Okkervil River: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

At first blush, Okkervil River is obviously a good rock 'n' roll band, but listen closely - especially to its lyrics - and you'll hear a great rock 'n' roll band. The group has been making sharp, thoughtful music since the late '90s, with the first of its seven albums coming out a dozen years ago.
The songs in this Tiny Desk Concert are from The Silver Gymnasium, a record inspired by the childhood of 37-year-old singer-songwriter Will Sheff; he grew up a bespectacled, crooked-toothed redhead in the small New Hampshire town of Meriden. His lyrics are drenched in specific memories, pop-culture references and youthful insecurity. Look at these lines from "Down Down the Deep River":
Tell me 'bout the greatest show or the greatest movie you know
Or the greatest song that you taped from off the radio
Play it again and again - it cuts off at the ending, though
Tell me I'm always gonna be your best friend
Now you said it one time - why don't you say it again?
The stories pop a bit more in this acoustic set-up for Okkervil River, but they rock plenty hard in concert and on their albums. If you've missed the past dozen years of this band, start here and then work your way back through its catalog. The Stage Names is my favorite, but nothing disappoints. --BOB BOILEN
Set List
"On A Balcony"
"Pink Slips"
"Down Down The Deep River"
Credits
Producers: Bob Boilen, Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Becky Harlan, Abbey Oldham

[@heatherbarrett1571]

I've been in love with Okkervil River for 10 years and these guys just keep getting better.

[@paulsandor3522]

Criminally underrated band. This is a great snapshot of The Silver Gymnasium period. Will Sheff's songwriting as always is stellar.

[@boypunk88]

this is too good, the fact that this band is so little known is absurd

[@mperrotti76]

Other bands that should've bean huge from that era: Whiskeytown, Lucero, Hold Steady. The fact that those bands aren't huge signifies how dead rock is, at least commercially.

[@donteatpoop4689]

'bean huge' is actually pretty small.

[@gnuPirate]

Really ? I'm sure it has it's merits, but I can't get with it. Maybe I'll try them again later. (I know nothing about this band).

[@whatsasimba]

@Ken Clarke it seems weird to me that anybody would just be coming to Okkervil for the first time at a tiny desk concert. Having seen them live several times, and watched a ton of them online, This only seemed awkward when you mentioned it. And yes, I know this was a year ago, but it's definitely not the first observation I would have made about this little show

[@laysaayh]

!

[@5k33k]

Since I couldn't find em anywhere else, here are the names of the performers: Will Sheff - Guitar/Vocals Lauren Gurgiolo - Electric Guitar Aaron Johnson - Acoustic Guitar Justin Sherburn - Keys Michael St. Clair - Trumpet Patrick Pestorius - Percussion

[@jan_mustang]

00:13 On A Balcony 5:50 Pink Slips 10:55 Down Down The Deep River

[@wyscan]

The lyrics of "Pink Slips" just plain make me smile. If you can't feel it we'll just never be friends, but that's fine.

[@warp9988]

I would never have heard of these guys if Don Henley hadn't said something disparaging about them doing a cover of one of his songs. I love the songs, I love the voice and the sound, and the lyrics. The writing here is something special.

[@buildingburning]

Thank you Okkervil River for creating these beautiful songs, and thank you NPR for sharing the love.

[@xwriseisithrio]

Lou Reed was a big fan of this band! I found out about them reading an interview of his.❤

[@AnonymousAnonymous-kn7hf]

Will Sheff fired the whole band.. since then. yes will opened for Lou Reed,

[@gabrielsatter]

Best lyricist in the game.

[@demztaters]

Saw them live twice - this SO captures the magic!! At ASU in June 2009, he played that same beat up guitar.

[@mcor1]

Nice to see Boggs from The Shawshank Redemption is now fully rehabilitaed and playing keyboards.

[@mstrahinja86]

I was gonna say James Caan but that's a good shout!

[@danielcropp8553]

Lucius Malfoy got a haircut?

[@azuremyco]

I'm 3 years late but that comment is classic

[@CoolHandLuke7]

Have to be human first

[@RumRaspberryMocha]

@@CoolHandLuke7 keyboardist is hawt 😍😍😍

[@opethfantoo3140]

Truly one of the most amazing group of musicians! my wife and I have been fans for a long while now and are amazed at the emotion and feeling they put into music.

[@43sad3efs]

tiny desk is such a perfect setting for you guys

[@unmemorablehero]

The greatest band...hands down...

[@unmemorablehero]

I SAID HANDS DOWN!!!

[@marbo93]

MY FAVORITE BAND!!!!!!

[@merti4punkt0]

thank you NPR for showing me my new favorite band!

[@crolandw]

I recently discovered these guys and have been slowly familiarizing myself with their work. Thanks for having them on Tiny Desk; it gives me a taste of what they're like live. Also, is it just me that thinks the trumpet player looks like Bill Hader?

[@CoolHandLuke7]

Remember Okkervil River pre-Away? I 'member

[@danielcropp8553]

This is a really great live performance! Everybody member of the band seems very engaged. That's awesome.

[@aubreyxengland]

What a fun set. Thanks NPR!

