Conor Oberst 

Live reviews

• Conor Oberst

  Sometimes music is the only truth you need. On a hot and steamy Friday night at KOKO, I was happy Conor Oberst was the only truth I could hear. I must admit I've long been a captive fan of the song 'First Day Of My Life', so much so that I hadn't really noticed the rest of his body of work. But none of this matters, he had me at 'hello', or rather at the opening song 'Time Forgot'. In his cowboy hat, mysterious lighting silhouetting him to the audience, he didn't talk for the the longest time. Just sung his truths into our ear. But I like that, it added to the mystery.

  As he switched between Bright Eyes classics and some of newer songs from the recently released 'Upside Down Mountain' , he almost apologised for playing the new material. But he needn't have, as I'm sure we all agreed with the guy from the audience who yelled out, 'Its a beautiful album mate!'. His songs haven't lost their potency or their poetry, I'm as much a fan of 'Zigzagging Towards the light' as I am of 'We are Nowhere and its Now' He performed all with equal urgency in his aching voice, and despite the fact that, as my friend pointed out, he is 34 and married now, I believed he felt every word as he highlighted his points with energetic guitar strokes, and paced in frantic circles during the chorus. The banter when it came was equally as truthful. Having played festivals for the last few weeks, he admitted 'I don't know how they do it', 'the punters that is', 'rolling up night after night'…'I advise against it', he said as he launched into 'Governor's Ball', a song about festivals. I must admit I amassed a little crush on the man in black with his cowboy hat, and swooned along with audience when he would remove his hat and you could truly see his face. Conor Oberst you can come an wash away my troubles any time, you made everything in the evening seem easy, that in the morning seems such a drag!

  Read more

  Report as inappropriate

  by jeantine-mankelow

• Conor Oberst has been performing live music on stage since he was 12 years old, so he’s no stranger to the big stage.

  Oberst has been in more bands in his life than most people will ever actually see in concert and seeing him live you’re lucky to hear several eras of his eclectic career performed for you. Most of Obserst’s setlist on his solo tours are made up from his solo work the self titled ‘Conor Oberst’ and his latest release ‘Upside Down Mountain.’ Crowd pleasing cuts like “Sausalito” and “Cape Canaveral” tend to find themselves into most shows. A few tracks from his work with the Mystic Valley Band will creep into the lineup as well.

  Oberst’s is most known for his work in Bright Eyes, the popular indie rock band that played a large role in cultivating the sound of Omaha and if you’re lucky you’ll get some choice Bright Eyes songs scattered throughout set lists on his solo tours. Don’t be that guy in the crowd yelling out for “Lover I Don’t Have to Love” or “Lua” let Conor pick what he wants you to hear and you might get lucky with “Bowl of Oranges” or even “Another Travelin’ Song”.

  Conor Oberst will go down in musical history as one of the great names in American Indie Rock, so if you get a chance to see him live, jump on it!

  Read more

  Report as inappropriate

  By Anonymous

• Well this wasn't so much Conor Oberst, rather another of his colloborations, this time with the wonderful Phoebe Bridgers, under the guise of Better Oblivion Community Centre.

  It's a joyful colloboration, the two sharing centre stage ans vocal duties with no egos on show whatsoever. As with any Conor Oberst concert, there isn't any clever tricks, no major light shows or staging, just pure and simple enjoyment at watching a band playing their hearts out.

  As well as the tracks from the one album they have made together, they throw in a few other songs, including a great version of Lua, from Oberst's previously incarnation as Bright Eyes, made to sound even more special with the sharing of the vocals.

  This was my third time seeing Conor Oberst, and each time has been so different, showing his versatility. what is common throughout though is that whatever he does, it always sounds so damn good

  Read more

  Report as inappropriate

  by JustRob

• I've listened to many Conor Oberst and Bright Eyes Band concerts, so I know what to expect from such an event. First things first, Conor knows how to work a crowd. Bursting on to the stage with a rowdy live rendition of his newest lead single, "Hundreds of Ways", Conor was dressed in all black a la Elliott Smith. He played several songs from his eponymous first solo album, "Sausalito" and "Danny Callahan", older Bright Eyes tunes, and even a rocking John Prine cover near the end of the show.

