DATE: June 25, 2005

LOCATION: Schuba's, Chicago, IL

LINEUP: Karin, Linford, Devon Ashley, Rick Plant, Kim Taylor

REVIEW BY:


Shane Calhoon:

I WANT YOU TO BE MY LOVE
BORN
SPARK
LONG LOST BROTHER
JESUS IN NEW ORLEANS
SUITCASE
LOOKIN' FORWARD
LIFELONG FLING
DRUNKARD'S PRAYER
FIREFLY
FEVER
BAND INTROS
ALL I NEED IS EVERYTHING
CRUEL & PRETTY
HUSH NOW
MOONDANCE
LATTER DAYS
 

kdavey:

I caught OTR at Schuba's last night, not having heard much of the new album. I'd heard "Born" from the web page, but finances were such that I held off buying "Drunkard's Prayer" until I could get it at the concert -- where they'd get more of the profits anyway.

This was about the sixth or seventh time I've seen OTR, and Karin and Linford are the only ones I've seen every time. That's fine with me, as there are few keyboard players as good as Linford and possibly nobody who sings better than Karin. The set was relatively short, possibly because the club manager seemed really anxious to close up the room at the end of the show. They started at about 9pm, as scheduled, and they finished their encore at about 10:15. They did a nice mix of stuff from the new album and their past stuff, including "Ohio," and a few of their surprising covers (this time including "Moondance.") Kim Taylor, the opening act, played guitar and sang harmonies on several songs, and Linford even sang backup on one song -- which I've never heard him do, live or on record. Karin was in a good mood, talking more than she ever has when I've seen them before. She mostly tweaked everyone in sight, from the band and the crew to the audience to political conservatives. She's usually barely talked between songs, but last night she did a pretty good imitation of a smartass. With a relatively small ensemble, they switched off instruments a lot. Devin stuck with drums, but a guy whose name escapes me -- sorry -- I think it's Dave -- played bass, acoustic and electric guitars. Linford played bass on a couple of songs. Karin played guitars (I think her Lowden and Linford's Lowden), keyboards on one song, and a pineapple on one song.

Karin's singing wasn't as dazzling as she's capable of being, but she was plenty good. I don't think she needs to dazzle all the time anyway -- she just sings with such conviction that she really makes you feel the songs. The technique is only helpful if it helps the song. I told my friends after the show that I think OTR has supplanted Los Lobos as my favorite band. I mean, I still love Los Lobos, but Karin and Linford are reaching the height of their powers as artists right now. Bruce Cockburn is still my favorite artist, but these guys are still early in their career. We'll have to see how their body of work ends up comparing with some of the all-time greats. Pretty well, I suspect.

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