Okkervil River
Austin is a city known the world over for its musical offspring. The red headed stranger calls it home, so did the guitar god Stevie Ray Vaughn and more recently Okkervil River. Okkervil River is a six piece alt band with five albums under their belt. Most recently, the band released the sublime “The Stand Ins” that picks up where the preceding album, “The Stage Names” left off.
The band is a critical darling and boasts some pretty impressive fans, including the curmudgeonly Lou Reed who I thought hated everything except himself. Okkervil River is a unique band. Chief songwriter and singer Will Sheff has a voice that most people will like at first listen. Then, after going over a song a few more times, an understanding sweeps over you. Will’s voice fits the scene perfectly, like how Rush couldn’t exist without the high-pitched alto of Geddy Lee.
Their music is big and sweeping and the lyrics are a treasure hunt of references that would appease the hungriest of trivia nerds and music apprecianados. Take for example their song “Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed on the Roof of the Chelsea Hotel, 1979” You don’t have to know who Bruce Wayne Campbell or his alter ego Jobriath are, or even the significance of the Chelsea Hotel to be swept away by the music.
Recently, the band has shifted gears and has acted as back-up band to Roky Erickson (formerly of psychedelic rock heavies 13th Floor Elevators). Roky is releasing his first album of new material in over a decade and the band steps in to fill out the sound. Front man Will Sheff serves as producer and the album, called “True Love Casts Out All Evil”, is a truly solid effort from the former mental patient.
No word yet on new Okkervil disc, but here’s hoping.
Videos of the band:
Check out the bands performance on Austin City Limits Here
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