eMusic

Start Your Trial

Okkervil River

Okkervil River

Rate it!

Avg: 4.5 (490 ratings)

  • Formed: in Austin, TX
  • Years Active: 1990s, 2000s

All of their ideas are big ones. Before long, all of indie rock will be theirs.

Biography

Combining folk-rock inspirations and alternative rock sways, Okkervil River create a particular visionary sound, strongly founded on dark and profound lyrics and on chaotic visions of patterned sound compounds. Okkervil River began as a mutual project of Will Robison Sheff (vocals, guitar) and Seth Warren (drums) when both were still in high school in Meriden, NH. After several years and multiple life experiences, at the end of the '90s the duo eventually decided to reassemble the band, by then with an extended lineup, after they had both relocated to Austin, TX. Following the addition of Zachary Thomas (vocals, bass), Jonathan Meiburg (vocals, banjo), and Mark Pedini (drums), Okkervil River reappeared. In 1998, the group offered its first and self-released disc, the EP Bedroom, followed a year later by Stars Too Small to Use, the band's debut album. During the succeeding years, the band regularly played live on numerous occasions, including an appearance at the South by Southwest festival in 2000. Don't Fall in Love with Everyone You See, the group's second album, showed up in 2002, followed by Down the River of Golden Dreams in 2003, reaffirming the band's cult all over the Texas music scene. The band found success outside of its home state with 2005's Black Sheep Boy and Black Sheep Boy Appendix EP, with 2007's excellent Stage Names and its 2008 sequel/companion piece, Stand Ins, widening the playing field even more.
— Mario Mesquita Borges , All Music Guide

Related Artists Ancestors, Peers and Acolytes

Similar Artists:

The Main Drag, White Whale, Rilo Kiley, Spoon, Bright Eyes

Formal Connections:

Black Before Red, Shearwater, Magnolia Electric Co

Explore music recommended by Okkervil River fans

“ The indie iTunes — Hardcore music fans are migrating to eMusic, the iTunes Music Store's cheaper, cooler cousin.”


Rolling Stone
Start Your Trial

Recently Viewed

Back
Forward

© 1998-2009 eMusic.com Inc. eMusic and the eMusic logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks in the USA or other countries. All rights reserved.

All Music Guide © 1992 - 2009 All Media Guide, LLC
Portions of content provided by All Music Guide, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC

Facebook®, YouTube, Flickr™ and Wikipedia® are registered trademarks of their respective owners, Facebook Inc., Google, Inc., Yahoo! Inc. and Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Neither Facebook Inc., Google, Inc., Yahoo! Inc. nor Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. are partners or sponsors of eMusic. eMusic uses the Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and Wikipedia API but is not endorsed or certified by Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and Wikipedia. eMusic does not pre-screen, monitor, endorse nor assume any liability for websites, contents, products, services or claims made by Facebook, YouTube, Flickr™ and Wikipedia®.

Legal or copyright question regarding Facebook, YouTube, Flickr or Wikipedia content on eMusic? Please email us.