Conor J. O'Brien is the driving force behind the acoustic folk outfit Villagers, and his intensity pushed the band to the top of the charts in Ireland even before its debut had been released. In the short span of a couple of years, Villagers turned from a small supporting act into one of the biggest musical names on the Emerald Isle and an internationally known folk group.
Sparse and imaginative, Villagers' style is composed of an eerie mix of guitars, piano notes and organ streams. O'Brien woke up early in the mornings after his previous band broke up and penned the first Villagers songs. The band released a successful EP in 2009, and soon after toured with the likes of Neil Young, Tracy Chapman and Bell X-1.
O'Brien's self-described "dark imagery," paired with "really mundane, domestic everyday things," adds up to songs that have well-received by critics and fans. Becoming a Jackal, the band's debut full-length, was released on June 8.
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