Monday, December 13, 1999
Over The Rhine blends best band at Christmas show
BY LARRY NAGER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Saturday night, Over The Rhine offered refuge from mall madness. After a one-year layoff, the local band resumed its Christmas tradition at the Taft Theatre, with a gentle concert for 2,267 loyal fans.
The homey touches OTR used to bring to its Emery Theatre Yule shows are gone. In place of table lamps, leaders Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist brought the best version of the band since its original lineup with guitarist Ric Hordinski and drummer Brian Kelley.
Bassist David LaBruyere and drummer Don Heffington raised the rhythm stakes. That funky bass turned up the heat in “My Love is a Fever” and rocketed the surreal hoedown, “Last Night.”
Instrumentalist Jeff Bird, from the Cowboy Junkies, brought a new dimension, adding bright mandolin and soulful harmonica.
He helped make up for Jack Henderson. Since joining in 1997, the guitarist has grown into a solid rhythm player, doubling on steel to add texture to OTR's artful folk-rock. But he still can't play a decent solo.
In “Faithfully Dangerous,” the passion in Ms. Bergquist's voice begged for an equally fiery counterpoint, but Mr. Henderson's fret fum blings were a splash of cold water.
Ms. Bergquist remains the alternately smoldering/folksy focal point of the band. Her expressive voice and relaxed stage presence have just gotten better since she and Mr. Detweiler have been with Cowboy Junkies.
She was particularly effective in the brief acoustic set that came mid-way in the two-hour show. She reminisced about the couple's early days playing the Cincinnatian as a vocal/piano duo and sang the standard “Little Girl Blue,” to Mr. Detweiler's piano.
She was even better on the original “Mary's Waltz,” combining with Mr. Detweiler's giddily fluid piano to create a dizzying fever dream.
Perhaps it was Mr. Bird's harmonica, but there was a more countrified sound to OTR. Gillian Welch's “Orphan Girl” and OTR's own “Poughkeepsie” had a new, deeper twang.
Those songs also displayed the rich blend of Ms. Bergquist and singer/violinist Terri Templeton.
Their harmonies shone on “Silent Night” and they ended the evening as well, singing “Bothered,” with Mr. Detweiler's subtle piano.
Leo Kottke opened the show with 45 minutes of wry stories and jaw-dropping guitar picking..
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