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    Concert Preview: The Tillers at Woodlands Tavern

    Cincinnati band The Tillers are making a stop in Columbus on their way to this year’s Brooklyn Folk Festival. They’re folk musicians with punk rock backgrounds that give their Americana sound a little bit of a bite. The band will be at Woodlands Tavern this Tuesday, April 15th. They’ve been touring like crazy, but Mike Oberst, who plays banjo, fiddle, and harmonica for the group was willing to take some time to answer some questions so that we could learn a little bit more about the band before heading out to their show. Here is what Mike had to say:

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    Q: Can you tell me a little about the band and each of the members?

    A: The Tillers are busy guys not just on the road but at home as well. Aaron Geil (bass) Lives in Newport and works part time at the legendary Southgate House Revival music venue down the street. He also has a huge interest in all things to do with astronomy and staring at the stars through a telescope. Sean Geil (gutiar) Lives in Sayler Park on the outskirts of the city of Cincinnati along the mighty Ohio river. He teaches guitar lessons on his off time, hosts an open mic at the Crows Nest on Tuesdays and tries to keep up with his 1 year old baby boy August. I, Mike Oberst (banjo, fiddle, harmonica) also live in Sayler Park just down the street from Sean. I spend a great deal of time teaching banjo lessons and working on my urban co-op farm, chasing chickens around.

    Q: Who are some of your musical influences?

    A: There are just so many as you could guess… Woody Guthrie, Dock Boggs, Mike Seeger, Doc Watson, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, John Prine, Tom Waits, The Band.

    Q: What’s unique about The Tillers and your sound?

    A: I think the band has always drawn inspiration from a long list of musicians from America’s history. Southern blues laments, anonymous relics of Appalachian woods, churches, riverboats, railroads, prairies, and coal mines. Through this inspiration we also manage to stay true to our own original musical creations and somehow produce a sound both modern and archaic.

    Q: You guys have been touring non-stop, what are some of your favorite places that you’ve seen along the way?

    A: I think we’ve really enjoyed our trips down south. Especially to Todd, North Carolina where we first played with the legendary Doc Watson in 2010. The Whispering Beard Folk Festival in Friendship, Indiana is like a second home. Also playing in the subways of New York, trekking out to Okemah Oklahoma to the home place of Woody Guthrie and jaunting around the UK and Ireland with Pokey LaFarge last fall.

    Q: What kind of plans do you guys have for the near future?

    A: In the coming year, we are playing a bunch of shows, of course, all over the map. The festival season is upon us and we are always exited for that. Coming up very soon is the Nelsonville Music Festival. Also, in July, the Buckle Up fest in our beloved Cincinnati. Featuring Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Old Crow Medicine Show and lots more. We also have another tour in the works with Pokey Lafarge and plan on writing more songs for the next album.

    Q:Is there anything else you’d like to tell everyone about?

    A: If you really want to get a good idea of what we are all about check out our most recent album, “Hand On the Plow”, or come see a show. We love to play these songs, and put everything we have into crafting and performing them.

    Catch these guys this Tuesday night at Woodlands Tavern with locals Erica Hughes and The Well Mannered at 8pm. The show is 18 and over and tickets are only $5. Purchase them here or at the door. Check out the band’s video for their song The Road Neverending below to see some footage of their travels and show and hear their great sound.

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    Miranda Rife
    Miranda Rifehttps://columbusunderground.com
    Miranda Rife is a music contributor to Columbus Underground who covers local bands, concerts and album reviews. Miranda is a student, working towards a degree that combines communication and art. She loves indie rock and local music and she’s also interested in radio.
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