bio
bands (past and present)
Harp Magazine delcared Okkervil River's The Stage Names as the #1 album of the year for 2007. Other records on Harp's top 50 list (which Okkervil beat out for the #1 spot) included albums by Radiohead, Neil Young, Arcade Fire, Wilco, and Bruce Springsteen. That's some good company! Stage Names also received end of year honors from NPR and Rolling Stone. Brian appears on The Stage Names as the lead-guitarist. He also contributed to the record on keyboard, background vocals, glockenspiel, and he composed and arranged all of the string and horn parts.
Brian has been featured with Okkervil River in print in numerous publications including Rolling Stone and The New York Times; on air with NPR, the BBC, RadioFrance; and on television with NBC, MTV, and the Australian Broadcasting Company,
"Belgrave to Kings Circle is the work of some great musicians whose execution is flawless." - adequacy.net
Black Before Red continues to threaten to become a full-time pop band. When they do, BBR will no doubt become one of Austin's most successful indie groups. The band features members from both Okkervil River and Shearwater. Don't miss a BBR show because they are few and far between.
"Austin, TX's Downliners have seen their future and it's bastardized roots rock. Formed in early 2001 by singer/guitarist Jason Shepherd and bassist Mick Southerland, the band transcended its Americana origins in 2003 with the addition of multi-instrumentalist Brian Cassidy and accomplished drummer/percussionist Rob Hooper. Leslie McCurdy joined on bass in early 2004 to round out the current lineup. The band performs regularly in Austin at venues such as the Saxon Pub, Continental Club, Hole In The Wall, and Antone's. The Downliners have shared the stage with some of Texas' most recognized artists including Bob Schneider, Reckless Kelly, Abra Moore, Patrice Pike, Kelly Willis, Trish Murphy, Cross Canadian Ragweed, and many more." (from www.downliners.com)
Plum'tucker has had an incredibly successful 2005 with performances at such famous Austin venues as the Cactus Cafe and Flipnotics Cafe (recently voted the #1 and #2 Venues in Austin for Acoustic music by the Austin Chronicle), on the award-winning radio program, Eklektikos, with John Aielli, and on Austin's Fox 7 News in the Morning. Plumtucker has also been featured on the KUT Austin Music Minute, and his new single, "By & By," has received airplay on the KUT radio mainstay, "Texas Radio."
discography
I Am Very Far OKKERVIL RIVER (2011)
Pop Lie (single) OKKERVIL RIVER (April 2009)
ROKY ERICKSON with Okkervil River (due September 2009)
The Stand Ins OKKERVIL RIVER (September 2008)
The Stage Names OKKERVIL RIVER (2007)
Golden Opportunities OKKERVIL RIVER (2008)
Overboard
and Down (Australian EP) OKKERVIL RIVER (2006)
The
President's Dead OKKERVIL RIVER (2006)
Black
Sheep Boy Definitive Edition OKKERVIL RIVER 3/06/07
Black
Sheep Boy Appendix OKKERVIL
RIVER CDEP
/ 12" (JAG089, released: 11/22/05)
Belgrave
to Kings Circle BLACK BEFORE RED (2007)
Soon DOWNLINERS (2003)
Lightening Wheels PLUMTUCKER (2006)
recent / upcoming performances
3/2011 Austin, TX, SXSW - Okkervil River7/16/2010 Austin, TX, KUT live at ACL studio - Shearwater
5/20/2010 San Francisco, CA, The Fillmore - Roky Erickson and Okkervil River
5/19/2010 Los Angeles, CA, Pitchfork TV Ice Cream Social - Roky Erickson and Okkervil River
5/18/2010 Los Angeles, CA, Harry Fonda Theater - Roky Erickson and Okkervil River
9/28/2009 Austin, TX, The Mohawk - Black Before Red
7/3/2009 Morrison, CO, Red Rocks Ampitheater - Okkervil River (opening for Wilco)
3/20/2009 Austin, TX, "Now Playing Austin Sound" SXSW dayparty - Black Before Red
1/30/2009 Austin, TX, with Shearwater, Brazos - Black Before Red
9/28/2008 Austin, TX, Austin City Limits Festival - Zilker Park - Okkervil River
9/27/2008 Austin, TX, ACL official afterparty - Emo's outside stage - Okkervil River
7/20/2008 Suffolk, England, UK, Latitude Festival - Okkervil River
7/19/2008 Steventon, England, UK, Truck Festival, Hill Farm - Okkervil River
7/18/2008 Bristol, England, UK, Arts Centre - Okkervil River
3/12-15/2008 Austin, TX, SXSW shows: Schubas Party, Austin Music Awards, Harp Party, Stubb's Showcase - Okkervil River
3/13/2008 Austin, TX, SXSW Showcase - Black Before Red
3/7/2008 WMMF cd release - Emos outside - Black Before Red
3/4/2008 Auckland, New Zealand - Okkervil River
3/5/2008 Wellington, New Zealand - Okkervil River
2/2008 Perth, Australia, Perth International Arts Festival - Okkervil River
2/2008 Laneway Festival, Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane)- Okkervil River
1/2008 European Tour (Ireland, N. Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland, Belgium, France, The Netherlands) - Okkervil River
11/2007 European tour (UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Italy, etc.) - Okkervil River
9/2007 US/Canada Tour - Okkervil River
8/2007 - NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien - Okkervil River
instruments
guitar, piano, pedal steel guitar, banjo, mandolin, electronic keyboards, organ, melodica, harmonica
arranging
Brian is becoming a sought-after arranger of string and horn parts for recordings and live performances. He has composed and facilitated the string and horn arrangements on several Okkervil River recordings including The Stage Names, Black Sheep Boy Appendix, and a soon-to-be-released Okkervil River EP. Brian's latest string arrangements were written for an upcoming Roky Erickson recording backed by the members of Okkervil River.
In April 2007, Okkervil performed at UT's Hogg Auditorium with a 16-piece orchestral ensemble. Brian composed the arrangements and hired and rehearsed the musicians.
education / teaching
Master's degree in Music and Human Learning from the University of Texas
Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Texas
Certified to teach K-12 public school in Texas
Group guitar instructor at the University of Texas 2002 - 2004
Taught private lessons for 14 years to students of all ages and all ability levels
personal
Brian lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Megan and their two young children. Brian also plays soccer with the Austin Blues F.C., plays tennis, and enjoys spending time with his family in the Bull Creek greenbelt near their home.