Over The Rhine - Streaming Christmas concert December 2020

Over the Rhine have made a tradition of a Christmas tour and particularly hometown concerts at various venues in Ohio, often the Taft Theatre in Cincinnati. Due to the usual reason in 2020, this isn't happening so they have recorded a show that is available to buy and stream. The good news is that those of us in the wider world get invited this time. The link is below and you really should take it up if you can. Being of a cash strapped nature I ended up watching the free stream last Sunday. 

Filmed at their home the set, caught light on the third song, 'Born', a highlight of any show they play it at. The best songs as ever were the ones with the most space, Linford at the piano and Karin just singing. 'All I Ever Get for Christmas is Blue' was a highlight of this first part of the set. 'Latter Days' is just one of the best songs of the last 25 years. but this time out there was a difference, the words to 'Silent Night' fitted perfectly into the end of 'Latter Days'. Just great. They finished this segment of the show with 'Bothered', the ideal words for the end of 2020.

They moved to the barn that they have been converting into an arts and performance space for the last few years for the second half of the show. Opening with 'If We Make It Through December' which featured on the 'Blood Oranges In the Snow' album, one of three that I prefer to see as Winter rather than Christmas albums. There was far more between song talk from Linford that is one of the features of an Over The Rhine concert in this section of the show, which was nice as early on they had gone straight from one song to the next. 

Back to the house for the last two Christmas songs. One of the aspects of the band's work that doesn't get enough praise is Linford's piano playing. It really is a highlight for me, and the three solo piano albums he has already out there should be on the shopping list for anyone who likes modern piano (although there is some guitar as well) music, or indeed Chopin. Good to hear on their Facebook recently that his solo album that formed part of a crowd funder a few years ago was likely to appear in February.

Mixing the Christmas songs with some old favourites, at least some of mine, made for a show that covered a lot of ground, and should hopefully attract the casual listener into the fan community. Over the Rhine are a band who inspire devotion from those who find them. If you haven't yet then you should and this concert could be the way. And it was good to see this picture. Nothing wrong with roping in the pets to promote your work...

The show is available for multiple streams at $50.00 at the link here. I supported them through the Paypal link given on the stream, and bought a couple of downloads in their store. If only postage was not so pricey from the US. Still a reason (if one was needed) to go to the next British shows, to buy the CDs I didn't get last time. 

Over The Rhine store

Set List

Broken Angels

Let It Fall

Born

All I Ever Get For Christmas Is Blue

Anything At All

Latter Days/Silent Night

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

Amelia’s Last

Bothered

If We Make It Through December

We’re Gonna Pull Through Sacred Ground

First Snowfall

All I Need Is Everything

The Christmas Song

May God Love You