Zephaniah OHora Makes His Texas Debut in Austin
If you need your faith restored in the present and future of country music, just pipe up a record from Zephaniah Ohora, or make the effort to see him live. There is a purposefulness and a purity behind Zehphaniah’s music that is unparalleled in this business. He’s one of the few souls truly born to do it. This was on full display Friday night (9-6) in Austin at Sagebrush on South Congress. It was Zeph’s first time ever playing the Lone Star State.
Ohora’s albums This Highway (2017), and Listening to the Music (2020) are a country audiophile’s dream, and of course he played many of the best selections from these albums such as “Way Down in My Soul,” “High Class City Girl from the Country,” and “Black & Blue.”
Zephaniah doesn’t play many live shows and he rarely tours. So the folks in Austin and surrounding areas made damn sure to be in attendance, from the two-steppers, to the country geeks hanging in the wings (including yours truly), to the everyday fans who weren’t going to miss an opportunity to see Zephaniah in the flesh.
This included quite a few Austin-based musicians. You can always tell how respected a performer is when their peers show up to support. Along with John Mutchler from The Golden Roses, Jesse Daniel and Jodi Lyford showed up to boot scoot around the dance floor in support of Ohora, and they weren’t the only ones.
Along with being a master country songwriter, singer, and performer, Zephaniah is also the talent buyer for New York’s authentic honky tonk, the Skinny Dennis in Brooklyn. He also moved to Nashville a while back, and is currently working on opening a Skinny Dennis in East Nashville as well, expected to open its doors sometime in early 2025.
Opening the show was Lasers Lasers Birmingham. Don’t let the wild name scare you. The guy can rattle off classic country songs with the best of them, but he’s also not afraid to bring the “weird” to country too, which after all, is what Austin is known for. Lasers shared the band with Zephaniah, which included singer and songwriter Elijah Ocean on bass, who boasts his own great catalog of songs and albums, and closed out the night on center stage.
There might have been a new song or two in Zephaniah Ohora’s set in Austin, so hopefully he’ll get some time once the new Skinny Dennis in Nashville is open to release a new album.
Country music is certainly better with Zephaniah around.
Zephaniah Ohora, Elijah Ocean, and Molly Ruth play The White Horse in Austin Saturday night (9-7). He also plays in Houston at Shoestring Charley’s on September 8th, and at Duke’s Indy on November 8th.
September 7, 2024 @ 10:56 am
Love his first two albums.
Great music from a native son of New Hampshire…don’t take Zephaniah for granite!!
September 7, 2024 @ 11:20 am
Love Zephaniah, and love the ‘Don’t take Zephaniah for Granite’ reference! His first two albums are gold!
Who was on steel? Jon Graboff played on his albums but not sure if he was there.
Hope to hear more from Zeph, Wake the hell up Nashburg!!! This guy has talent a long with a ton of others Saving Country music!
September 7, 2024 @ 11:42 am
Perfect country music.
September 7, 2024 @ 2:25 pm
So glad he’s playing live. His albums give off a warmth like no other modern country artist IMO. Fortunate enough to see him live with band and also with Elijah ocean acoustic tour. He’s a down to earth good dude. Look forward to skinny Dennis in Nashville!
September 7, 2024 @ 3:17 pm
Love Zeph, too often left out of the conversation about guys making great country.
Not related: Trig I think Kaitlin Butts has to be a contender for best live act in the country this year, and her show at Billy Bobs last night proved it. The band is tight as hell, and Kaitlin is owning the stage with every step she takes. I’ve seen her player smaller stages (as in actually a cramped stage) and it incredibly impressive. Seeing her get a full sized stage at Billy Bobs was mind blowing.
September 7, 2024 @ 4:08 pm
I’ve seen Kaitlin Butts four times this year at various festivals, and she was at the Ameripolitan Awards where she won for a fifth appearance. She always puts on a stellar show, and she’s been working her ass of in 2024. Glad to hear the Billy Bob’s Show was worthy of that legendary stage.
September 8, 2024 @ 4:13 pm
Damn. I didn’t retaliate Elijah Ocean was going to be in Austin. Short drive from San Antonio and he’s one of my favorites and been wanting to see him live again. Was tied up this weekend but hopefully he’s back again soon.
September 9, 2024 @ 5:30 pm
When tragedy struck and we lost Neal Casal (who produced for Z.O.), the wait for Zeph’s second LP was pushed out even longer. I so long for a third release. So smooth and unique. Even got my mother in law in Ireland listening! Please Zephaniah? More music from the All American Singer?!
September 9, 2024 @ 6:31 pm
Zeph’s first record is great. “Way Down In My Soul” especially is memorable, flawlessly played, with a gentle Grateful Dead mystic vibe in the lyric. Same goes for “This Highway,” “He Can Have Tomorrow,” and “I Do Believe I’ve Had Enough.” Those three songs capture the best of what’s in him in my opinion. “High Class City Girl from the Country” also has memorable lines and a breezy feeling that puts you in the mind of New York. I don’t know of any other country artist who can do that. That whole record is a minor miracle.
A second record was always going to have to get over a really high bar. I consider myself a fan, but I don’t think it does. It sounds great, and there are moments, but there’s something too mannered about it. It could be I just don’t like two rhymed lines in a row, but maybe he should’ve waited for his own well to fill up with water for a bit longer. The playing and production are still top-notch.
Like others, I’m waiting for a third record, and I hope he takes his time with it. Moving to Nashville and accumulating life along the way should give him what he needs to write more stuff with the originality of “Way Down.”
I look forward to Honky’s reaction, pro or con.
September 9, 2024 @ 6:58 pm
Zephaniah Ohora and Elijah Ocean that alone would be a great concert!!