This time we've managed to pull it off!

This past Sunday night us Tillers were awarded the Cincinnati Entertainment Award in the category of Folk/Americana.  We were nominated last year but just didn't make it.  It was tough competition this year, with the other nominees being our friends, peers and contemporaries.  The race was a good run and lots of fun along the way, especially with Utley and Wonk!

You'd never believe but we were also nominated this year as Artist Of The Year!  We didn't get that one but were proud to be up for it.  Thanks to all friends and family who voted for us. 
We'll keep on working hard as ever even if we never see another CEA.  It was a fun time though!

You can purchase our album online at:

www.chestnuttreerecords.com/thetillers


Just thought I should put up an official blog about our first studio album, Ludlow Street Rag.  It's got twelve songs on it plus another for all you punk rockers if you wait it out at the end. 

Thanks to all the great friends of ours who helped put the album together!  All recording and mixing was done in the studio of and with the guidance of Jeff Doering.  Mastering and producing was done by Mark Van Patten.  Photos taken by Mike Meldon of  Torch Photography.  Album art and design is by Greg Riestenberg.  Couldn't have done it without you guys, we owe you lots of beer!

In early March 2008 we signed on with Bloomington Indiana's indie record label, Chestnut Tree Records.  Please check out the website and see for yourself all the great bands on Chestnut Tree.  

You can also pick "LSR" up at our local Shake It Records in Northside and Joseph Beth Booksellers in Rookwood,  they have it there.

Thanks everybody who made this album and it's release so much fun!  We'll surely be out on Ludlow Street again soon. Doing what we do.

take it easy, keep it old timey!  Mike

Alright, so after one failed attempt I am sure we'll be on this one.

Our "dispatch" for the documentary will air on the USA network this coming Wednesday July 29th at 7:00pm Eastern Standard Time.

No more rescheduling as far as I know.

The segment is titled "Dispatches From The Road" which will feature us three Tillers. 

If you are wondering "is this the documentary"? then the answer is no.  The documentary titled "American Character Along Highway 50", will air in January 2010.  The dispatches are a monthly look featuring characters to be in the documentary.  A new dispatch will air every month until January.

If you miss it this Wednesday you'll be able to find it here:
http://www.usanetwork.com/..highway50/

My friend Mollie wrote this, I thought it was great and true and wanted to share it with ya'.  mike.

The Loneliest Road, The Backbone
mollie hatchet

They call it the Loneliest road and the Backbone, it's the one I've always known. Route 50 was my home.
From the time I could peak out over the windowsill I saw the Ohio river carving it's flow with the will of the bones of that old road. This artery of cement and stone that fleshed the quest for the unknown- in me. It was my life. Route 50.
Water, steel, and cement embraced close to make a constant of loud and unlikely sounds that lull children to sleep. The transit to our transitions and companion to dreams of staying close and reaching out. That is the magic of that route.
Instilled early on that this was no avenue, dead end, or street. This was a journey that dipped both feet in the ocean's waters. And I grew up with that stretch and wonder. Absorbing the flow of veins set to wander other avenues, streets, countries...Route 50, it's gift to me.
They call it the Loneliest Road, I call it yearning. Backbone? Yes, for that I am certain. Cemented and sturdy and always searching for the people, for union, for a calling. For me it was for family, the flutter of wings set to be free. Yet no matter where I may go- another avenue, street, or country...Route 50, forever home to me.


 
photo-Mike Meldon

Interview with The Tillers

Eli Smith - Down Home Radio Show NYC - March 17 2009

On today’s show I speak with The Tillers, an excellent 3 piece string band on tour from Cincinnati, Ohio. The Tillers were in New York over the weekend where they played at my “Down Home Live” show that I host every month at Banjo Jim's on the Lower East Side. We met on Saturday afternoon at the Music Inn, the great old instrument and record shop on W. 4th St. and recorded this interview there in the basement.