[@tatianawells331]

AAAHHH!! So good!!

[@BrandonHowardRay]

Thanks NPR!

[@ThePigman6]

There is great music if you seek it out.

[@buildingburning]

Down Down the Deep River...oh god, I can't even. So good.

[@jimrupp2330]

It affects me deeply.

[@NoahWeissman]

Legendary

[@HugsTheBeaR1]

Pink Slips is one of the best things I have heard in a while. totally in love

[@mhub3576]

How and why did it take me so long to discover this band? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@meganseaman1]

Happy mediums. Delicate balance

[@Smndo]

OH MAI GO YES. I LOVE YOU.

[@mommyissuesmusic]

Underrated!!!

[@jaydub5011]

Great little session

[@Screenwriting]

I didn't know Danny Bonaduce played in this band. Cool!

[@FreeBrian3000]

that guy with the trumpet has a crazy voice

[@ETizzleful]

Sounds good!

[@bamadave83]

love these guys...really need to catch them live but i'd be mildly disappointed because i know they wouldn't play every song i'd like to hear - which is most of them

[@enabek6307]

+jimjambiz I just missed their 10th anniversary tour. I didn't even know it and they were in NYC 3 days in a row. Pretty upset.

[@DriverSurpriseMe1]

+jimjambiz Would definitely be one of those shows where after the initial, adrenaline-fuelled euphoria wore off you would realise your heart is slowly breaking into pieces for the fact that you are not watching Okkervil River any more.

[@DAlexKablack]

can't see em anymore... this band no longer exists in this configuration

[@bamadave83]

they've had multiple different configurations...

[@johncoveney5021]

Awesomeness

[@ramzyred]

Very good, great band.

[@ronniebillhicks]

god damn that was good,..............................

[@LolimaW]

recently beloved

[@007snapped]

The Boggs comment below is hilarious!

[@standardofexcellence]

I'm hearing greatful dead with robert smith vocal overtones from the cure

[@rojo5411]

fascinating

[@zapholted]

yes

[@1961Blanchflower]

Mmooorre!

[@Caligula138]

I met Will Sheff and he is a very cool dude but do i have to watch the Postman now?

[@TheRolfooo]

Please! Just keep the Indie bands coming!

[@Maxwizard88]

wow

[@ShamrockNRoller]

I play my electric guitar in the mid range, but I play my acoustic up really high. Will would disapprove.

[@youllregretit]

is he standing on the deck of a boat in a miniature bathtub?

[@BLZebubba]

It looks like the lead singer, Will Sheff, has had a tracheotomy at some point - anyone know what that's about (you get a tracheotomy when your airway gets blocked and you're about to, or already have, stopped breathing)?

[@magritte128]

He talked about that in his Reddit AMA. He had epiglottitis as a kid.

[@Itstwofourteen]

Well, he has a whole song about it now lmao

[@ludwigbooth4882]

MIKE!!!!!!!

[@TermsOfService22]

the lead singer looks like one of the hosts from mythbusters lol other than that, i dig these people

[@NewLeaf419]

tell me about the best song youve taped from the radio... dope

[@samcarroll2485]

pink slips is a good track. here at least.

[@HenriettaJuliana-e1y]

Jordy Circle

[@BLZebubba]

Really love the girl guitarist Gurgiolo's playing, especially on "Down, Down the Deep River" - wonderfully creative little filigreed layers, subtle, precise and gentle - just the right touches in the right places. Nice figure, legs, hair and outfit too - love the LDB paired with that gorgeous guitar.

[@PoetryHound]

James Caan on keyboard

[@Songguy1985]

I'm a music technician and have never seen this microphone... Can anyone enlighten me?

[@thequantummechanic1796]

There are videos with the sound engineer where he discusses the microphones used for Tiny Desk

[@Smndo]

Sorry about that. I was too excited.

[@vacantly]

these songs sound so good without all the reverb and double-vocal takes from the album. great songs but never liked the mix personally.

[@SimpsonLynn-j7z]

Aiden Turnpike

[@philippevidoni6245]

Ho Ho !

[@RaulDempster-l5z]

Dimitri Gardens

[@cadencarney4328]

🔥🔥 Who is listening this all the time This voice is beautiful 0:35 💜 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇💖

[@SyemurN]

scooby doo? where are youu??

[@rcrev123]

Wheres the big hit aka westfall?

[@AudreyAdz]

more like For Real

[@tadiyah245]

What kind of guitar is Will playing?

[@TheAglets94]

martin o-style, not sure on the specific maybe a martin 000?

[@tadiyah245]

Scott Johnson THANK YOU

[@MickeyYahoo]

O Sanga It's a Martin 00-18. Looks like it's likely from the 1970's.

[@MickeyYahoo]

MickeyYahoo At least the first guitar was a 00-18. The Mahogany front one is probably a 000-15, relatively modern, slightly wider body than the 00.

[@DAlexKablack]

it was probably time this band split

[@AudreyAdz]

Having heard how good Away was without the rest of the band I'm inclined to agree.

[@jick311]

God, I want to like this so much, but I just... don't....