In honor of the news that their new album is entitled The Stage Names and comes out August 7, I'm starting up a dandy little Okkervil River thread.
Is anyone else as crazy-go-nuts about these fellows as I am? I certainly hope so. Gottage, I'm looking in your direction here.
I saw them for the first time a few weekends ago at a quaint little theatre on campus that seats 1,200. This was a one off show since they are putting around town recording the aforementioned new album, and it featured full string and horn sections. It was an incredible show, one of the best I've ever seen by far. They did a slowed down rendition of 'For Real' where the jagged, intermittent guitar part was played on the piano by Will and the guitar solos were played by the string section in what was perhaps the single best performance of any song I've ever seen. Here's the setlist:
Maine Island Lovers
Lady Liberty
Our Life is Not a Movie, Or Maybe (new song)
The War Criminal Rises and Speaks
A King and a Queen
A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene (new song)
Seas Too Far to Reach
Oh Precious
I Want to Know (Fugs cover)
Listening to Otis Redding at Home During Christmas
For Real
Encore:
The Stage Names (new song)
Song of Our So-Called Friend
So Come Back, I'm Waiting
The point is it was incredible and if you get a chance to see these Austin boys stop by your neighborhood this year, which you likely will, you need to take it.
Don't know Okkervil River but want to know what I'm raving and carrying along about? Do yourself a favor and check out this album:
I think that's your best starting point. It's their most recent and (relatively) popular album and a great introduction to their sound. If you enjoy it, go snap up Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See and/or Down The River Of Golden Dreams as quickly as you can. DTROGD is worth owning for the song 'Maine Island Lovers' alone.
Appreciate!
Edit: Okay, here's what I'm going to try to do. Either I can send you Black Sheep Boy if you're interested in listening to that album, or I can make a mix of some sublime Okkervil songs, a sampler if you will, and send that on its merry way. If there is enough interest in this, I don't mind doing it.
Is anyone else as crazy-go-nuts about these fellows as I am? I certainly hope so. Gottage, I'm looking in your direction here.
I saw them for the first time a few weekends ago at a quaint little theatre on campus that seats 1,200. This was a one off show since they are putting around town recording the aforementioned new album, and it featured full string and horn sections. It was an incredible show, one of the best I've ever seen by far. They did a slowed down rendition of 'For Real' where the jagged, intermittent guitar part was played on the piano by Will and the guitar solos were played by the string section in what was perhaps the single best performance of any song I've ever seen. Here's the setlist:
Maine Island Lovers
Lady Liberty
Our Life is Not a Movie, Or Maybe (new song)
The War Criminal Rises and Speaks
A King and a Queen
A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene (new song)
Seas Too Far to Reach
Oh Precious
I Want to Know (Fugs cover)
Listening to Otis Redding at Home During Christmas
For Real
Encore:
The Stage Names (new song)
Song of Our So-Called Friend
So Come Back, I'm Waiting
The point is it was incredible and if you get a chance to see these Austin boys stop by your neighborhood this year, which you likely will, you need to take it.
Don't know Okkervil River but want to know what I'm raving and carrying along about? Do yourself a favor and check out this album:
I think that's your best starting point. It's their most recent and (relatively) popular album and a great introduction to their sound. If you enjoy it, go snap up Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See and/or Down The River Of Golden Dreams as quickly as you can. DTROGD is worth owning for the song 'Maine Island Lovers' alone.
Appreciate!
Edit: Okay, here's what I'm going to try to do. Either I can send you Black Sheep Boy if you're interested in listening to that album, or I can make a mix of some sublime Okkervil songs, a sampler if you will, and send that on its merry way. If there is enough interest in this, I don't mind doing it.
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