The Tillers are Michael Oberst, Sean Geil & Jason Soudrette. Mike and Jason started out playing punk music, but in the past couple of years have begun playing old-time music - and have been particularly inpsired by Woody Guthrie. They do a number of songs that Woody Guthrie & Cisco Houston did together, and do them very well! I recorded their set at my “Down Home Live” show on Saturday night and play cuts from that, as well as from the Tillers’ studio album on today’s show. The Tillers also play some of their favorite records, both current favorites and old standbyes.Click to hear the interview!

Local MTV: The Tillers
Oct. 28/ 2008
Posted By: Mike Breen 

A couple of weeks ago, I finally got to check out the muched-buzzed about band The Tillers, nominated for a Cincinnati Entertainment Award
in the Folk/Americana category. Playing in the Southgate House's
"lounge" room, the trio (playing stand-up bass, guitar, banjo and more)
huddled around a single, vintage-looking, multi-directional mic and
delivered their sweet, accomplished spin on traditional Folk, Country,
Gospel and Blues.

The band's debut, Ludlow Street Rag
(released by Bloomington, Ind.-based label, Chestnut Tree Records), is
the next best thing to seeing the band live (their harmonies are
especially resonating in a concert setting). Some have called the
threesome "Punk Folk," but that's likely because some band members have
tattoos. This is straight-up "old-time" music — close your eyes and
you'll swear you're at some jamboree in the Southern backwoods, circa
1925.

The next, next best thing to seeing them live? This cool music video, for the band's song "There Is a Road (Route 50)."

The Tillers - There is a Road (Route 50) from Pete Ohs on Vimeo.

Here's A List, Lets Keep It Growing!


Rocky Cash- Cincinnati, OH                  www.myspace.com/rockycashmusic.com

The Williams Family Band- Cincinnati, OH        

Ceol Mohr- Cincinnati, OH

The Blue Rock Boys- Cincinnati, OH    www.myspace.com/thebluerockboys.com

Jay Staples- Cincinnati, OH

Mark Damron- Cincinnati, OH

Marie Mason- Cincinnati, OH

The Defective Males- Cincinnati, OH      www.myspace.com/defectivemalespunx.com

Blue Harvest- New York, NY                         www.blueharvestband.com

Mill Pond Nine- Somerville & Hadley, MA  www.myspace.com/millpondnine.com

East River String Band- New York, NY         www.eastriverstringband.com

The Rolle Singers- Cincinnati, OH                www.myspace.com/rollesingers

May Day Orchestra- St.Louis, MO                

Ryan Spearman (of- high on the hog)- Hermann, MO  myspace.com/highonthehogstringband

Ian Fischer- St.Louis, MO                  ianfishermusic.com

Holy Holy Holy- St.Louis, MO                  www.myspace.com/holyholyholysound

The Rubber Knife Gang- Cincinnati, OH      www.myspace.com/therubberknifegangband

Centralia Massacre- Knoxville, TN                www.myspace.com/banjorocker

Mark Utley & Magnolia Mountain- Cincinnati, OH              www.markutley.com

Theodore-  St.Louis, MO                                                       www.theodoremusic.net 

Them Damn Kids- Chicago, IL                               www.themdamnkids.com                                  
When We Might- Bloomington, IN                        www.myspace.com/whenwemight

Nathaniel Seer- Bloomington, IN                                       www.nathanielseer.com

The Comet Bluegrass Allstars- Cincinnati, OH      www.myspace.com/cometbluegrass

Chatham County Line- Raleigh, NC                 www.chathamcountyline.com

Boogertown Gap-  Pittman Center, TN       www.boogertowngap.com


Moonshine Drive-  Cincinnati, OH               www.myspace.com/moonshinedrive

Stick Figures-   Cincinnati, OH      www.myspace.com/twostickfigures

JERRY DOUGLAS-  Nashville, TN    www.myspace.com/jerrydouglasband