How I Came to Love Okkervil River

As you may know, Okkervil River is my favorite band. This is the story of how it came to be that way:

I discovered Okkervil River at Lollapalooza in 2008. It was Saturday afternoon and I had wandered away from my friends who had decided to glue themselves to the Main Stage. I was waiting at another stage when I heard something that sounded good from another stage to the left. I made my way over there and I watched the rest of this bands show. I really dug their tunes and their performance was awesome. I didn't' really know who this band was though, so I had to look them up in the program later. The camera I had back then wasn't very good, so this is the best of the pics I took:

It was a gradual process after that. I found their songs on Youtube and found that I really liked them. First I bought the "For Real" single. Then, I downloaded their album, "The Stage Names" from iTunes and got into it. I got myself a physical copy that ended up being in my car's CD player for months. I asked for "The Stand Ins" for my birthday in 2009 and that's what my Sister got me it. It took me a little longer to get into that album, but I fell in love with it as well.

Eventually, I bought "Black Sheep Boy" "Black Sheep Boy Appendix" "Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See" and "Down the River of Golden Dreams." It was more of a song by song process with those albums for me. I would have heard a few songs from each of them and ended up focusing on them initially. I would discover new songs from these albums and would end up loving them after a few listens.

Currently, I have 382 Okkervil River songs on my iTunes. I've downloaded so many of their live performances that people have recorded. Okkervil River songs occupy almost all the places in my mind that are reserved for "know how to play on the guitar." I've spent so much time thing about meanings in their songs.

I love me this band.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had a tough time coming up with a post idea tonight. I'd have an idea for a post and then it would only take up two lines or would just be terrible. This was a last ditch effort and I think it turned out mildly decent.

Thanks for reading

-Michael