Okkervil River

Overview

Sydney seems to have a bit of a soft spot for Texas. We tend to think a taco isn’t really Mexican unless it’s had a Tex-Mex melted cheese makeover, and there are apparently enough of us willing to cram into a 747 for 15 hours and 25 minutes to fly straight into the Lone Star state. We are also pretty obsessed with Texas band Okkervil River, but this probably has less to do with the fact that they’re from Texas and more to do with the fact that their music is lyrical genius.

No, really, it is. Guitarist, vocalist and visionary pessimist Will Sheff has been commissioned to pen his thoughts for Dave Eggers’ publishing house McSweeney’s, the band got their name from a Russian short story written by Leo Tolstoy’s great-grand-niece, and their songs sound like short stories themselves. Short stories shrouded in a turbulent blend of country, folk and rock. Their latest album I Am Very Far is arguably the best example of the band’s music standing up to Sheff’s ambitious lyrics, and one of the best things to come out of Texas since Shiner Hefeweizen beer. Don't miss them at the Metro this Tuesday.