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September 20, 2007
Okkervil River - Live @ Marquis Theater, Denver, CO 09.13.07
For all the sentiments that are roused up when writing about music, I find the most genuinely free-flowing ones come from the inspiration a great, ass kicking live performance can provide. One that refreshes and encourages while entertaining mightily. When the search for cool is momentarily forgotten and a performance transcends the music itself. An experience that moves you to think. Maybe about the words in the song, maybe about the person you love, maybe about what you want to be when you grow up. If even for just a few minutes of wide awake daydreaming, the music becomes the catalyst to something special. Let me tell you about how Okkervil River completely killed it last Thursday night in Denver.
For every paragraph or page or chapter or book that could be devoted to Okkervil River's greatness, there is but one thing to say about their live show to someone that hasn't experienced it, go see them straight away. I guarantee you'll have a much better than average evening versus whatever else vies for your time. I'd sleep better knowing at least one person heeded my advice. And if that helps clear the nagging kink in my shoulder then all the better. Forget that digression, at least I'll know the world is slightly better off with more people joining the Okkervil River party and that is plenty satisfaction.
Last Thursday night saw Okkervil River play the Marquis Theater, effectively kicking off an epic long weekend of heavyweight indie rock happenings in Denver. Competing directly against Bright Eyes' show across town at the Fillmore, Denver metro found itself with a serious surplus of modern folk heroes holding court in the 'hood. Given the pull for partisans from pretty much the same demographic pool, the Marquis was fairly packed. Not sold out, but as close as possible without being so.
Okkervil River got things started with the reference heavy, numerology fetish that is "Plus Ones." The recently featured M.S. Pick set the table for a ride on the Will Sheff & Co. school of understated rock. Their sound was a dichotomy of sharp and dull. Possessing a dull edge without the negative denotation, edgy in terms of clean drops within the typically sparse compositions and dull for the softly filtered method in which everything comes together. Rustic drums and a persistent modern twang adds a classic feel that is hard to describe in other terms besides authentic. Serving well as compliment to Sheff's deep baritone brooding. His suspenders are indescribably stylish too even though this evening the fashion was mixed in with ragged and frumpy look. Not unlike the scene of college students juggling breakfast and a hangovers at the dining halls come Saturday mornings/afternoon.
[Continued with photos, MP3 and more. Okkervil River tour is just getting it's sea legs, full dates after the jump]
//Okkervil River - site
//Okkervil River - Myspace
//Okkervil River - Stage Names - buy
Sheff admitted the switch to tour lifestyle has already induced deliriousness during the long driving sessions. Either a cause for concern or a clever play off valid delirium for conversations sake. Denver's show was only the seventh show of a very long tour stretching through December. Hopefully the stated effects of road weariness are just signs of needing to pass that first hump created by messed up routines while on tour. Otherwise he's in for a world of hurt while the tour van passes through the comparable wasteland of cornfield eternity defining America's heartland.
Potential for dementia aside, we'll ignore Sheff's self-diagnosis. The show was about a rock band unhinged. Delivering a high energy performance without an ounce of sloppiness. Okkervil gave it their all in one of the best shows I've seen all year (including the big string of shows that followed at Red Rocks throughout the weekend). Balanced from beginning to end, engaging well past the point of engrossment. Sincere passion for success on a level that can be compared to a stud athlete sacrificing his or her body on the field. They may start tired, hurt, or sick, but once the lights burn bright and the roar of the crowd electrifies the air its about harnessing whatever remaining energy for the forward push. It is what separates the not-boring from the amazing.
This line from "Unless It's Kicks" relays things quite well. One of Stage Names most brilliant tracks. Can you hear the "Wake Up" riffs? Pretty much just as badass:
"And on a seven day high
That heavenly song
Punches right through my mind
And pumps through my blood
Okkervil River - "Unless It's Kicks"
Other highlights included "A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene," which is more or less a lyrical ride guided by Okkervil River songs that have appeared on television (Bonaduce's reality show, others). "And there's this one episode, close-up cameras were showing him crying/His red head and his red eyes." Jabbing guitars sounded like The Edge added slivers of riffage followed by an authoritarian fiddle twap-twap-twap. Immediately following "...Hold of the Scene" was the similarly Hollywood dipped "Our Life is Not a Movie Or Maybe." This epic beauty harps on why real life is nothing like the moments crafted for film. Nothing new there, but the songwriting is top notch nonetheless. If Okkervil River ever gets really big, this is the big arena rocking mega-hit. If the big stages can echo the owl-like whoo whooo's that filled the Marquis...expect something refreshing. You might even be moved too.
