Today, Okkervil River release the psychedelic visual accompaniment to "Love Somebody," a cut from their new album 'In The Rainbow Rain,' out now on ATO Records. In the video, a trip to the therapist turns into a trip of another kind - bandleader Will Sheff finds himself spiraling into slug-infested, color-spattered psychosis, and makes the most of it by jamming with a cherub in his own brain. Watch the video and read an interview with Sheff via Uproxx.
Okkervil River will celebrate the release of 'In The Rainbow Rain' with two special NYC-area events. This Saturday, April 21st, Okkervil River's Will Sheff will be joined by AC Newman of The New Pornographers at the Strand Rare Book Room, where the two artists will discuss the making of the record. Will will also perform selections from the album solo and acoustic, and fans will have the opportunity to purchase the album early. Find details on the event, presented by The Talkhouse.
PAPER Magazine shared an exclusive selection of behind-the-scenes photos from the "Love Somebody" video shoot, calling the video "extravagant and unapologetic" and praising its "delirious merriment." Read their feature.
The video was produced by Giraffe Studios in Los Angeles, who worked with Sheff to create a video that captured the "concept of healing and therapy and trying to treat or free yourself," Sheff says. "I just kind of sat back and did what they told me and let snails crawl on my face and watched the whole thing unfold in one long crazed day of shooting, and then I went to the airport in a daze, and I flew home."
"This video is comprised of surreal and outlandish events that unfold as we follow Will to three different therapy appointments," Giraffe Studios says of the video. "Tracking his quest, we follow him as he searches for insight into complex psychological interpretations of life and love. As the song progresses, the world opens up, his mind expanded - the imagery around him becomes increasingly psychedelic. The video ends with him finding happiness within the interior of his own brain - within his consciousness."
Okkervil River are in the midst of an extensive tour in support of 'In The Rainbow Rain.' Will Sheff will be joined by his band mates Benjamin Lazar Davis (bass), Will Graefe (guitar), Sarah Pedinotti (keys) and Cully Symington (percussion). Full tour routing below, and for a taste of what to expect from the band's live show, watch them perform select tracks from 'In The Rainbow Rain' at the Strand Rare Book Room in New York.
'In The Rainbow Rain' has earned praise from Rolling Stone, who called it their "best album," and the New York Times, who love the album's "wide-screen guitar pop with shades of Springsteen and Petty." Pitchfork said "Will Sheff makes kindness an aesthetic on this album of gentle, idiosyncratic songs," NPR Music called the album "celebratory and uplifting...warm, bright, surprisingly playful" and Under the Radar dubbed Will Sheff "one of the most interesting songwriters of the last two decades."
'IN THE RAINBOW RAIN' TRACK LIST
1) Famous Tracheotomies
2) The Dream And The Light
3) Love Somebody
4) Family Song
5) Pulled Up The Ribbon
6) Don't Move Back To LA
7) Shelter Song
8) How It Is
9) External Actor
10) Human Being Song
PRE-ORDER 'IN THE RAINBOW RAIN'
OKKERVIL RIVER TOUR DATES
May 25 - Houston, TX @ The Heights Theater
May 26 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk (Hot Luck Festival)
May 29 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom
May 31 - Los Angeles, CA @ Teregram Ballroom
June 1 - Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
June 2 - San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo's 365 Club
June 4 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos
June 5 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
June 7 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
June 8 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
June 9 - Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
June 11 - St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
June 12 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
June 13 - Detroit, MI @ El Club
June 14 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
June 15 - Woodstock, NY @ Colony
June 16 - Boston, MA @ Royale
Sept 13 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Sept 14 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes
Sept 15 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
Sept 21 - Hamburg, Germany @ Reeperbahn Festival
Sept 22 - Copenhagen, Denmark @ Vega Small Hall
Sept 23 - Oslo, Norway @ Rockefeller Music Hall
Sept 24 - Stockholm, Sweden @ Debaser
Sept 26 - Berlin, Germany @ Lido
Sept 27 - Koln, Germany @ Gebaude 9
Sept 28 - Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Sugar Factory
Sept 29 - Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Rotown
Sept 30 - Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique
Oct 1 - Paris, France @ Le Point Ephemere
Oct 3 - Birmingham, UK @ Glee Club
Oct 4 - Bristol, UK @ Thekla
Oct 5 - Leeds, UK @ Brudendell Social Club
Oct 6 - Glasgow, Scotland @ Stereo
Oct 7 - Manchester, UK @ Gorilla
Oct 9 - Brighton, UK @ The Haunt
Oct 10 - London, UK @ Koko
MORE INFO ON OKKERVIL RIVER
For more information, contact Matt Hanks or Ally Norton at Shore Fire Media, (718) 522-7171.