February 28, 2007
Not-So-Bright Eyes
At the end of the second verse of one of Bright Eyes' new songs, "Reinvent The Wheel"—a eulogy for a dead musical idol, possibly Elliott Smith—lead singer Conor Oberst laments to his fallen hero that "you never understood what we loved you for." Coming as the line does in the song, with guitar chords and drums emphatically struck together to highlight Oberst's voice and the backing vocals, the moment is both uplifting and tragic, a beautiful example of the ambivalence and catharsis that runs through much of Bright Eyes' work. But standing in the Opera House at the band's concert last night, surrounded by an ocean of half-drunk couples with side-bangs awkwardly making out, half-pretty under-aged girls wondering when the slow sad songs were going to start, and most of the rest of us just wondering when it was going to get good, it was hard not to feel that Oberst's lyrics lamenting the misunderstanding of a crowd's love might very well apply to him.
For an artist whose catalogue of material is as extensive and as hit-or-miss as Conor Oberst's, it's not a huge surprise that he went the route of focusing largely on his more recent releases; after all, the singer, now 27, has gotten consistently better with each release as he moves further and further away from the adolescence that many of his biggest fans are still in. But instead of sprinkling older tracks in with his newer material, Bright Eyes didn't go much further back than their most recent album, 2005's I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning. (The only memorable exception was "Spent on Rainy Days," from Oberst's 2002 Home split with Spoon's Britt Daniel.) Even worse, they chose to play the weakest songs off of Morning, and entirely ignored the highlights of the other disc released simultaneously with it, Digital Ash In A Digital Urn. So, no "Lua," no "Arc of Time," no "Road to Joy," no "Another Travelin' Song," no "Landlocked Blues," no "At The Bottom of Everything," no "Easy/Lucky/Free." And, off of 2002's Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground, no "Bowl of Oranges," "From A Balance Beam," or "Lover I Don't Have to Love." It was as if the band went through their most recent releases and, one after another, picked their weakest tracks for last night's set list. Though the new songs from upcoming releases—"Four Winds" and "Reinvent The Wheel" off the Four Winds E.P., and Cassadaga's "I Must Belong Somewhere"—sounded terrific, they all came far too early in the set, setting a high standard that the band simply couldn't maintain.
Of course, one of the main draws for much of the audience was Conor Oberst himself, but he defied expectations almost as much as his set list did. The definitive indie pretty boy's once perfectly emo-swooped hair is now mangy and shoulder-length, getting a somewhat confused reaction from most of the crowd. (At the beginning of the set between songs, one girl yelled out "I like your hair," a comment that came off as sarcastic and which awkwardly silenced the audience for a few seconds—even though it was in earnest, the girl turning to her braces-wearing friend and quietly saying "I meant that" to her just after.) Oberst barely said a word to the crowd for the entire set: all that we got was a brief story about the last time that he was in the crowd at the Opera House (watching a band dressed as pirates, no less), as well as a "thanks very much" and a "let's hear it for Ohbijou"—the evening's pleasant if tepid Torontonian openers—every so often.
Oberst's voice was trembling, warbling, awkward, and fragile, sounding almost always at the point of breaking, and there were moments last night when his words left his lips with such intensity that he literally spat the lyrics out. That bravery coming from his fragility is, of course, part of the appeal for fans, and Oberst's unusual voice does shine when it is the center of attention. But last night any kind of tenderness seemed offset by the poor song choice and the rest of Bright Eyes' too-loud band. While at past concerts, the recurring motif has been one of an uncontrollably weeping audience, Bright Eyes didn't manage to jerk a single tear from any eyes in the house, nor did it seem that the band was trying to. Somehow, we got all bravery and no fragility.
And so, at the end, there was no catharsis for the crowd, and the most applause that the band received all night was when they first walked onto the stage. But with a band as talented as Bright Eyes, there's always some hope. To crib (and twist) another line from "Reinvent The Wheel": "I guess everything just circles around to where it was before / So I hope I see you soon in some other form." Maybe next time.
Photo of Conor Oberst from Tuesday's show by Carrie Musgrave. Bright Eyes' Four Winds E.P. is released on March 6, while the full-length Cassadaga will hit stores on April 10. You can also check out the video for "Four Winds" on YouTube, featuring Conor's new 'do.
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Ohbijou "tepid"? Ouch. To each their own, but I've always been totally shocked every time I catch them live at how damn good they are.
This review is so poorly written I don't even know where to begin. Were we even at the same show? Elliott Smith has two t's in his name by the way.
1) This review makes me happy for never attending a Bright Eyes show.
2)Insult of the month: calling someone "half-pretty."
first of all i would like to say i agree with the fact that the set list could have been much better but this review seems totally negativ:
"Ohbijou"—the evening's pleasant if tepid Torontonian openers—every so often"
ouch.
