For the past ten years, Austin's Okkervil River is finally climbing the latter, to becoming an integral part of a new breed of indie-folk bands like the Decemberists, Conor Oberst and the National. In 2006, they signed with Virgin/EMI Records.
It wasn't until their fourth album, 2007's The Stage Names, where Okkervil River started earning their dues, with the album finishing at #62 on the Billboard 200, selling 10,000 copies in its first week. The album was actually recorded as a double album, however, the second part of the album wasn't released until just last year.
Vocalist and songwriter Will Sheff, also fronts the band Shearwater, and is a noted rock critic with an English degree, although he wanted to be a filmmaker while in college.
The band currently consists of several members and instruments, and they have also seen there share of bandmates who have come and gone.
Aside from Sheff on acoustic guitar, there's Lauren Gurgiolo on the electric guitar, pedal steel and mandolin, Patrick Pestorius on bass and piano, Justin Sherburn on keys and guitar, Travis Nelsen on drums and percussion and Scott Brackett on trumpet, keys and percussion.
Going back to the second half of that double album, Okkervil River released The Stand Ins last year, and have followed up quite nicely. The album continues on with the same themes of pop culture, celebrity suicide and the chaos and self-deception of the rock 'n roll lifestyle. The album is their best yet, finishing at #42 on the Billboard 200.
Others you may like:
Wilco, Andrew Bird, Band of Horses, The Decemberists, Bon Iver, Jenny Lewis
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
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