Well folks, It's that time again. You can now pre-order OHIO, the new specially-priced double album from Over the Rhine. Those that pre-order the 2 cd set will receive a signed copy (Yes, we're gluttons for punishment) and a special, tiny (hand-inserted) treat. Go directly to overtherhine.com. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. We've wrapped up 21 songs, over 90 minutes of music, 2 cd's, rambling liner notes and once again, the timeless photographs of Michael Wilson. (We'll be putting the special vinyl edition of OHIO up for sale a little later. Although, if you want to go ahead and imagine holding the gatefold jacket in your hands at this time, please feel more than free.) It's been a good ride. It's hard to believe that this is our tenth recording project overall: 1991 Till We Have Faces 1992 Patience 1994 Eve 1996 Good Dog Bad Dog 1996 The Darkest Night of the Year (Our After-Dark Christmas Record) 1997 Besides 1999 Amateur Shortwave Radio 2001 Films For Radio 2002 The Cutting Room Floor 1803-2003 OHIO (Double Album) We're still here. (We've seen so many young bands come and go in the last 10 years.) You're still here. (In spite of the slump that the "music industry" seems to be in, the community of folks that have found our music continues to grow steadily.) Again, it occurs to us that this is what's referred to in the world of metaphysics as a miracle. We couldn't have done it without all of you. You have our thanks. Anyway, we think you'll have fun tracing lines from all nine previous projects to this new one. It feels like these songs helped us find our way home somehow. We'll be touring all of the USA this Fall to spread the songs on OHIO around a bit. We'll post more on that soon--new dates are being confirmed everyday. Those of you who caught the July 4th midnight show at Cornerstone saw the 5-piece band that will touring with us this Fall. Fasten your seatbelts. One other bit of good news: we are turning over the fulfillment of our on-line orders to the fine folks at Paste Music. Nothing will change--you'll still be able to come to overtherhine.com and poke around and pick up a new t-shirt or a few cd's from the catalog or whatever. But when it comes to actually processing the order and shipping it promptly, we're finally bringing in the professionals. Paste has a proven track record, and darn good taste to boot. Also, we noticed that the squirrels are gnawing on the back corner of the Grey Ghost, getting ideas about turning the eaves into a squirrel condo. This is all-out war. I pulled out the catch-and-release trap yesterday evening and have already made three trips to French Park: 2 squirrels and a young possum have been relocated to the woods 5 miles from here. We're in the early stages of an official "squirrel drive." Finally, speaking of touring, it looks like we'll be playing The Bluebird in Denver on Wednesday the 29th of October. Here's the thing: we're not considered much of a viable halloween act. I can't imagine why, but nonetheless, it's an issue. I'm sure the folks on the discussion list could take lines from our songs and develop all manner of Halloween themes/costumes/party ideas etc, but club owners seem to lack the requisite imagination. So we're wondering if anyone has any ideas for shows between Denver and Seattle, from about the 30th of October through November 3 or 4. (We'll be playing Boise and Seattle, but need some filler.) If you think your college might be interested, or if you own a 10,000 acre ranch with an amphitheatre, or if you think you can get the word out and want to try to host a house concert, or if you know of a great coffeehouse that does music, or if the retired ladies at your church have a sewing circle and have been wanting to bring in a dreamy Midwestern Rock and Roll outfit from OHIO during one of their quilt-making gatherings--we're pretty much wide open. Please e-mail your ideas to OTRhine@aol.com. I know OHIO, the back roads, I know OHIO like the back of my hand... Hope to see you soon, Linford and Karin of Over the Rhine