Even Conor O’Brien, the founder and main force behind the Villagers, finds the band’s music a bit mysterious.
He started the band — which was born more as a solo project with occasional guest players — on a whim and chose a “nice, faceless name” for it so that no one would think he was playing the “personality card” to advance its music.
“I am not sure why I did it,” he said of starting the band. “I just kind of was writing songs and gave it a name before I even knew if I’d ever play this music for anyone or if I did who would be playing with me. I wanted a really anonymous name that would describe a group of people.”
Although the founding Dubliner and his bandmates might be somewhat anonymous, especially in the United States, their music isn’t. It’s made its way into some of the indie music critic’s consciousness and onto some of their playlists as the band lands in the United States to tour behind its just-released debut album, “Becoming a Jackal.”
If you go
The Villagers with Zach Peterson
Where: DC9, 1940 Ninth St. NW
When: 8:30 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show Monday
Info: $10 (ages 18 and up); 202-483-9000; dcnine.com
“I think we did the whole thing with our eyes closed,” O’Brien said of the album. “I mean, I don’t think I’ll ever become a ‘name’ or anything like that, but I pride myself on my ability to construct the songs and I think I am good at that.” Fair enough. Anyone who can write richly textured melodies that swirl around song lyrics that are akin to poetry clearly deserves the recognition even if he prefers to remain an anonymous “Villager.” Of course O’Brien said he owes a lot to some of his musical idols, including Randy Newman.
“We had been listening to a lot of Neil Young when we were recording this and we used it as a kind of inspiration, especially the way he used drugs and arrangements,” O’Brien said. “We used [his music] as something to aspire to.”
In a twist of fate, it wasn’t long before Young’s team had heard of the Villagers, too, and asked the band to open for the folk-rock legend. Watching Young play his shows — which sometimes top 2 1/2 hours each — was a learning experience, as O’Brien saw Young put what seemed to be almost his complete being into every show.
Of course the Villagers differ in that they are a band and not a singer-songwriter with backing musicians. And, again, O’Brien prefers to be an anonymous collective. He stresses that point when noting that although he writes the music and serves as head of the “Village,” the group can get into its own jams.
“The way it tends to work is that we write the songs and record the demos and everyone learns their parts on their instruments,” he said. “Then when we get onstage, I have no problem with people taking their parts into their own hands and changing the songs a bit. You’ll hear a lot of subtle changes and tone changes. It’s really exciting, and a lot of it even surprises me.”
