16 songs into a triumphant set at LA’s Greek Theatre, Conor Oberst waved to the crowd goodnight and stepped off the stage. While encores have almost become an adult peek-a-boo game for audiences at concerts, there was still a visceral worry that we wouldn’t hear the song. A minute or two later, Oberst and his band emerged and started strumming the opening notes of “First Day of My Life”. It felt like a hug from both Oberst and a younger, more vulnerable self of the mostly mid-30s crowd.
It’s been a tumultuous tour for Conor Oberst’s Bright Eyes. In Houston, the setlist was forcibly cut to 2 songs after Oberst walked off stage. At other dates, he’s come off combative and visibly frustrated by his own show and the world around him. The show on Thursday, however, felt like a celebration of a decorated and thoughtful career.
The band opened with the 2020 cut “Dance and Sing” off of Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was. It featured an absolutely exuberant Oberst, dancing gleefully across the stage sans an instrument (a rarity), soaking in the bittersweet lyrics and adoring eyes.
Throughout the rest of the set, Oberst and his band dipped into impressive variety of his catalogue. This was fine by his dedicated fans, of course. There’s a remarkable loyalty to Bright Eyes; if you were a fan 20 years ago, it’s likely you’re a fan now.
Other highlights were often catapulted by the full 12-piece orchestra Bright Eyes is sporting this tour. “Poison Oak”, “ Mariana Trench”, and “No One Would Riot For Less” all exploded with their live arrangements.
For the type of melancholic music Oberst often plays, it’s understandable that his demons show themselves when played in a live setting. For tonight, however, the focus turned to the audience that Oberst has comforted, healed, and cried with over the years. It was a “thank you” for an incredible career that thankfully has no end in sight.
For future tour dates and all things Bright Eyes, click here. For photos from the Los Angeles show, see below.
Photos + Review by Andrew Ameter | Exclusively for Music, Why Not!
