LOCATION: Cafe Du Nord, San Francisco, CA
LINEUP: Karin, Linford, Jake Bradley, Mickey Grimm
REVIEW BY:
katherine:
The show was amazing. We were a few folks back just about halfway between Karin and Linford - my favorite place to see a show. First the not-so-great, just to get it out of the way: the Knitting Factory really is a hot, muggy place, and the lights were positioned so that it was really hard to see much of Linford at all - more of a blue/black silhouette of a piano player than the piano player himself. And, on a more personal gripe, it's never easy to stand for an entire show, but my back was extremely aware of the fact that I am nearly six months pregnant. The kiddo seemed to like the show, though- I was getting kicked like crazy the whole time! I think she was dancing. I am very much hoping to score a chair at the Coach House.
The sound was great, and I still can't get over how nice it is that there is no smoking at shows out here. Although I think the laws have changed in Ohio now, right? I remember leaving the Odeon and Brady's reeking of cigarettes.
I didn't catch a setlist- it was very similar to the other shows, but with a few nice surprises... a second encore of Latter Days! It was actually quite a long show, especially after the shorter double-billing sets with Hem last year. Highlights: the full band arrangement of Ohio, Karin on piano/ Linford on bass for B.P.D., THE TRUMPET CHILD... wow, even without horns it's an AMAZING song, Mickey's crazy drum solo on Who'm I Kidding, the irony of North Pole Man being played to an LA crowd in September (tee hee), and of course Don't Wait for Tom. There was a big belly laugh in there, too. After they'd finished up this gorgeous, intense rendition of the Trumpet Child, Karin sort of sheepishly said something like, "And now here's a trashy song I wrote" and launched into Who'm I Kidding But Me.
They seemed happy, and like they were having so much fun. While we were walking the dog today we talked about how present they seem on the stage- there isn't an artifice about them at all. Their frequent smiles at one another, the audience, and themselves are so genuine. I love the new album and can already tell it will be one of my favorites, and to see the songs performed live only confirmed how great they are.
It was rainy, and there were a couple significant pools of water on the roads and freeways. I hope everyone got home safely.
I can't wait to read Karin's tour diary about the show! Thank you so
much, dear Over the Rhine. You fill me up with all the things I need most:
gospel and Ohio and hope and frisky love songs.