Tuesday, Mer and I were bad people and went out on a school night! Moreover, we pulled one of our colleagues and her husband (Ami and Nate) into our wanton ways. We went out to my favorite Italian restaurant, Ristorante Di Gianni, which is in Kent. The food is good and authentic, the restaurant only holds about 75 people, and it is in a converted house. We had a leisurely supper (over an hour) with much laughing (and eating). We then headed the short distance to the oft-cited Kent Stage to see the band Over the Rhine.

Mer has known about Over the Rhine for over 15 years. Two of the founding members were students of her father when he was teaching at Malone College; he was even invited to their wedding. Mer is a big fan; she is usually slow to make a decision, but when we found out Over the Rhine was playing at the Kent Stage (last week), she let me invite Ami and Nate immediately. We have seen Over the Rhine twice before in Chicago (including Mer being responsible for me and her roommate going to a bar for the first time in our lives to hear them – don’t worry, no alcohol was consumed by us). I have known about Over the Rhine since about 1994 when Mer sent me two CDs. I like the band, but I am really fond of their later stuff (the last five years). The lead singer, Karin Bergquist, has a fantastic voice, but on the early albums she held it back, which I found frustrating. I knew this woman could sing, but she would not let it go. A few albums back, she finally let it go – I do not know the reasons why, but I am most pleased that she did.

Ami was looking forward to the concert as well. She had attended Malone College (and had one class with Mer’s father!), so she knew about Over the Rhine, but had never had a chance to see them. Judging by her and Nate’s responses to the songs and the concert, I’d say it was worth the wait.

The concert was just shy of two hours, including the two encores. The band had four people, and they had keyboards, accordion, guitar, upright and electric bass, and a drum set (the guitar got passed around a lot). They did mostly newer stuff, including several songs from their new release of original Christmas music, Snow Angels, which is excellent. It has a wide variety of songs and song styles. They even did a few songs from a CD they are releasing in 2007. It was a good concert, and shared in fun company – a radical evening for rebels wildly out on a school night who got to bed AFTER 11:00.

Side note – I am listening to Folkalley.com as I write this, and Over the Rhine just came on with “Firefly.” Neat-o.