Review of Okkervil River at The Button Factory on November 18th 2011
Photos: Alessio Michelini
Review: Sean Noone
Okkervil River arrive on the Button Factory stage at an extremely punctual 8.55. In fact, they seem to have caught out a large portion of the fans as the venue is far from full as they kick off their set. It initially doesn’t appear that those absent have missed much as the opener, off their new album, receives a rather muted reaction from the audience.
Thankfully, though, this proves the exception and not the rule for the night as second track ‘For Real’ gets the ever-filling crowd going. What follows is a barrage of poppy, upbeat songs from an impressive back catalogue. All the while Will Sheff cuts a figure of an American Jarvis Cocker dressed, as he is, in a three-piece tweed suit and glasses.
The Stand-Ins’ ‘Rider’ is next, quickly followed up by ‘Black’ from Black Sheep Boy, which has a bit more of a rock feel live than its indie-pop recorded incarnation. Newest single ‘Piratess’ is slower and, again, not received as well by the crowd, clearly more familiar with their earlier work.
‘Seas Too Far to Reach’ is again slow, but the tempo lull doesn’t last long as former single ‘Pop Lie’ blows away any cobwebs forming and puts the audience into a sweaty frenzy. ‘We Need a Myth’ (which sounds a little like Pulp, continuing the Jarvis Cocker comparisons), again off this year’s I Am Very Far, lets everyone catch their breath before the glorious assault of ‘The Valley’. It is played with such power that none present, whether they know the track or not, can help but be swept up in it.
Next up comes the serious song of the evening. Sheff continues the crowd banter, which he up to endearing effect all evening, while most of the band exit the stage to leave only two acoustic guitars and the microphone. Oh yes, and the harmonica. “You know it’s serious when the harmonica is out,” jokes Sheff. The audience looks on rapt save a few chatters at the bar.
The wonderment continues as the full band returns for the epic ballad ‘So Come Back, I Am Waiting’. With everyone emotionally drained, the audience are set to get physical again; encouraged to clap and sing along to ‘John Allyn Smith Sails’. The highs and lows (in terms of emotion and tempo, the quality doesn’t vary) continue for the next couple of song before ‘Lost Coastlines’ has the packed crowd singing along with the “la la” ending.
Having played out for an hour and a half, Okkervil River leave the stage before returning quickly with another upbeat, not-quite-sing-a-long, ‘Unless it Kicks’ to round off a fantastic evening. A rule of showbiz says ‘always leave them wanting more’ and, as time constraints limit the encore to only one track, it is a feat easily achieved by this excellent show.