"Oberst's voice was trembling, warbling, awkward, and fragile, sounding almost always at the point of breaking, and there were moments last night when his words left his lips with such intensity that he literally spat the lyrics out."
I thought he did a great job.
"While at past concerts, the recurring motif has been one of an uncontrollably weeping audience, Bright Eyes didn't manage to jerk a single tear from any eyes in the house, nor did it seem that the band was trying to."
Oh really? Sure, some songs are sad but I've never seen anyone cry about it... Looks like somebody expects much.
Yeah, I was wondering about "half-pretty." Did you mean that if they weren't underage they'd be "whole-pretty"? I hope so, because the comment is otherwise kind of... icky, in a condescending way.
And I didn't even realize that Bright Eyes was a band. I always assumed it was just the name under which Conor Oberst recorded and performed.
It seems like you only wrote about what was going on directly around you. I saw no one making out, I heard no comment about Conor's hair, nor do I care what someone in the audience said to their friend. The closing song Laura Laurent was amazing and when the band left the stage there was a very big applause from the crowd so I really don't know what you are talking about. The set list wasn't great but all of the songs were played well and his voice sounded better than ever. By no means was it " trembling, warbling, awkward, and fragile, sounding almost always at the point of breaking" at all.
"While at past concerts, the recurring motif has been one of an uncontrollably weeping audience, Bright Eyes didn't manage to jerk a single tear from any eyes in the house, nor did it seem that the band was trying to."
That is very likely the most ridiculous thing I have ever read. Are you saying that most Bright Eyes shows are filled with a crying audience? How ignorant. I have been to several Bright Eyes shows and that has never been the case. I am also curious as to how you were able to see every eye in the house.
I thought the concert was very good and I think this review is incredibly slanted and does not speak for most of the shows attendees in any way.
I applaud Carrie on one thing: This is the first time I've read a TOist review of yours where it wasn't immediately obvious that you were a fan pre-show. Good for you for branching out!
a: Under what circumstances can a review not be "slanted"? Isn't subjectivity inherent in, or rather the very point of, reviews?
I thought Ohbijou did a really great job, and the crowd really, really appreciated them. I was actually very shocked that they got such a huge cheer at the end...wasn't sure what the young crowd would think of them.
I didn't stay for the whole show (shot the first 3 songs, stuck around for a few more, then went home due to exhaustion), so I can't really comment about the entire set, but what I heard wasn't bad at all. I wish I had the energy to stick it out.
To be fair to David, there were quite a few comments about Conor's hair (which I heard from directly in front of the stage in the pit), and I've heard many stories about girls crying at B.E. concerts.
I was just happy because Conor seemed to pay a hella lot of attention to my camera, which is nice. ;)
p.s. Brokenengine (Tim) -- I didn't write this review, David did! In fact, my thoughts on the show aren't even the same as his.
And you're right...when I write things it's usually positive, and that's generally because I don't like to write negative things about bands. Dude, I was even fairly positive about Panic! at the Disco!! That took a lot (not to mention a 16-year old slant). ;)
Boy oh boy, lots to address.
First things first, brokenengine: I wrote the review, not Carrie. She took the photo. And I was a fan pre-show, and still am.
christian: "Sure, some songs are sad but I've never seen anyone cry about it... Looks like somebody expects much." Everybody who I'd spoken to before the show -- everyone who has seen a Bright Eyes concert before -- has a story about weeping themselves or being surrounded by weeping people. I have a friend who went intending to weep who didn't.
Jonathan: By "half-pretty," I mean that they're not actually pretty. I think that Mike got it. These are sweeping generalizations that I'm making here (there were many pretty people in the audience, too!), but it's part of the experience, part of what I saw.
Now, as for "a":
Dude, were you facing the wall or something? I was very near the front, off to the side, and I saw about a dozen couples making out. My friends, who were front and center, had a similar experience to mine. When Conor came out, I heard a lot of people around me talking about his hair. How else can I talk about the audience than to talk about what was "directly around me." The audience was directly around me.
I never said that nobody applauded. I said that the biggest applause was at the beginning which is, I know, a subjective judgment to make, but it seemed that way to me.
That's Conor's voice. My words are, I think, an apt description of his voice. I didn't intend for it to be an insult; I like his voice, and I liked it last night. I'm just describing it.
Magic! Actually, that was an exaggeration to prove a point. I keep my eyes on the audience, and, as I've mentioned before, I was told by many people that I was going to be surrounded by crying people. When I wasn't, I started looking around and wondering why.
