Jason Callahan was perhaps the first Okkervil River fan - the only person at early Okkervil shows that the band didn’t personally know. Eventually, he made his way into the Okkervil River family and ended up as their traveling merch person on a tour where he was given the nickname “Hot Tub,” and he’s remained friends with all the band members ever since. This rough-and-ready release chronologically presents Jason’s favorite specially re-mastered sound-board and audience tapes captured over a pivotal period in the band’s early history (from shortly before the recording of Down the River of Golden Dreams to shortly after the release of Black Sheep Boy Appendix) adding up to a portrait of a group of young musicians learning how to play on the job, shedding members and picking up new ones, and fumbling their way from innocence to experience. A raw and electric bootleg feel captures the band in all their ragged hit-or-miss semi-glory. Liner notes include thoughts by Hot Tub himself about his perception of the earliest years of Okkervil River, rare photos from that time, and elaborate and candid liner notes from Will Sheff about each of the song selections and about the band’s long and rocky path from bedroom rehearsal spaces to big rock festivals.

Tracklist:

1. Song about a Satellite [Princeton, Winter 2002]
2. A Leaf [Austin, Fall 2003]
3. Dead Faces [Austin, Fall 2003]
4. Red [Amsterdam, Fall 2003]
5. Okkervil River Song [Amsterdam, Fall 2003]
6. He Passes Number Thirty-Three [Munich, Fall 2003]
7. Listening to Otis Redding at Home During Christmas [Schorndorf, Fall 2003]
8. The Velocity of Saul at the Time of His Conversion [Schorndorf, Fall 2003]
9. Jet Lag Banter [Chicago, Winter 2003]
10. A Damn Good Disguise [Austin, Winter 2003]
11. In a Radio Song [Chicago, Spring 2004]
12. For the Enemy [Chicago, Spring 2004]
13. A Favor [Seattle, Spring 2005]
14. The War Criminal Rises and Speaks [Austin, Spring 2005]
15. Get Big [Austin, Spring 2005]
16. Down the River of Golden Dreams / It Ends with a Fall [Chicago, Spring 2005]
17. Intro [Boston, Spring 2005]
18. Maine Island Lovers [Chicago, Spring 2005]
19. “Okkervil River,” by Thax Douglas [Chicago, Summer 2005]
20. Westfall [Birmingham, Summer 2005]