Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band at First Avenue on 10/29/08
By: Brenda Paro
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Conor Oberst at First Avenue - Photo by Brenda Paro
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After having seen my share of Bright Eyes shows, watching Oberst perform with his new act, the Mystic Valley Band, seems downright lighthearted in comparison.
The show at First Avenue on Wednesday night was just one stop in the current tour that will take the group across the US and into Mexico. One thing is for sure: they're not tired yet. From the first song through the generous encore, the band was tight, efficient, and in obvious high spirits. Watching a band that's clearly having at least as much fun as their audience is one of the better things that can happen when you go to a rock show.
The sound of the Mystic Valley Band is quite a change from that of Bright Eyes, but Oberst's mark is still strong enough here to explain why so many fans have followed him faithfully over. That specific vocal style of his, the almost-over-enunciation and decisiveness of syllables, combines with the prolific lyrical flow to make his presence known. The good news is that the skill of the rest of the group is worthy of dragging your attention away from Oberst for a little while. Taylor Hollingsworth (guitar), Nik Freitas (guitar), Macey Taylor (bass), Nate Walcott (keys, trumpet) and Jason Boesel (drums) provide a safety net of sound that occasionally steals the spotlight. The result is that this actually sounds like a band, not like a singer with his back-up group, and it's yet another departure for Oberst on a career filled with experimentation.
The set opened with the never-heard "Nikorette" and went on to combine tracks from the August-released album with smattering of new songs, providing the broad hint that the Mystic Valley Band isn't going anywhere anytime soon. The honor of the high point fell to "Cape Canaveral," in my opinion possibly the most startling, intriguing, and wrenching song Oberst has written during his career; images pile up with the effect of a surreal dreamscape, set to a gentle swinging tune that gains intensity each time around. The echo of the chorus rolling back from the audience was enough to cause a hush in the room afterward.
There was something of a sense of déjà vu when the band closed out with the haunting "Milk Thistle." This is where the Bright Eyes comparisons, if they have to be made, are justified; Oberst alone in the spotlight singing the song that is the "Lime Tree" of the new album. Like that well-known track fro Bright Eyes' last release, "Milk Thistle" is the last song on the album and puts you into the same quiet headspace, with deceptively simple lyrics and a peaceful pace. If you hear it once, it won't leave you. The stillness around me was the sound of an entire crowd thinking the same thing.
Sometimes at concerts the encore is an obligation rather than a joy for the band, and there's a palpable loss of pleasure in the room as the audience realizes the band is just going through the motions. Not so here. The good-sized encore kept the energy level high, and included two songs sung by Hollingsworth and Boesel. I wasn't sure it would be possible for Oberst to step away from the mike and not lose the crowd, but I'm pleased to say I was wrong. "I Don't Want to Die (In the Hospital)" followed, as did a cover of Paul Simon's "Kodachrome."
The night closed out with Oberst at the keyboard (with varying degrees of success, but it was getting late) for "Breezy," a track from the Gentleman's Pact tour EP just released. It's a powerful song, filled with dissonance and hush, and was an atmospheric, appropriate close that showcased just how good this group really sounds together.
With every incarnation Conor Oberst has gone through and every band he's formed, the one constant has been his position: in the spotlight and at the center of the sound. That's still the case with the Mystic Valley Band, but Oberst is clearly enjoying being able to step back just a little and lose himself in the mix of sound. Considering the strength of his own talents as well as the intensity of his fan base, he probably knew it would take a pretty talented band around him to pull off this sort of temporary disappearing act. He should know: I think he's managed it.
More pictures from the show here.
Location Info:
First Avenue
Artist Info: Conor Oberst
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