The music landscape of the Queen City, like its population, is varied and layered with history.
Cincinnati’s position along the Ohio River has made it a premier destination for drifters with guitars for generations; King Records made a name for local Black artists and scrappy college punks just can’t stop starting bands here.
One of the Tri-State’s most important cultural touchstones is bluegrass music. While Kentucky takes a lot of that glory, Ohioans also have a longtime connection with the art form — and here in Cincinnati, that creates a perfect environment for a band like The Tillers.
The Tillers aren’t new to the Cincy music scene. They started way back in 2007 busking in Clifton, and over two decades later are still strumming guitars across the country (check them out if you’re in Madison, Wis. on July 17).
Their most recent studio project, their self titled album from 2018, reflects that history; Mike Oberst and the Geils give a lively rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “All you Fascists Bound to Lose” alongside original and thoughtful tunes like “Riverboat Dishwashing Song” with all the shine and polish of a veteran folk act.
The band calls for social change, sings about trains and all the other trappings of string music, but don’t think I’m saying it’s boring; the instrumentals are lush, the melodies are tight and the band paints a vivid picture of Appalachian living, from the beauty of nature to the harsh realities of poverty.
And mind you, The Tillers have almost two decades of music to sort through.
In 2008’s “Ludlow Street Rag,” their first studio album, songs like “I Wish my Baby Was Born” and “Miner’s Lifeguard” are positively haunting in their tone and message. Some songs, though, like “The Dodgin’ Song,” show off a more playful side of the band, reminiscent of the classic tongue-in-cheek blues rags of Country Joe McDonald or Bob Dylan.
Harkening back to the classics, down to playing songs like “I Ain’t Got No Home,” makes one thing clear: the story of The Tillers, as well as the story of string music, is a collective story about legacy. Untold thousands of people have sung that the police have made it hard wherever they may go (and I like Woody’s version a lot), but since the very beginning, the Tillers have harnessed the timeless power of folk music to be part of a traditional, local sound in a uniquely Cincinnati way (and you should listen to them).
You can find The Tillers @the_tillers on Instagram and anywhere you listen to music. You can find last week’s feature on Linwood here. Leave a comment on our Instagram or email me at ebloomfield@linknky.com with your suggestions for next week’s local band highlight!
