Over the Rhine

"Truly mature players don't have anything to prove," explains
Over the Rhine's Linford Detweiler, describing why their sound
is so blissfully subtle.  Past the recent release of _Amateur
Shortwave Radio: Ten Years of Show Business_, Over the Rhine is
in its prime, recently having expanded to a six-piece unit.  The
group's maturity shows:  they gracefully navigate between folk,
pop, and softer rock, always maintaining their dignified identity
between the lines.

Originally a quartet, OTR now features three original members--
Karen Bergquist (vocals, guitar), Linford Detweiler (organ), and
Brian Kelley (drums)--along with new guitarist G. Jack Henderson,
Terri Templeton (vocals, violin), and David LaBruyere (bass).  The
Cincinatti-based band is currently touring in support of all seven
of their albums (four of them independently released) and is only
taking time off to record their eighth album, due this fall.  The
band consistently maintains a smooth accoustic flow to their
recordings, reminiscent of The Cowboy Junkies (whom they opened for
last fall), but slightly more swirly and introspective.

Detweiler describes their recordings as refined oil paintings, and
their live shows as black-and-white snapshots.  Shows tend to be
a bit more raw and energized--especially now that they have a
sextet of muscles to flex.

"We leave room for a few surprises," he adds.  Both on disc and in
person, however, it's clear that Over the Rhine understand the
importance of playing as a unit, letting songs arrive and create
their own space.

Although the band is currently negotiating with Capitol Records,
they are leaning towards remaining independent, not only to
maintain their financial freedom, but more importantly to uphold
the musical diversity which is so integral to their sound.  Let's
keep our fingers crossed.

Over the Rhine appears at The Ark on Friday June 18.

- --Jaime Vazquez