There are concerts you attend out of convenience, and then there are the ones you chase miles away, days circled on your calendar, shows you just know are going to be one-of-a-kind. The Antlers and Okkervil River’s joint performance at The Warehouse at FTC in Fairfield, Connecticut on June 11th was firmly the latter.
Simply put, it was an intimate, emotionally layered showcase of two indie mainstays at the peak of creative synergy. More than just a performance, it was an exploration of friendship, resilience, and creative kinship. Even though I had been going hard and pushing myself with 5 concerts in 7 days, with both of these bands holding a very special place in my heart, I knew if I missed this collaboration I’d forever be kicking myself. So at the last possible minute, I decided to load up the car and hit the long and winding road from Albany to Fairfield, CT. Despite living nearly three hours away, I knew this night would be special. And it was.
This limited run of dates stems from a unique musical experiment the two bands tried last fall where they performed individually, covered each other’s songs, and joined forces live. The chemistry was undeniable, and this spring they released a live album, Band Together, that captured the best of that experiment, followed by a another round of tour dates. A second chance for those, like myself, who missed it the first time, after listening to some of the recent live cuts on a long night’s drive, I knew I had to experience it for myself. Leaving Albany directly after my 9 to 5, I would be slowed up by road work near the Norwalk exit and finally arrive at the venue just as The Antlers took the stage. This was it and I was in!
Performing as a duo for this tour, The Antlers’ set saw Peter Silberman and Michael Lerner distill the band’s expansive sound into something raw, elegant, and powerful. For longtime fans, it was a striking reminder of just how powerful minimalism can be. Silberman’s voice, still hauntingly tender and distinct, carried each song with quiet intensity. Working their way through re-imagined arrangements of “I Don’t Want Love,” and a pair of songs from 2014’s Familiars that included “Intruders,” and “Director,” the Brooklyn-formed band commanded your attention from their first note. Originally gaining widespread acclaim with 2009’s Hospice, a devastating concept album about a man caring for a terminally ill loved one, the emotionally raw themes continued through 2011’s Burst Apart and the aforementioned Familiars, before the band seemingly disappeared. That hiatus was largely due to some serious health and vocal issues Silberman was dealing with, forcing him to retreat from the noise of city life and reassess how (and if) he could continue making music. His answer came in the form of 2021’s Green to Gold, The Antlers’ most serene and luminous work to date. Pausing to address the audience, Silberman would invite his longtime friend Will Sheff of Okkervil River out for a powerful duet of “Just One Sec,” Green to Gold’s stand out track. Two of this generation’s master songwriters onstage together, singing their hearts out and trading lines like weathered poets in conversation, it was truly a sight to behold and one that gave you full body goosebumps.
After a rich reinterpretation of “Bear” demanded hushed attention, Silberman introduced a new track, prefacing it with the note that he wouldn’t be taking requests. A humble reminder that his time on stage is now about intentionality and preserving the delicate gift of performance. The emotion in Silberman’s face as he crooned away erased any possible doubt of insincerity. A searing-yet-somber version of “Putting the Dog to Sleep” would bring the set to a close, but it was far from the last song we’d hear from The Antlers on this night.
After a brief intermission, Okkervil River’s Will Sheff took the stage solo. With his long hair, round glasses, and sheepish grin, Sheff still channels something of the ragged charm of John Lennon. But musically, he remains his own distinct force. A lyricist whose writing spans literate introspection, emotional excavation, and mythic storytelling. Opening with an expanded version of “The President’s Dead,” complete with a newly written verse, Sheff would then move through a thoughtful selection of deep cuts and fan favorites. Freeing himself to focus on keys and vocals, Shelf welcomed multi-instrumentalist Julian Cubillos to the stage for “Extra Mile” and “Evidence.” As the set grew richer and more textured with each number, he would then invite The Antlers out for a moment of genuine warmth on “Family Song,” which Sheff introduced as being “about the only thing that really matters.”
Perhaps the emotional apex of the night came with “John Allyn Smith Sails,” performed the same day the world learned of Brian Wilson’s passing. The bittersweet mash-up of The Beach Boys’ “Sloop John B” and references to poet John Berryman landed with stunning gravity. When Sheff delivered the final line “this is the worst trip I’ve ever been on” you could feel the air leave the room. From the shadowy beauty of “The Valley” to the rising swell of “Blue Tulip” (a rare live cut, performed in unison with The Antlers), each song was a masterclass in dynamic control. The thunderous energy of “For Real” reminded us of Sheff’s versatility, just as capable of a hearty scream as he is a whisper.
Showing tons of mutual respect and admiration for each other’s work, Sheff would speak fondly of the next song he was about to play, “Ahimsa”, originally written by Silberman. With the recent release of their new collaborative live album, Sheff admitted it was hard not to repeat the same stage banter he says on the album, because he really means it. The songs repeated mantra of “Instead of deafening nonsense share silence. No violence today. No violence, no violence, no violence today,” was poignant, transformative, and created a moment of collective stillness that made the room feel connected as one. Remaining on stage together for the remainder of the show, the title track from The Antlers brilliant 2021 album Green to Gold would be featured next, before Silberman would return some kind and heartfelt words about Okkervil River’s most well known song, “Lost Coastlines,” which closed the main portion of the show and featured some unexpected disco ball lights for added atmosphere.
The encore brought both bands together again for a final gift: a hybrid performance that merged Okkervil River’s “Unless It Kicks” with The Antlers’ “Wake.” The arrangement was seamless, each song melting into the next with shared emotion and mutual respect. The crowd responded with a prolonged standing ovation, not out of obligation, but recognition that they had witnessed something honest, fleeting, and irreplaceable. Sheff, with his voice nearly spent, thanked the crowd and mentioned he likely wouldn’t be able to greet fans this time. And yet, for those who lingered just a bit longer, both he and Silberman graciously made themselves available, not for autographs or photos, but for something more meaningful. Conversations unfolded in the dim light, sharing stories of grief, healing, and connection. Fans thanked them not just for the music, but for helping them through something. The unguarded sincerity of those moments said it all.
In a time when spectacle often overshadows substance, this night at The Warehouse served as a much-needed reminder of what live music can still be. Unvarnished, intimate, and revelatory. Despite a turnout that should have been bigger for artists of this caliber, the energy inside was undeniable. The Antlers and Okkervil River aren’t chasing fame. They’re chasing truth and helping us do the same. Their music has always been about weathering the hard parts, and the beauty that comes after. On this night, their collaboration was more than a gimmick, it was absolute magic that was well worth a mere 3-hour drive. Let history remember it as one of those shows you were lucky to attend and wise enough not to miss.
Okkervil River | June 11, 2025 | The Warehouse FTC | Fairfield, CT
Setlist: The President’s Dead, Song for Our So-Called Friend, Extra Mile, Evidence, Family Song*, John Allyn Smith Sails, The Valley, Blue Tulip, For Real, Ahimsa*, Green to Gold*, Lost Coastlines*, Unless it Kicks/Wake*.
The Antlers | June 11, 2025 | The Warehouse FTC | Fairfield, CT
Setlist: I Don’t Want Love, Intruders, I Was Not There, Director, Just One Sec*, Bear, Parade, Corsicana, Putting the Dog to Sleep.
*Performed by The Antlers and Okkervil River together
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