Okkervil River
- HOMETOWN:
- Austin TX
- MYSPACE:
- myspace.com/okkervilriver
- WEB SITE:
- okkervilriver.com
There was always a hint of menace to the music of Austin's Okkervil River. Two albums -- Down the River of Golden Dreams and Don't Fall in Love With Everyone You See -- dealt with the sad stuff, but the postmodern chamber pop arrangements were warm. Things changed on Black Sheep Boy. The band got dark. Frontman Will Sheff's lyrics were the stuff of nightmares and horror films full of gnashing teeth, claws, shredded throats and buckets of blood. The album's arrangements were every bit as full as previous recordings, but a turgid, urgent, pained sound emerged. After opening with a wounded, spare take on Tim hardin's Black Sheep Boy, the album explodes into catharsis on For Real, with Sheff singing like a tortured soul. On Black, the band sounds like a cross between Dock Boggs and the Cure. The equally intense Sheep Boy Appendix, comprised of worthy overflow, was released last fall. Okkervil's live presentation is every bit as urgent, with the gangly bespecled Sheff given to hopping on top of the bass drum for some regorous riffing. The effect is thrilling and scary. Just like Okkervil River.
UPCOMING EVENTS |
PAST EVENTS
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Okkervil River w/ Man Man & Crooked Fingers (outdoors)
Sat. 09/27 | 10:00PM @ Emo's (Downtown)
Okkervil River will win your heart with their emotionally introspective indie rock songs, Man Man will help you discover moves you …more»
Sound Exchange/Mojo Magazine Part:y:
Sat. 03/15 | 8:00PM @ Stubb's Bar-B-Q (Downtown)
Stubb's (801 Red River St) (All Ages ) SoundExchange/Mojo Magazine Duffy 8:00 p.m. Wales …more»
Schubas' 12th Annual SXSW Round-Up
Thu. 03/13 | 12:00PM @ Yard Dog Gallery (South of the river)
Okkervil River, The Cool Kids, Peter Moren, Blitzen Trapper, The Spinto Band, The Builders & the Butchers, Black Joe Lewis, Ben Jelen, Aleks & the Drummer, DJ sets by The Hood Internet…more»
Austin Music Awards Show - Okkervil River / Gary Clark Jr / Roy Head and The Wests...
Wed. 03/12 | 8:00PM @ Austin Music Hall (Downtown)
Fun Fun Fun Fest 2007: 2 Days, 3 Stages, 65 Bands
Sat. 11/03 | 12:00PM - Sun. 11/04 @ Waterloo Park (Downtown)
Pick your Top 5 FunFunFun Fest bands to win one of 3 pairs of tickets! To pick your bands, simply click "I Like It!" next to a min. of 5 bands performing on SATURDAY or S…more»
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Okkervil River with String and Horn Sections
Sat. 04/21 | 7:00PM @ Hogg Memorial Auditorium (Campus to 183)
Our show at the lovely Hogg Auditorium on the UT campus looks set to be one of the most exciting shows we've ever played, as we'll be playing with a much broader instrumental palette t…more»
KEXP Live on-air performances
Fri. 03/16 | 1:00PM @ Austin City Limits (South of the river)
Check this website for ticketing info: KEXP
Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar & Dead Oceans Showcase
Thu. 03/15 | 8:00PM @ The Mohawk (Downtown)
The Besnard Lakes 8:30 p.m. - I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness 9:30 p.m. - Bishop Allen 10:30 p.m. - Richard Swift 11:30 p.m. - Okkervil River 12:45 a.m.
Quack!Media Presents Dirty Found Magazine Issue Launch
Thu. 03/15 | 12:00PM @ Bourbon Rocks (Downtown)
1:00 pm - 5:30 pm Bourbon Rocks (508 E. 6th St)Join Quack!Media in launching new issues of FOUND and DIRTY FOUND magazines, with live performances by Okkervil River, Tally Hall, Great Lakes My…more»
Okkervil River with full string section! - - **Postponed**
Sun. 01/28 | 7:00PM @ Hogg Memorial Auditorium (Campus to 183)
Updated: Unfortunately, this show has been postponed till after March - do to problems with Will Sheff's voice. Bummer... Get well soon. One week after the great success o…more»
an evening w. Okkervil River; special seated show with strings and horns
Sat. 12/09 | 12:00PM @ The Parish (Downtown)
Sorry Everyone, we got this wrong. The Channel is playing tonight not Okkervil River. We got some bad info last week. Thanks to anonymous below for pointing this out. -- Scott. At t…more»
Blogged-about indie-rockers, legendary punks, and mobile dance parties: This year’s Fun Fun Fun Fest has it all, including a headlining reunion show from the late, lamented Murder City Devils that should have the whole music world’s eyes on Waterloo Park this weekend. But it’s not just nostalgia acts (although there are plenty of veterans like Angry Samoans, The Saints, and Lifetime whose LPs make up the backbone of many a punk’s record collection): This year’s Fest boasts a who’s who of the here and now, including buzzworthy names like The New Pornographers, Against Me!, Okkervil River, Girl Talk, Battles, Ted Leo, Of Montreal, and Explosions In The Sky. While you’re out basking in the crisp autumn weather (reason enough alone to make Fx4 the year’s most enjoyable outdoor festival) take a moment to thank the rock gods that you live in Austin. They like to feel appreciated.