Live at Other Music: Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band (Episode # 16)
Conor Oberst is one of the more divisive characters in indie rock, deeply, madly loved by so many, and probably hated just as vehemently by quite a few as well. It’s hard to put a finger why his music causes such intense feelings. His songs are intimate and heartfelt, that much is undeniable; beyond that, I guess it depends on how you look at things. Oberst’s recent “solo” album was released on Merge Records, a step away from both the Bright Eyes name that has defined him and the Saddle Creek label that he has been closely tied to for years, and it is one of the most direct looks at the music of this icon and iconoclast, a beautiful and emotional record that is sure to top many best-of lists this year. The band rolled into the shop during a short promo tour when the album came out this summer. We raffled off 100 tickets, and hundreds more fans showed up on the off chance that they could sneak in, or even just sneak a peak at their hero. For a shop like Other Music, where fans and artists tend to casually mingle on a daily basis, it was more than a little overwhelming, as Oberst was mobbed at every turn.
But that is just hype, the real story was the performance, which, especially in the confines of our tiny space, was simply stunning. Raw and passionate and hauntingly beautiful, that band ran through much of their new album and added in a few surprises, and I don’t think that anyone who saw the show could have been unmoved. I for one was converted into a believer, and I hope you enjoy the film as much as we all do. Let us know what you think, and thanks for watching!
-Josh Madell
CONOR OBERST in series: Live From Other Music from Dig For Fire on Vimeo.
UPCOMING FILM PREMIERES: The Breeders & Calexico (dates to be announced) |
PREVIOUS EPISODES OF LIVE AT OTHER MUSIC: Backstage with Stephin Merritt, Antipop Consortium, The Dirtbombs, My Brightest Diamond, Blood on the Wall, Black Lips, Taken By Trees, Toumani Diabate, White Williams, Richard Hawley, Celebration, Vampire Weekend, The Clean, Tinariwen, No Age, and St. Vincent |