Tour dates
09-17 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater *
09-18 Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium *
09-19 Urbana, IL - The Canopy Club (Pygmalion Festival) *
09-21 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace *
09-22 Hamilton, Ontario - Pepper Jack's Café *
09-23 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa *
09-24 South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground *
09-25 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs *
09-26 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street *
09-28 New York, NY - Webster Hall *
09-29 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's *
09-30 Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel *
10-02 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle *
10-03 Athens, GA - 40 Watt *
10-04 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder *
10-06 Houston, TX - Walter's on Washington *
11-03-04 Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Fest
11-06 Colchester, England - Colchester Arts Centre
11-07 Nottingham, England - The Social
11-08 Newcastle, England - Newcastle University
11-09 Glasgow, Scotland - Nice N Sleazy
11-10 Manchester, England - Roadhouse
11-12 Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique
11-13 Paris, France - La Cigalle #
11-14 Fribourg, Switzerland - Fri-Son
11-19 Vienna, Austria - Szene
11-20 Munich, Germany - Registratur
11-22 Frankfurt, Germany - Brotfabrik
11-23 The Hague, Netherlands - Crossing Border Festival
11-24 Muenster, Germany - Gleiss 22
11-25 Cologne, Germany - Prime Club
11-26 Berlin, Germany - Lido
11-27 Hamburg, Germany - Knust
11-29 Copenhagen, Denmark - Loppen
11-30 Stockholm, Sweden - Spark Club @ Debaser Medis
12-01 Oslo, Norway - John Dee
12-04 Brighton, England - Pressure Point
12-05 Liverpool, England - Liverpool Academy
12-06 Dublin, Ireland - Whelan's
12-07 Leeds, England - Brudenell Social Club
12-08 Cardiff, Wales - Barfly
12-09 London, England - Luminaire
12-10 London, England - Luminaire
* with Damien Jurado
# with Vic Chesnutt
Posted by Merry Swankster at September 20, 2007 02:54 PM
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Comments
I saw Okkervil River this Mon (4/21/08) in Madison, Wisconsin (at the Orpheum theatre, on State Street, downtown) and it was honestly THE best concert I've been to in a very, very long time--the band had this fantastic stage presence (especially Will Sheff, who seemed so at ease on stage), and they put on one hell of a show.
They were opening for the New Pornographers, but honestly, they put on such an amazing show that they blew the headliners right out of the water. And I have to admit that what drew me to the show in the first place was the fact that Okkervil River was opening--don't get me wrong, I enjoy some New Pornographers, but I was really curious to see what an Okkervil show would be like.
And, well, they had the whole packed theatre on their feet for the entire show. This was not necessarily the case when it came time for the New Pornographers set, which seemed so pale and unfulfilling after such a rocking show by Okkervil River. Granted, the New Porns have a very different style, and that may have been part of the problem, but still, it was such a letdown when Okkervil's set ended and the headliners took the stage. I could've stood and listened all night the way Okkervil had me going; the whole crowd was pumped up--it was truly great. Even my current favorite New Porn song (Myriad Harbour) was so much intensified by Will Sheff's reemergence on stage as he joined the band (and kicked it) on lead vocals.
Okkervil River appeared on stage dressed to kill in button-down collared shirts neatly tucked into fashionable dress trousers, sporting jackets to match, and looking very clean-cut and dare I say a little retro (30's? 40's?). They started their set off with Sheff breaking immediately into a long a capella solo, his voice rising and falling to the melody of "The President's Dead" before the band finally joined in with a sudden swell of music to help carry the song to the end--it was definitely an attention-grabbing opener.
They performed a vast share of rocking and even upbeat and danceable songs, packed with driving keyboards, catchy guitars, and great harmonies and melodies--songs whose driving nature only drew in the crowd more and more as they went on. They also incorporated two slower love songs with haunting but beautiful music and lyrics into their set: "A Girl in Port" (which was done beautifully) and an outright INCREDIBLE version of "A Stone" on which Sheff's voice just bled pure emotion, especially at the crescendo, taking on this sense of beauty and sweetness and pain. Much later in their set they (of course) performed "Our Life is Not a Movie..." which (of course) had EVERYONE standing and moving. Okkervil ended their set with (and I love this one) "John Allyn Smith Sails"--they really rocked it out, taking the song home, and the crowd loved it--I mean, hey, who doesn't like a little Beach Boys mixed in with their Okkervil River?
Finally, I just have to add two last points: 1) It was so beautiful to watch the way Sheff's body moved on stage as he leaned and swayed and got into the music all through their set--the audience, I think, can definitely sense his passion for what he does. He was great on stage. And 2) any band that can pull off incorporating a horn/brass instrument into their music, and do it this well, definitely earns my props. (Even though I don't say things like "props".)
Posted by: Janelle S in Madison at April 25, 2008 11:07 AM
And how how how could I forget the drums!!!
Posted by: Janelle in Madison at April 25, 2008 11:53 AM
Anecdotal evidence and media reviews seem to indicate that the New Pornographers are a consistently underwhelming live act. Apparently those ultra-catchy songs are just too meticulously crafted and produced to be brought across live. Too bad. I also heard Neko Case is a total diva, but have no evidence for it.
Posted by: david at April 25, 2008 02:44 PM
I remember the New Pornos circa Electric Version being pretty sharp, but I was also totally drunk I think.
Posted by: Jeff K at April 25, 2008 03:44 PM
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