2005

Main-Post, June 27, 2005

Songs about guys from the highway side
Unplugged at the camp fire: Markus Rill

Ruppertshütten (gbü) Performing "songs on a summer's night" in truly fine weather, Markus Rill granted about 150 listeners a little Friday night comfort and rest from the hustle and bustle of every day life. Offering up acoustic rock'nroll, folk, country, and blues music, the consummate musician mesmerized his attentive audience gathered around him at the camp fire near the Bayerische Schanz Inn.

Markus Rill hails from Wuerzburg but critics are hailing him as "Germany's most Texan songwriter".
He has lived and honed his chops in Austin, Tx. With his band "The Gunslingers" he has been playing regular tours and festival gigs all over Germany, Spain, France, Austria and the Netherlands since 1997.

In songs that get under your skin, Rill tells tales of being on the road and the guys you encounter by the highway side. Unfortunately, Rill's duet partner Rachel Harrington, an up and coming Seattle songstress, could not make it to the gig due to other engagements in the US. "The two of them played a very successful gig at last year's Spessartfire event", explained Michaela Münch, owner of the rustic inn and organizer of Friday night's concert.

With his distinctive smoky voice, an acoustic guitar,and various harmonicas, Rill took his audience on a musical trip to the American South. Original songs alternated with classics by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, CCR, and Bob Dylan. Listeners were particularly keen on hearing tracks from Rill's fourth and most recent album "Hobo Dream" which was recorded in Nashville/Tn. and produced by Americana icon Duane Jarvis. International music critics are fawning over Rill's "first-rate songs" and "brilliant lyrics" calling the album "a masterpiece".

Currently, Rill is the only European artist on the prestigious Blue Rose record label. Upon hearing him on his first US tour in January, an American movie producer was so thrilled with Rill's songs that he is going to use two of them in the independent feature film "Last Stand".

Rill's concert was a part of the inn's cultural summer program. His next appearance will be at the "Immerhin" in Wuerzburg on July 15.