Eagerly awaiting Alyson Camus’ up close and personal review of Conor Obest’s set last night, I got an email from Aly advising me I was gonna have to be patient. Something about needing sleep or some such nonsense.
Having all the patience of a train under water (I know, that didn’t work at all…) and being a HUGE Oberst fan, I figured I’d take a look at the set list and give you my opinion site unseen.
1. Laura L – A newbie based upon an accordion riff and on the first listen well trodden lovelorn territory (and more Bright Eyes than Mystic Valley). “She asked me to care for you and I went and betrayed her.” Woot! Here is the link http://videos.apnicommunity.com/Video,Item,3825912092.html
2. Moab – Off the best album of 2008, a tripping through the West Coast across the border song.
3. No One Would Riot For Less – A hard sell from yet another brilliant Bright Eyes album, though that “love me now, help is coming” is powerful stuff.. Plus: Conor is 30 years old. He might try to dress like an adult from time to time.
4. Four Winds – Like the above song, it’s off Cassadega… I wonder if he is in rehearsal with the Bright Eyes band? This was the single and the EP was killer with one of his best of all time “Tourist Trap” hidden there.
5. Ten Women – Ugh. Off the disappointing second solo, a straight drag.
6. We Are Nowhere And It Is Now – Now you’re talking, a great song though again, not exactly rocking out right? Emotionally but? Fairly devastating.
7. Train Underwater – Same album, god damn make me cry and if you’re gonna sing about rocking nyc visit fucking nyc.
8. Spring Cleaning – A bit whatever, the worse song on his split album from 2004.
9. I Know You – Same album (One Jug Of One, Two Vessels) but a new one, part of the 2010 re release. Completely brilliant. His best song since last years “Say Please”. I woulda killed to hear this live and it is the only song in this setlist that had me wishing I lived on the West Coast.
10. Poison Oak – Simone used to sing this to me!! Eeek. May explain why we broke up…
11. Method Acting – The only step back to Lifted. A huge song for Bright Eyes fans. At least it, how you say? rocks.
Comment: I once saw Pete Townsend do a solo set at the tiny and much missed Supper Club and he was doing all these Quadrophenia songs. Finally Pete fesses up he is working out the arrangements before a Who tour of the album. Conor? 11 songs. No MOF, two Mystic Valley, 8 Bright Eyes. Later, he came out and performed “Easy/Lucky/Free” with the Felice brothers. That makes NINE. Conor is getting ready for a Bright Eyes tour.