Okkervil River - "Pop Lies" (Letterman, 2009)

I can't imagine a better performance of this song, with Will Sheff putting on his faux-pompous rock star pants to promote an album about rock stars and celebrity. I love the semi-judgemental pointing at the audience when he says, "You're lying when you sing along." Letterman didn't seem all that into it, but ah well...



I'm intensely curious to see what 2009 will bring for Okkervil River. Hopefully, fame and lots of pussy, if that's what they're into. They deserve it, having been one of the consistently great bands almost always overlooked in favor of glossier acts. They seem to be marketing the band as some post-millenial Counting Crows, especially after that video for "Lost Coastlines," which is pretty smart, I think. Could work too... stranger bands than Okkervil River have hit it big. Great bands shouldn't be hid away in the sweaty bedrooms of indie nerds and hipsters. And I think Okkervil River is smart enough to not let fame kill them.