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Whether you have seen Bill Mallonee play with the Vigilantes of Love, The Trophy Wives, The Lonesome Racket-Tears, or as a solo performer you have seen one of the best songwriters around. On this current trip Bill was traveling as a solo performer touring with the pride of Cincinnati, Over the Rhine. I ventured forth to see the early show this cold December evening to see two of the best acts in music today. The cafe where the concert took place was a small intimate room holding only a few hundred folks settled around tables which held four or five people each. It is a perfect place to see any musical performance, and the show that I saw that night was, except for the time constraints due to a later show, absolutely perfect. Bill opened up with a five song set  which featured tunes from Fetal Position, My Year In Review, and some older Vigilantes material. He did not perform any material from the newest release, Locket Full of Moonlight but since it was on sale at the merchandise table I got to listen to it on the way home. Buy it, now. Listening to him sing and play makes me so glad that he chose to continue on after the disbanding of the Vigilantes of Love.

Coming up next after a short break was Over the Rhine. This incarnation of the band featured Linford on piano and guitar and Karen on vocals, guitar and piano. They were supplemented by a cellist and a mighty fine percussionist. For the earlier part of the performance Linford stuck to the piano with Karen doing vocals and not playing. The overall feel was that we had been transported to a really cool place where the music was meant to touch us in very deep places within our being and it did just that. I have seen the band in various forms over the years but I think that I have never seen them better than on this particular night. From the audience response, I wasn't the only one who felt this way. About half way through the set Linford switched over to acoustic guitar for a number of songs. The interplay between his guitar, the cello and Karen's voice and guitar was magical with some tasty drumming keeping everything in perspective. There was a short break for the band which gave Karen a chance to show off her skills on the piano which she handled quite nicely. During the course of the evening since this is the band's Christmas tour, they did a number of songs of the season which made the evening even more festive. After all was over, all the good byes had been said and I was waiting for the subway, I noticed some people who had been at the show. Each of them had a look of peacefulness that was quite obvious. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.