Three years after playing a packed show at the Tralf Music Hall, Okkervil River will make their return to Buffalo tonight as they are set to play the Town Ballroom. The band, known for their thematic albums, formed in 1998 in Austin, Texas led by front man Will Sheff. While not sharing the similar twang sounds of early Wilco, the band originally was lumped into the alt-country category as their early rootsy releases, 2002's Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See and 2003's Down The River Of Golden Dreams, saw them employ electric organs, mellotrons, peddle steal, mandolins, and banjo, instruments that other alt-country acts had incorporated into their sound. The 2005 release of their third album, Black Sheep Boy, saw the band take its first swing at the concept album route. Loosely based on the life of 60s folk singer Tim Hardin and his drug addiction(the title track is a Hardin original), the album sees the band continue with the darker themes that they originally touched on in older songs, including the story of a killer going to trial in "Westfall" from Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See. The bouncy stand out track "Black" deals with child abuse and abduction. Incidentally, that may be the first time I have used the word bouncy along with child abuse and abduction.
A few years later, the band would release the first of their two companion records, The Stage Names(2007). Originally meant to be released as a double album with the latter record The Stand Ins(2008), the two albums saw Sheff and the rest of the crew deal with the pratfalls of celebrity ("Savannah Smiles", "John Allyn Smith Sails" "Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed on the Roof of the Chelsea Hotel, 1979"), the harsh reality of being in a band ("Our Life is Not a Movie", "Pop Lie"), and life on the road ("Lost Coastlines"). Their newest album, 2011's I Am Very Far ditches the concept album this type around. While I love the past three albums, sometimes its nice to have songs that can stand on their own without a connecting theme.
The band seems to be a revolving cast of musicians over the years. Originally an Okkervil River side project that included Sheff, Shearwater saw original guitar player Jonathan Meiburg leave Okkervil River after the The Stand Ins recordings to pursue the band full time. Long time drummer Travis Nelsen recently departed prior to the recordings of I Am Very Far. Along the way, Justin Sherburn, who began as a touring keyboard player, came on as a full time member, and Lauren Gurgiolo took over for Meiburg and at one time Charles Bissell of the Wrens on guitar. Since I first saw the band live a few years back, only Sheff and bassist Patrick Pestorius, himself being a replacement for former member Zach Thomas, are the only remaining members from my first show of theirs.
Take some time tonight to make it down to Town Ballroom to see one of the most consistent and captivating bands in indie rock today as Okkervil River plays with Titus Andronicus and Future Islands. Tickets are still available at the door for $25. Doors open at 7:00pm.
~mm
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