Shearwater

Biography

Jonathan Meiburg and Will Sheff formed this US indie rock band in 2001 as an extension of their work together in Okkervil River, with Meiburg taking on a greater songwriting and vocal role. Shearwater’s debut album, The Dissolving Room, also featured Meiburg’s then wife Kim Burke on upright bass and explored a more acoustic-based direction than the protagonists’ main band. The introduction of Thor Harris (drums/vibes) and multi-instrumentalist Howard Draper marked a gradual change in emphasis, with the songs on 2002’s Everybody Makes Mistakes and 2004’s Winged Life fleshed out with lush instrumentation and at times rocking out in a manner that had remained unexplored on The Dissolving Room. The reviews for both albums suggested Shearwater was now being viewed as a serious band in its own right rather than as an occasional outing for members of Okkervil River to let off steam. Meiburg assumed full songwriting control of Shearwater on...

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