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Okkervil River

Oct 30, 2024 By Nick Roseblade Photography by Nick Roseblade Web Exclusive

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I was waiting for The Antlers, AKA Peter Silberman and Okkervil River, AKA Will Sheff, to begin. Would there be a support? I heard that the end of the show was when Silberman and Sheff played each other’s songs, but would they be solo or like a supergroup? Luckily, I didn’t have long to wait.

The night started with Silberman taking to the stage. He walked to the microphone. Plugging in his electric guitar as he started to sing his songs of love, loss and redemption. After two songs Sheff joined him on the stage, along with Penelope Isles’ Lily Wolter and multi-instrumentalist and hired gun/session play Declan Haughian. This really brought the song to life in a way the opening hadn’t. Sheff and Wolter left the stage, leaving Haughian to play percussion and clarinet. After three or four songs he’d barely interacted with the audience. When he played ‘Director’, however, this changed. He explained how this was a ‘lost song’ as he never got to play it live here so it was like a new song. Silberman went on to explain how he’d only just started playing it live and after four dates on this tour he’d just started to work out how to play it live. It was the highlight of his set. There was a fragility to the performance that was transfixing. Silberman’s music is very earnest. Almost too earnest at times and his humorous guitar tuning links took the edge off. After a few more songs, including a glorious version of ‘Parade’ he left the stage.

After a short interval Sheff started his half of the set. He was joined by Wolter, on bass, keyboard, vocals and percussion, but not at once you’ll be relieved to know. Wolter’s presence on stage elevated the songs from when she wasn’t there. The combination of their vocals was a thing of beauty. There is an interesting distinction between both performers, which explains why these gigs are so enjoyable. When Silberman plays, he’s very stoic. His playing is measured. If he doesn’t need a note, or chord, he won’t play it. He rarely moved from his initial spot. His links are similar. He gave brief ideas as to what he was feeling when he wrongs some songs. Sheff, on the other hand, has a very dynamic stage presence. He’s constantly moving. Throwing himself, and his guitar, into his songs. His songs are very wordy. Throughout, Sheff spoke to the crowd, at length, about what the songs were about and what he was thinking at that moment. Now, this is going to come across as petty, and maybe dickish, so I’ll get it out of the way now, so we can return to the greener pastures of praise, but there is a trend with ‘intellectual’ American songwriters to pontificate ALL the time. Before Sheff’s songs he gave lengthy explanations as to what the songs were about. Some of these were charming. When he spoke about coming to Brighton in 2003 and it being the first foreign gig that had gone well. Some were interesting, talking about how “Tommy McHugh” was based on a man from Liverpool who had lived a violent life until he suffered a brain haemorrhage and was in a coma. Upon waking he was no longer violent and just wanted to paint. But there were times when Sheff just rambled before launching into the songs. For me these links were superfluous as the lyrics of the songs did the talking. They gave us the context needed to enjoy them. For me, the true sign of intelligence is knowing when not to talk and just play.

The highlight of the night was when Silberman and Sheff joined forces with Wolter and Haughian, and played each other’s songs as a band. Here the richness of the songs was displayed in ways that were, slightly, missing from the solo performances. “For Real” was the star of the night. Everything clicked and they went up a notch. Time slowed down. We were lost in the moment. Then after it finished everything went back to regular pace. As I was watching this part of the show, I wondered why they didn’t structure the set thus. Open with a combined song, then Silberman and Sheff take it in turns to play some solo numbers, some duets and full band songs. It would make the night more, musically, dynamic and showcase the glorious sound of both voices singing together. I’m sure the purists in the crowd would rather have the two solo sets and a shortened combined set at the end, but the final third of the gig is where things really got interesting, and the music was elevated by the increase of players. It can only be a matter of time before Silberman and Sheff collaborate in the studio and release a joint album. They have chemistry. They’re clearly pals who LOVE sharing the stage together and the way their voices meld together is fantastic. The Okkervil Antlers can’t be far off.