5: Portland OR, Lola's - Crystal Ballroom
Thu Nov 6: Eugene OR, Agate Hall, Gutenberg College
Fri Nov 7: San Francisco CA, Slim's
Sat Nov 8: Los Angeles CA, Knitting Factory
Mon Nov 10: Tucson AZ, Solar Culture
Wed Nov 12: Dallas TX, Club Dada
Thu Nov 13: Austin TX, Stubbs BBQ
Fri Nov 14: New Orleans LA, The Parish
Sat Nov 15: Little Rock AR, Juanitas
I should also mention that we're bringing along 2 amazing unsigned songwriters to open these shows. We believe both Susan Enan (Ireland) and Griffin House (USA) are going to make some exceptional records that come to be widely known. We look forward to hearing you say, We first saw them with Over the Rhine back in 2003! (And our thanks to Steven Delopoulos (and Susan) for the first five weeks of the tour. It was great fun.)
This is what I'll remember most,
Linford Detweiler for Over the Rhine
ps There will be a Christmas tour this year starting in Akron the Friday after Thanksgiving and ending in Nashville (we hope) on December 18th. Here are a few of the confirmed dates if you'd like to volunteer or mark your calendars. Stay tuned at overtherhine.com for more.
Fri Nov 28: Akron OH, Lime Spider
Sat Nov 29: Columbus, OH, Little Brothers
Sun Nov 30: Ann Arbor MI, The Ark
Wed Dec 3: Beaver Falls PA, Geneva College, Old Main Auditorium
Thu Dec 4: Brooklyn NY, Southpaw
Fri Dec 5: Baltimore MD, Fletcher's
Fri Dec 12: Cincinnati OH, Taft Theatre (!)
Special Guests: Susan Enan, Pedro the Lion
(other cities tba include DC, Lexington, Atlanta (a full show this time),
Nashville, Chicago, Champaign, Milwaukee)
Live soulfully...
- - -
People talkin', keep on walkin'... Lucinda Williams
Hello again,
This is humbling and hard to write but necessary.
We've been having the most amazing tour musically this year and we extend our deepest gratitude to all of you who joined us at the concerts in the past five weeks or more. The people we are touring with inspired us deeply, worked hard and played their hearts out every night. Our thanks to Will, Paul, Rick, Spinner and Hunter: we hope to reunite with you all soon.
We have postponed the rest of the dates for this year's Over the Rhine tour indefinitely for personal and family reasons. There are two trees in our lives (we do choose our record covers carefully): one is our music and one is our marriage. Sometimes we water one or the other, hopefully both.
We've poured our hearts and our souls into our music this year, and we've seen that tree bear a lot of fruit and flourish. But we've increasingly realized that there has been very little room left over for anything else including our relationship and marriage. As difficult a decision as it is, we've decided we must go home to do some much needed caretaking and work to preserve this part of our lives.
We aplogize for the timing and to those of you who made plans to see us in the coming weeks. We're human beings and we're all broken and sometimes our lives get way out of balance. Knowing this is an amazing place to start. Please keep us in your prayers and again, we hope to see you soon when the time is right.
We really love what we do, but we're not willing to sacrifice our relationship and marriage on the altar of a career. We think you'll agree when we see you again that our music is more alive than ever.
Best,
Linford and Karin
Happy Thanksgiving everyone,
Just a quick note to bring you up to date on a few things. First, thanks to all of you who sent words of encouragement our way when we decided to postpone part of our Fall tour. Your sweetness and wisdom meant alot. The break was much needed, however unfortunate the timing. We plan on making up those few weeks of dates out West etc. this coming March. We hope to see you then, and again, thanks for your understanding and graciousness.
In the meanwhile, we are so looking forward to this year's Christmas Tour. These end-of-year tours are always very special to us, and this one in particular feels significant. Sometimes we need this music. Music can be a form of prayer, a form of healing, a form of happiness, sadness, drenched in joy, heartbreaking. Bring it on. We'll be playing these shows as if they're our last.
Here is the itinerary in case you haven't stopped by overtherhine.com recently...
Fri Nov 28: Akron OH, Lime Spider (That's this Friday folks!)
Sat Nov 29: Columbus, OH, Little Brothers
Sun Nov 30: Ann Arbor MI, The Ark
Mon Dec 1: Cleveland OH, Beachland Ballroom
Wed Dec 3: Beaver Falls PA, Geneva College, Old Main Auditorium
Thu Dec 4: Brooklyn NY, Southpaw
Fri Dec 5: Baltimore MD, Fletcher's
Sat Dec 6: Arlington VA, Iota
Mon Dec 8: Carrboro NC, Room 4
Tue Dec 9: Athens GA, 40 Watt Club
Wed Dec 10: Atlanta GA, Echo Lounge
Fri Dec 12: Cincinnati OH, Taft Theatre (Special Guests: Susan Enan, Pedro the Lion) Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Over-The-Rhine Freestore Foodbank.
Sat Dec 13: Champaign IL, High Dive
Sun Dec 14: Chicago IL, Martyr's
Our special guest for all of the above is the fab Susan Enan. An amazing band called Pedro the Lion (from Seattle) is also joining us for our hometown concert at The Taft on the 12th of December in Cincinnati. We've seen Pedro's songwriter, David Bazan, perform a few times and there is something vitally important going on there. Fasten your seatbelts.
Please also note that we're asking all who attend The Taft show in Cincinnati to bring a non-perishable food item for the Over-The-Rhine Freestore Foodbank. Like many charities in the last few years, they've been struggling to keep up. Thanks in advance.
We always try to do something a little different on these December tours, and we decided to spread the love around somewhat as far as the band goes for these particular shows. Devon Ashley (one of two drummers we used on OHIO) will be joining us this time out, and Matt Slocum (of Sixpence None the Richer) will be playing cello and guitars. Rick Plant returns on bass. We think you're going to come in out of the cold and be thoroughly warmed by this special group of players. (Our friend and mentor Dave Nixon is doing merch, Spinner is back tour managing/sound engineering and we're using Tawd Bell for our truck driver, stage hand and guitar tech. Rawk on.)
Thanks to Will and Paul and Hunter for a great run earlier this year. See you on the other side...
There is much to be thankful for. That's definitely a redeeming quality about America--we set aside a day to give thanks. The Europeans and Brits think we're a little strange, but I like the idea of a day where we're invited to give thanks for friends and family... And hey, we've got pumpkin pie. How can you argue with that?
Well, we hope to see you all soon.
Turn on the music,
Linford for Over the Rhine
ps For a few more days (through the end of November) the entire Over the Rhine cd catalog is on sale for $9.99. If you *have* to shop on Friday, brew yourself a good cup of tea, and pay overtherhine.com a visit.