Looking forward to this, and I love that he recorded with so many past Okkervil people, but I hope it doesn't mean that official Okkervil River output is done.
Love this song. It's one of the three Travis songs I loved back in the day. The other two were "Writing To Reach You" and "Sing".
Really feels like it's become pointless to bump artist-specific threads in here these days, so will just post in here haha.
Saw Gang of Youths last night. Now, they brought out a new record earlier this year. Unfortunately, due to the struggles I've had this year, I've barely listened to music all year (struggles best evidenced by the fact that Destroyer have had a new record out for months now and I still haven't listened to it nor have I picked up the vinyl) and GOY's new record has fallen by the wayside in that process. It's good, and employs some gorgeous Samoan influences across it, although not as good as Go Farther in Lightness.
They're big enough now - at least in Australia - that they've graduated to arenas. The times I've seen them previously they've played in theatres. This gig was my least favourite of the three or four shows of theirs I've seen, and Em agreed. This was partly due to the really poor sound - Dave's mic was buried miles beneath the mix. But to me it kinda felt like they haven't yet figured out how to do a really good arena show. There are things you can do with the setlist and stage production that help elevate the show. They played Let Me Down Easy really early in the set, and Dave kept stopping the start until the crowd went nuts, but I felt like they hadn't done enough yet to whip the crowd into a frenzy (and they were killing it with that song when they were playing it with a bit of the instrumental Le Symbolique lead-in from GFIL). A lot of the newer songs have an electronic bent to them, but again they kinda shot themselves in the foot by having Dave so low in the mix, so they only really hit when the crowd picked up on the parts of the songs they knew. I'd also have appreciated some more storytelling from Dave and the production about the new stuff, as it's a very personal record, and a bit more celebration of the Pasifika contributions would have been welcome. Some odd song choices too, Our Time is Short is about the last song from their catalogue that I'd wanna hear live.
A lot of great stuff too, though. Brothers was mesmerising, Deepest Sighs Frankest Shadows was fucking amazing with Gretta Ray (who's covered the song for Like a Version) playing a big role in the song. Seeing the extended band's chemistry was really beautiful. New songs like Tend the Garden, Unison, The Kingdom is Within You, In the Wake of Your Leave and Goal of the Century were excellent. Magnolia went absolutely off, one of the best songs written in the past decade by anyone. And Dave's stage presence is amazing. He's also really funny, swore like a sailor and had a great gag about being able to say 'cunt' because he's not performing in America
intedomine, if you see this, I am sure you saw this tour too, thoughts?
Things can get tricky hey, especially when it comes to relationships and the way they evolve 
I went along on Night 2, and unlike your good self, I came into this as someone who has fallen immensely in love with Angel in Realtime, to the extent that I rate it far, far ahead of Go Farther in Lightness. It’s album of the year, for mine, and is such a tremendous accomplishment.
Go Farther in Lightness actually didn’t have much staying power with me. I rarely listen to in the full given it’s runtime, even though I do generally like it.
And this was actually my first time seeing GoY headline their own show (I’ve usually seen them at various festivals).
Same as you though, I felt that Dave’s vocals were still buried quite a bit on Night 2, at least early in the set, and really compromised Man Himself and Angel on 8th, and the absolute stunner that is Tend the Garden. But the set really got better as the night went on. Magnolia was mammoth, and Deepest Shadows. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that Kingdom is Within You debuted in time for the Australian tour, probably my fave song on the album. Thankfully the vocals felt balanced ok, and damn, Dave’s dancing is something to behold on tracks like these.
And Brothers is, as you said, mesmerising. That song makes me well up - the way Dave delivers it, on record or live, is something else. Apparently tonight was the fourth anniversary of his Dad’s passing, so I think he was feeling it a bit tonight. Choked up at the end of Goal of the Century.
His banter was unstoppable. “I met Tony Lockett… he’s a big cunt” perhaps the highlight, as well as getting score updates from the Everton match.
And I probably share the same criticism - what is so special about Angel in Realtime is the backstory (and the Pasifika emphasis) so would have loved more of the show to acknowledge that… but I guess it could put off those who only follow the hits on JJJ. But I can’t really complain about experiencing 11 songs from Angel in Realtime - I’m pretty happy. And the gig got better as the night wore on. Fair effort. The entire on stage ensemble is very likeable
Hope you’re doing ok though and things begin to turn in a positive direction for you Cobbler, despite this year’s struggles.
I miss how busy this community used to be - hope all are well.
