Sunday, June 5th, 2011
"Riot Act"
Okkervil River cover Elvis Costello & The Attractions
elviscostello.infoIf you were to play me this week’s cover selection by Okkervil River alongside their latest album I Am Very Far and tell me that it came from the same sessions – and assuming I didn’t know any better – I wouldn’t necessarily protest. Like much of the Austin-based band’s sixth record, their take on the closing track on Elvis Costello & The Attractions’ third album Get Happy!! is dense, bracing and a little unhinged.
But in fact the track dates back to 2002 or 2003, circa the band’s first record Don’t Fall In Love With Everyone You See. With the exception of Will Sheff, the song features a completely different Okkervil lineup from that which operates under the name today and while these days when Sheff’s voice gets as haggard as it does here it’s for effect, back then it was just how he sang. The tune was recorded for the Almost You Elvis Costello tribute album released in 2003.
Okkervil River are at The Phoenix this Friday night and Philly.com and Washington City Paper have features on the band. Elvis Costello brings his Revolver tour, complete with Spectacular Spinning Songbook, to the Sony Centre For The Performing Arts, on June 23.
MP3: Okkervil River – “Riot Act”
Video: Elvis Costello & The Attractions – “Riot Act” (live)
Tags: Elvis Costello, okkervil river
No Responses.
![[Valid RSS]](http://www.chromewaves.net/images/interface/valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed"){kind=small}