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ACL Fest Aftershow: Okkervil River w/ Man Man |
The drumstick of Honus Honus – the central singer and keyboardist of Man Man – goes flying out of his sweat-laden grasp, spinning in a chaotic fashion towards the ceiling. It strikes the rafters before jettisoning back downwards and striking its previous owner on the noggin. And Honus Honus, with an unavoidable bump likely to swell up the next day, completely ignores it. He doesn’t even blink. He simply returns to the microphone, his glass throat vocals wailing their way through the speakers. This is, after all, Man Man. Chaos isn’t just expected, it’s encouraged.
Through cacophonous percussion and hectic stage presence, the eccentric Man Man made for a weird (but nonetheless welcome) counterpart to the headlining Okkervil River. Man Man, clad in their matching white outfits, was significantly less hairy than usual, a few shaven beards and haircuts making the band’s appearance slightly altered. But Samson they are not: the band delivered an erratic, frenzied, and fully entertaining set to the sold-out crowd at Emo’s. Having played earlier in the day at ACL, the band’s energy was amazingly up to the task for the smaller stage (which, despite the band’s size and animated nature, suits the group better than a large festival).
“Big Trouble”, “Black Mission Goggles”, and “Top Drawer” were a few of the highlights of the set, which featured the band at its spastic, drunken-sailor best. Honus Honus hung from the rafters and paraded around the stage. It made for a snarling set for a band that, though a little less hairy, will still put the hair on your…uhh…extremities.
To a certain degree, Austin seems to be losing its grip on Okkervil River. ACL marks the first trip the band has made to the ATX in some time, but, as proven by a raucous (and not entirely sober) crowd, they are welcome back with open arms. Although the group’s set wasn’t slated until Sunday, Saturday night’s performance didn’t feel like a “warm up” show at all.
Compared to Man Man, Okkervil River is a composed, calculated affair. The thought out lyricism of Will Sheff was, as always, in full force. The group paired a couple of their most clever lyrical efforts from the get-go: “Plus Ones” and “Singer Songwriter” were executed to perfection. “A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene” showed Sheff and company in good, dynamic form. With the recently release Stand Ins having time to settle in, fans sang to newer tracks as if they were old stands. Ever the sincere showman, Sheff crooned his way through tracks spanning Okkervil’s discography. It may have been a foreshadowing of the band’s Sunday ACL set, but Okkveril is, as always, a big stage-worthy band best served on the small stage.
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