Listening Room: Over the Rhine at The Ark

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“Sorry, I have dry fingers,” says the woman at will call as she rifles through a stack of tickets. It’s freezing out tonight, and the wind blows through the open doors. I hope the ticket takers don’t have to sit here much longer. No wonder this woman’s fingers are dry.

I’m seated in the first row of the theater flip-down seats. In front of me is an aisleway beyond which is an open area with cocktail tables. In front of the cocktail tables, the stage.

Over the Rhine are a perfect band. I’d have them rep Americana music if aliens landed. You hear a little of everything in them — alt rock, folk, country and all the legends thereof. Cash, Emmylou, Neil Young, R.E.M., and on.

Tonight they have a more extensive set up than I’ve seen them use in recent years. Slide and a rack of electric guitars are present.

Alison Reed, general manager of The Ark, does their introduction.

They come on without much fanfare, opening with Broken Angels, Born and Let It Fall before Karen addresses the room. She and Linford wear matching fedoras tonight.

“How are you?” she asks us. “Are you good?”

Woo, says everyone.

“Well, we’ll change that. It’s Reality Christmas season again…”