  Conor seemed in great spirits and enjoying the accompaniment of his guitarist producer Jonathon Wilson, who opened the show playing "Desert Raven" a 10 plus minute desert rock opus.

  AT&T performing arts center's outdoor yard was plush. Cool grass to sit on and mister fans, along with a beautiful view of the downtown skyline. All in all a 10 out of 10 concert experience.

  Read more

  Report as inappropriate

  by andy-george-1

• I'm a huge Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst fan, and have seen Conor play with his various different bands 4 times. I would have to say that this performance was by far the best, musically. The set they played was flippin fantastic, combining a bunch of the best songs from the last 10 years of both Bright Eyes and Conor's solo songs. Conor himself even played piano himself on 'Lover I don't have to love', which was a big deal for me to have witnessed!! Atmospherically, I personally got to the venue very late (I had flown in from Spain for this show) and was disapointed to find that there was no standing room with a decent view, so that was a let down( since when did so many effing tall people like Conor Oberst?), but the performance of the band made up for the pain in my legs from standing on tip toe for two hours.

  Read more

  Report as inappropriate

  by zoebryon

• The Conor Oberst show @Apolo in Barcelona was good but not mind blowing. Let me explain and provide framework: Conor Oberst is an amazing songwriter and has come to Barcelona only once before so I had great expectations. Arguably, a cause for this was that it was end of the tour show and some tiredness felt in both the band and Conor, who seemed a bit out of it at the beginning of the show. Despite that, they went through an impeccable 80-so minute setlist with flair and gaining momentum as the show progressed. Altogether, great (tix were 16€!) but an extra notch of intensity would have been appreciated. I will be seeing more of Dawes or Conor Oberst soon if they are around!

  Read more

  Report as inappropriate

  by pabloprieto

• This show was my fourth time seeing Conor Oberst perform since 2004, but Third time since Fall 2016! Each evening I walked away with a different kind of understanding than my previous experience, and not many artists can execute that sort of flexibility in their music... I'm always left in amazement of Obi-Wan-Con'Obi's metaphorical mastermind & his ability to artfully maintain the cross-references throughout his entire body of work... The impromptu wordplay he throws around at each show has been the catalyst to my never missing an opportunity to see him live! Here's to hoping future audients/audiences hear his deeper message - cheers!

  Read more

  Report as inappropriate

  by dari-lama

• Saw Conor Oberst at Massey Hall. Intimate acoustic performance, Conor on piano or acoustic guitar with voice + harmonica, accompanied by a subtle electric guitarist. Amazing show, amazing voice, amazing venue. He played his new album, Ruminations, in order, then took a short break and came back out to play a set of older songs. He didn't play too many of his more popular / well known Bright Eyes songs (e.g. only played 2 songs from I'm Wide Awake it's morning), but the performance was excellent regardless of whether or not you're completely familiar with the songs. Waxahachtee opened and was good as well.

  Read more

  Report as inappropriate

  by Ghetto_Defendant

• Seeing Conor Oberst live is definitely an emotional experience, in a positive way. It's fun but also thought-provoking, realized through Conor's brand of telling like it is. The new album is excellent and emotionally expansive, so seeing him perform many of the new album tracks live has attached a lovely memory for every time I listen to those same tracks now. Additionally, he performed already famous songs from some of his past endeavors, which was fun and much appreciated. Having the Felice Brothers performing with him was the icing on the cake.

  Read more

  Report as inappropriate

  by JamieMarieSmart

• Christian Lee Hudson was the highlight of the evening even if he was just a guest.

  When he was playing everything could still be heard clearly, but when BOCC started playing the audio just turned to shit.(Might have been the venues fault)

  (The crowd was made out of old hipsters)

  (Connor did not interact once with the crowd, (Phoebe did, but sitting down for a song(?)))

  I really love Connor but the concert was not good.(Conor is getting Old :( )

  Read more

  Report as inappropriate

  by martin-christian