I Just Read About That…

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 7, 2024] The Antlers + Okkervil River [FREE AT NOON]

Since Okkervil River and The Antlers were playing at Ardmore Music Hall that night, the Free at Noon was recorded there as well.  They don’t do this often, but have done a few at Ardmore Music Hall.

I have been interested in seeing Okkervil River, but not aggressively so.  They play in the area a lot, but I’ve never been fully motivated to go see them.

The Antlers have been around for awhile and their 2009 album received some buzz.  But when I discovered that main composer Peter Silberman described ‘Hospice’ as the story of an emotionally abusive relationship, told through the analogy of a hospice worker and a terminally-ill patient, I stayed far away from that depressing saga.   Ever since I’ve just assumed their music is sad and depressing and I’m not willing to investigate further.  The review from WXPN says

Each band had only two members playing, but they filled the space with warm, if at times somber, songs that entranced the crowd.

The Antlers started with a slow, ambient song that set the tone for the show. Singer and guitarist Peter Silberman’s vocals were glowing and earned cheers from the crowd mid-song. The crowd was swaying, and I had the urge to close my eyes and let the music lull me to a calmer place. The Antlers’ fourth song was a nice transition between the two bands, with Okkervil River sneaking on stage to join The Antlers for a rousing outro of “Putting The Dog To Sleep.”

Nothing Special came out in 2022 and is credited as Sheff’s solo work, although he made it clear that the line between him and his band is blurry, to say the least. “I’m here in my official capacity as Okkervil, but I can’t even tell the difference between the two things at this point,” he joked. The seamless transition into playing “The Valley,” an Okkervil song, only emphasized this point. “The Valley” was one of the most upbeat songs of the set, and had a hypnotizing bass line.

For their final song, Okkervil River shifted the tone back to a more gentle pace with “Blue Tulip,” allowing The Antlers to slip back on stage and join in for the back end of the song. While most Free at Noons would typically end here, The Antlers and Okkervil River had one more treat in store for the audience. They joined forced to play four more songs in a wholesome collaboration that left everyone calmer than when they walked in.

Still not quite my cup of tea, but I do love a Free at Noon that runs long.