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Neko Case Hates Madison…

…not really, but it sure seems that way after Case’s second consecutive near-miss with the New Pornographers April 21 at the Orpheum. To be fair, the last time the New Pornographers were here was a rescheduled show because their drummer needed an emergency appendectomy after a Chicago show. Of course, it happened to be during Case’s solo tour. But to break an ankle the day of the show? Please, Ms. Case, just admit you dislike our fair city. Fortunately, the rest of the band has still shown up both times and played stellar shows on each occasion. Their recent tour comes in support of the recently released Challengers, an ambitious album that, at first listen, does not have the immediacy of previous releases. It’s softer, subtler, and more nuanced that what Carl Newman and company have come up with before.

Joining the New Pornographers on this tourstop was Okkervil River, an Austin band who has made good on the strength of literate storytelling and the band’s complex melodies and song structures. Lead singer Will Sheff led the band through a variety of songs from their most recent albums, The Stage Names and Black Sheep Boy, alternating between up-tempo, driving hits like “Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe” and slow-burning, sweeping mini-epics “For Real” and “A Girl In Port” (with its reference to the Crystal Corner Bar). Sheff wears his emotions on his sleeves (and in his lyrics) and comes across as a performer genuinely interested in making the audience feel what he is feeling as he’s singing these songs. The rest of the band are accomplished enough to feed off each other and shape their playing to match those emotions. Okkervil River closed their set with “Unless It’s Kicks,” an all-out floor-stomper that begins with a simple guitar riff and Sheff’s voice, then gradually swells to include everyone on the same kick. As Sheff’s voice grew more exuberant, so too each member of Okkervil River seemed to be trying to outplay each other. It’s an indie anthem if ever there was one.

Arguably a tough act to follow, Okkervil River set the stage for the New Pornographers, who despite missing Neko and Dan Bejar, still managed to impress. Carl Newman again proved himself a whip-smart songwriter who has a singular ear for writing a pitch-perfect pop gem. The band started slowly with a couple of mellower numbers from the recent Challengers, but eventually incorporated more well-known songs (including “Sing Me Spanish Techno” and “The Laws Have Changed”) with the newer material. While Newman and Co. were once again technically proficient, they frequently seemed to be going through the paces. None of the youthful exuberance and manic energy exhibited by Okkervil River earlier—or the band themselves during their last concert in Madison—was present during the New Pornographers’ extended set, except perhaps in the form of Newman’s niece, Kathryn Calder, who plays keyboards and sings the female leads. Her impassioned stage presence helped the audience forget about Neko Case’s absence. A highlight of the set was the performance of “Myriad Harbour,” a Dan Bejar-penned song from Challengers. Bejar rarely tours with the New Pornographers anymore, so Okkervil’s Will Sheff handled the vocal duties. The band around him seemed to perk up and gave one of the liveliest performances of the evening.

Following a short break, Newman, Calder, and the rest of the Pornographers returned for a two-song encore. With the audience screaming various titles, Newman calmly stepped to the microphone and uttered, “Whatever you’re shouting, this one’s better,” and immediately broke into ELO’s “Don’t Bring Me Down.” The band followed the surprising (and fantastic) cover with “Slow Descent into Alcoholism,” from the first album, Mass Romantic. A personal favorite of this author, the New Pornographers rarely play it live, so the audience ended up getting their money’s worth.

Overall, it was a fantastic evening. The atmosphere in the Orpheum was electric, especially when Sheff joined the New Pornographers for a song, and two great indie rock ensembles proved that great pop music still exists. Now we just have to wait until they come back to town. (Incidentally, Okkervil River will be back in September, headlining at the Barrymore.)