Review: Tim O'Brien and the Dan Tyminski Band

Wow, I'm still on a high from last night's concert. What a treat to see two established musicians playing in configurations you rarely see: Tim O'Brien solo, and Dan Tyminski with his hand-picked band.

Tim O'Brien opened the show. Usually he's surrounded by a band, but before his first song was over, I had to wonder why: I sure didn't miss one! His sound was simple and pure, just O'Brien's rich voice above the guitar (or banjo, bouzouki or fiddle) he played for accompaniment. He's as skilled a musician as he is a singer, moving from bluegrass to jazz to old-time to blues with ease, altering his licks to suit. The result was a varied program that was a delight from start to finish. (He's pictured here with Cityfolk Executive Director John Harris).

He opened the show with the traditional song "Maid in the Garden". There are as many versions of this song as there are artists to perform it, and I've never heard the same one twice! His was refreshingly straight-forward. Nearly everything else O'Brien performed he had written himself. His clever lyrics made me listen close, to enjoy every turn of phrase (which usually set me to grinning). For instance on one of my personal favorites "Get Out There And Dance": Learn from Arthur Murray or Dancin' With The Stars/Learn from Fred Astaire, learn from Ginger Rogers/Learn from young people and learn from old codgers/Just get out there and dance. O'Brien has an incredible talent for writing tunes that sound like they've been knocking around the hills of his native West Virginia for decades, and adding lyrics set firmly in the 21st century. Take a listen to "Phantom Phone Call" and you'll know just what I mean.



Dan Tyminski is taking advantage of a break from his regular gig with Alison Krauss to put together an all-star band. They came out blazing, cranking up the speed of the night's songs a few notches in true bluegrass style. As each musician stepped forward for a solo, it clear to see why Tyminski chose these men. They're each solid performers, and the combination was electric. The band includes Barry Bales on bass, Justin Moses on fiddle and banjo, Adam Steffey on mandolin and Ron Stewart on banjo and fiddle.

Last summer, they released the album Wheels, from which they played several songs. They joked that the instrumental is the only track on the album that's not depressing and sad. Need an album for the kind of day where everything goes wrong and you need to wallow in it a little? This is the one for you! And sure, they sang about the bluegrass hallmarks--heartbreak, loss, death and misery--but you need only focus in on the music behind the words to feel uplifted.

This was such an enjoyable evening of American acoustic music. Lively, soulful and funny by turns, it was a great way to warm a winter's night!