The Day's Odds and Ends

Okkervil River on Conan!
Watching Okkervil River performing "Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe" on last night's Conan O'Brien was a little surreal. In the four years that have passed since since I was first hipped to them I've seen them transform from a band that was playing the Jackpot in Lawrence and crashing with the guys from Minus Story every other month to headlining their own tours in much bigger places. I've seen their albums go from unnoticed to overlooked to now, sadly, a little overhyped (but only a little, I assure you). But in all seriousness, kudos to Okkervil River. While playing Conan doesn't guarantee success, it certainly can't hurt. The performance sounds like it was great if you were in the audience, but on YouTube its a little muted. Oh well, here's hoping they'll get back to Lawrence sometime soon, even if it isn't at the Jackpot.



Free Download Alert: Boo & Boo Too/Baby Birds Side Projects
Other than Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk guitarist and occasional Boo & Boo Too collaborator Drew Gibson, I'm not exactly sure the people that are behind the masks or the music that makes up this Bramble Thrash/Don't Ride Your Elephant to School split LP. Fans of Jesus and Mary Chain and Deerhunter will probably enjoy the Bramble Thrash half, while those in favor of more ambient noise will probably prefer the Elephant half. The album is currently available to stream and download on Virb.

New Band of Horses Song: "Is There a Ghost"
I vaguely remember the Horses playing this song on a sweltering August afternoon while opening for Modest Mouse. At the time I was completely nonplussed, as the heat and humidity were winning the day over just about anything other than (a) drinking water and (b) surviving. Hearing the recorded version was a much better experience, though I can't help but feel that they're just a less jammy version of My Morning Jacket. But perhaps that's the appeal to begin with, that they're like My Morning Jacket but without the jamming. Eureka! Anyhow, the new song is available to download from the band's MySpace page, or from this very blog by clicking on this link, where you will be whisked away to a different site that is kindly hosting the mp3 for us. I assure you that its there, just look below the ads. Found it? Good.