TOLEDO – What started out as a friend playing a concert in Rob Krain’s backyard in the Old West End has evolved into an ongoing series of intimate shows featuring a mix of local musicians and national touring artists.
“This has been a snowball rolling downhill,” Krain said after a February concert by Nashville-based singer-songwriter Crys Matthews. “I’ve always been a music fan, and I have friends in the music community. It started out just hosting them in the backyard, and then they told their friends, and their friends told their friends, and here we are.”
Krain said he used to have to drive to Detroit, Ann Arbor, Cleveland or Columbus to see his favorite bands, from folk and bluegrass artists to blues and rock musicians.
“I’d say, ‘I really wish this sort of music was in Toledo.’ And like anything else in Toledo, sometimes you just have to build it yourself.”
Krain founded the Over Yonder Concert House on July 16, 2016, with a concert in his backyard featuring his musician friend Eric Lambert performing on a small stage surrounded by a vegetable garden.
He and his girlfriend Jen Robertson have gone on to host more than 90 concerts since, including such noted artists as Jill Sobule, Jo Serrapere and Peter Mulvey.
Krain said their goal is to host two shows a month, but he can have a hard time turning down an artist who asks to play an Over Yonder concert.
“We did over 25 last year, including a couple of months where we did four shows, and that’s too much for everybody. We had a family sit-down in November and we set some guidelines and boundaries. We’re doing less shows than last year.”
A lot of people think the Over Yonder name comes from a folk or blue grass term, but it actually was inspired by a rock legend.
“We have a red house,” Krain said. “And Jimi Hendrix has a song titled ‘Red House’ that goes, ‘There’s a red house over yonder,’ so that’s where we got the name.”
In addition to his love of music, Krain loves the Old West End community and seeks to bring neighbors together, as well as introduce other music fans to Toledo’s unique near-downtown neighborhood known for its many historic Victorian houses.
“We really try – no, I think we do – bring in phenomenal musicians, really talented artists. And it’s about building a community where they’re celebrated,” Krain said. “We have intimate shows and at the core of it, it’s about the music. It’s about building community around the music.”
A chalkboard sign at the entrance lets fans know what’s expected: “You are entering a listening room. Please silence your phone, refrain from talking during the performance, resist fascism. Thank you.”
“It’s just incredible,” said Robertson. “I’ve met so many amazing people who come to listen and be a part of the audience. And we’ve met so many incredible musicians. Just really neat people, really creative and just kind people, and they have a lot to say.”
Most performers stay at Krain’s and Robertson’s Old West End home, a few blocks from the where the winter indoor concerts are held. Their house is too small to host indoor shows, Krain explained.
Matthews, whose Feb. 9 concert marked the third time she’s performed an Over Yonder show, said she appreciates the vision and mission of Krain and Robertson.
“Rob is amazing. He’s wonderfully supportive of independent musicians,” Matthews said during intermission. “House concerts are so very important for community, especially in times like these. It’s important for the community to gather together, to know they’re not alone, and to have a place with a mission similar to mine is wonderful.”
Matthews, who described herself several times during the show as a “Black butch lesbian” and a “PK” (preacher’s kid), sings with authority and passion with lyrics that tackle racial prejudice and gender bias, promoting justice in all its many forms.
Displayed next to her was a sign that reads: “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
“I have a mission statement,” Matthews said. “To amplify the voices of the unheard, shed light on the unseen, and be a steadfast reminder that hope and love are the truest pathways to equity and justice.”
About 15 people attended her concert, sitting on metal folding chairs in a large room in a classic Old West End home on Scottwood Ave. The room was decorated with an eclectic mix of posters and artwork, including a flag on the ceiling that said, “Keep OWE Weird.”
The intimate atmosphere was enhanced by dimmed track lighting overhead and dozens of candles surrounding the performer.
“It’s my first time here and I think it’s a fantastic venue and a wonderful opportunity for people to hear live music and see it up close,” said Teri Bachman.
“I’m blown away by how good she is – her voice and the guitar work,” John Bachman said of Matthews. “We already plan on coming back.”
Admission was $20, and every dollar went to Matthews, along with all money from merchandise sales. That’s always the practice at Over Yonder, whose organizers and hosts don’t take a dime. Krain said giving artists 100 percent of the proceeds helps make Toledo a viable option for traveling musicians.
“It’s just a love for the music,” said Krain, whose day job is serving as director of the Black Swamp Conservancy. “I get to meet amazing people and become friends with people like Crys Matthews, and that’s all the value for me.”
All Over Yonder concerts are invitation-only, and anyone interested in attending one of the shows is asked to fill out a form online at Over Yonder Concert House.
For more information on Crys Matthews, visit CrysMatthews.com.