I just thought that it wasn't a good performance last night. If you disagree, fine, but I'm not wrong solely because I thought that it kinda sucked. I lucidly presented my reasons. Bright Eyes is super-terrific, but he's not infallible.
A) I'm an idiot for not reading the author.
B) Any implication that Carrie "needs" to branch out is unintentional.
I can back up the crying claim. Last time I saw Bright Eyes the girl beside me had tears streaming down her face the whole time.
I'm a big Bright Eyes fan, and I can see how people wouldn't enjoy the BE live show. At the show I was at Conor was so drunk he could barely stand up. He fell backwards over a monitor.
"Poorly written?" Nah, it's the opposite - David called the show the way he saw it,instead of saying it was all perfect and magical, even though he's a fan.
i've never been to a bright eyes show, but i have to say that at least from all that i've heard of theirs, "trembling, warbling, awkward, and fragile, sounding almost always at the point of breaking" seems to describe conor's voice perfectly.
although i did not attend this show, i have seen bright eyes twice and was very disapointed both times. last show he ended with some new song that pretty much sounded like "i wanna rock and roll all day and party every night"
I get the sense sometimes that he isn't too fond of the bulk of his fans (the ones who yell things out between songs or the ones who file him religiously next to Dashboard). I've only been to one show in the past and he made a few subtle, but funny comments to the fifteen year olds confessing their love to him.
jen> Meh. singing kiss-esque better than being a crybaby. Sadboy straight emo indie is the most insufferable of rock and roll, and one that will not age well.
"side-bangs awkwardly making out"
That would be awkward...
Watch your agreement!
poor review..there were a few older songs past wide awake
Craig, here's an excerpt from my review -- emphasis mine: "But instead of sprinkling older tracks in with his newer material, Bright Eyes didn't go much further back than their most recent album, 2005's I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning. (The only memorable exception was "Spent on Rainy Days," from Oberst's 2002 Home split with Spoon's Britt Daniel.)"
As I hinted at in that paragraph, there were "a few older songs past wide awake," as you say. They just weren't particularly good ones.
I realized that after I posted. Sorry... (Hey at least I didn’t anonymously trash it)
It was well written and informative. I just think people trash bright eyes because of the crowd that goes to his shows and not necessarily the band on stage. He is really maturing and coming into his own and stepping up to the hype that has been surrounding him, people still like to review him and talk about him like its 4 years ago, its not and allot has changed with this guy & band.
If he started playing 19-21+ shows he wouldn’t have to deal with all the crowd nonsense, people critized bob Dylan for not talking to his crowd but how do you respond to all the teen girls gushing over you, it just makes everyone feel awkward and doesn’t dignify a response.
I totally agree with you, Craig; he is maturing, and I've really liked his recent releases more than his older ones. But the concert was just bizaare -- I'm a big fan, I'm of legal drinking age, and I don't cry at concerts, and I was dissapointed. It wouldn't have mattered who was in the crowd (though it's certainly a different atmosphere than I was used to): he just didn't play his best stuff.
Allot of bands when they are in between records or touring before an album is released like to play smaller venues then they are accustomed too and play songs that normally do not get played, I remember reading somewhere when the tour was announced this would be the case with set lists. I’m sure if tickets were only $10 not as many people would have complained. I actually enjoy these kinda tours more because you get to hear the b-sides/split EP's/new tracks instead of the "hits" you see at every other show. The last Massey Hall show was kinda the perfect set since it included all the hits as well as new tracks and b-sides (true blue)
Craig- He didn't play True Blue at the Massey Hall show.
"But instead of sprinkling older tracks in with his newer material, Bright Eyes didn't go much further back than their most recent album, 2005's I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning."
Yes the set list was mostly newer stuff (what do you expect? he has a new album coming out) but out of a set list of about 15 songs there were 5 songs that appeared on albums and splits BEFORE wide awake which I think most older fans can appreciate.
david furst of all u dont understand --coner obers changes my life daily, seomtimes dont u have when u wake up crying from a bad dream?conor lets me know that my whole life is a bad dream. i cry all the time especially to "lover i dont have to love" and i'm not 15.as far as i know you're not 15 eiher, but who's to say we cant not likebright eyes? conor is a genius! did u hear that song where he was like "my gilrfriend dumped me so i drank a lot of whiskey because i was sad"??? well probably you wouldnt understand because you can have fun without liquor ohoooooo burrnnn. neway i think conor looks like kurtcobain now who is an important performedr because he killed himself but then his friend formed that band foo fiters.
i've got another confession to maaaaake -foo fighters
anyway everyone knows the opera house is a nice venue tainted by its horrible crowds. despite this, i still really like bright eyes and i'm pretty sure i've cried to their music nonironically. why couldn't you have just given me your ticket?
friends fornever,
robin