Over The Rhine

Detail: For Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist, the founders and sole remaining creative forces of Over the Rhine, home has always been both an abstract concept and a concrete reality.

After moving to Cincinnati from smalltown Ohio nearly a decade and a half ago, the city became the pair's adopted hometown. It's also been the base of operations for OtR, their gauzily pretty Pop band (once self-described as "post-nuclear, pseudo-alternative, folk-tinged art-pop") that's inspired an exponentially large and cultishly fierce fan base over the years. The groundswell began in Cincinnati naturally as OtR rose in the local ranks, then quickly grew as they were embraced by a regional audience, until finally they belonged to the rarified world of nationally and internationally renowned recording artists.

Like fine wine, Over the Rhine have gotten better with age. From their first show at Sudsy Malone’s (about 20 folks showed up to see it) to their various record deals (I.R.S. and Virgin/Backporch) and back to their DIY roots (which has given them some of their biggest successes yet), OtR marks two decades of gorgeous, soulful music-making.