We’re packing our bags today and leaving for New Zealand in the morning. We’re terribly excited about this trip. I haven’t been outside of the country since my trip to visit Jack and Hazel and Finlay in Scotland during Christmas of 2003.
New Zealand is a special place for me, not only because it’s truly one of the most beautiful places on earth, but because it was there that I decided to start a band. Friends of ours, Sandie and Owen, were playing a festival outside of Wellington and somehow invited me along to play bass. Standing in those mountains in front of 400 kids in the rain who refused to leave reminded me that music was home for me. I wanted to write some songs and see if people would ever care enough about them to stand in the rain and listen. A few months later, back in Ohio, Over the Rhine began recording a handful of first demos. Now, finally, this music is going to take us back to Wellington to the New Zealand International Arts Festival for five performances. We’re playing a festival in Keri Keri, and stopping in Auckland for various appearances. Sometimes you just have to raise a glass on a Sunday Morning and celebrate the small victories.
I think we’re going to make Mimosas.
The Limited Edition LIVE CD’s didn’t make it to the farm in time for us to sign them, so that will all have to happen when we return from New Zealand. Sorry for the delay. They will all be shipped out at the end of March.
If you’d still like to order a copy of “Live From Nowhere, Volume One” go to Overtherhine.com. You can see the track listing, the artwork and also check out a few MP-3’s for a little striptease. We think you’re going to like this special collection that reminds us of a wonderful year on the road with a great band and crew and the world’s best music fans to boot.
In May we’ll be touring the West Coast and parts of the Midwest. A band called HEM is planning on joining us. Stay tuned at overtherhine.com for more info on that. The working title for the tour is “Gorgeously Stoned On You” but whether or not that sticks is anyone’s guess.
