I have stated, emphatically, my dislike for Dan Aquilante’s excuse for music criticism. It is ridiculous the guy has a job after his , frankly, preposterous, Michael Jackson reviews.
Really, if I like a band and I discover Aquilante likes em? I doubt my own taste.
Luckily for me, he wrote a truly abysmal review of Bright Eyes at Radio City Music Hall, so I don’t have to doubt my love for Conor’s music.
Aquilante wrote: “Half the concertgoers stood with their arms folded, keeping time with head bobs and slight hip shakes, while the other half stayed planted in their seats stifling yawns, mirroring the music.”
I was in the orchestra and the entire audience stood for the entire concert.
As for what Aquilante laughingly calls music criticism: “The stage is vast, the hall is cavernous, and unless you’re within spitting distance of the stage, you feel a mile away. Oberst compounded the intimacy problem with his shoe-gazing stage presence, which at times made him seem slightly confused as to what he should be doing onstage. Here’s a hint: Face the audience, stop acting like you’re new to planet earth…”
Nonsense of a high order of course and I sincerely doubt Aquilante did anything but review the setlist here. . Fortunately, Conor doesn’t read reviews so he is saved from this dribble.