In what is, perhaps, the most endearing way to debut new music, Okkervil River frontman Will Sheff returned to his hometown of Meriden, NH to perform at different open-mic nights in the area. He and longtime friend and collaborator Aaron Johnson — they started playing music together when they were 8! — reunited after 15 years to do the sets together around New England. You can watch them work out track “Down Down The Deep River” from OR’s upcoming album The Silver Gymnasium below and watch this tour of Meriden that Sheff did for NPR here.

The Silver Gymnasium is out 9/3 via ATO.