Bright Eyes
Encyclopedia
Bright Eyes is an American indie rock
band founded by singer-songwriter
and guitarist
Conor Oberst
. It consists of Oberst, multi-instrumentalist
and producer
Mike Mogis
, trumpet
and piano
player Nate Walcott
, and a rotating lineup of collaborators drawn primarily from Omaha's indie music scene.
Bright Eyes is signed to Saddle Creek Records
, a Nebraska-based label founded by Conor and his brother Justin Oberst and distributed by Sony Corporation. In 2004, the singles "Lua
" and "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)
" took the top two spots of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Sales
chart within two weeks of their simultaneous release.
– which disbanded in 1997 – guitarist/vocalist Conor Oberst turned to focus on his new project, Bright Eyes. Some people get mistaken that the name of the band comes from the Bonnie Tyler
song "Total Eclipse of the Heart." However, Conor states it does not and that it is just a term of endearment. In 1998, he released 20 of the songs he had been stockpiling as the first official Bright Eyes album, A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997
. The album saw Oberst beginning to experiment with drum machines, keyboards and other instruments. The sound of the album ranges from bleating vocals to acoustic guitar songs and techno
-style synthesizer instrumentals. Critical reaction was negative, with Allmusic saying that many of "the songs disintegrate as his vocals are reduced to the unintelligible babbling of a child. Any balance the music maintained up to that point, however fragile, is lost and so, more than likely, is the listener."
, a ten-track album that boasted a more focused and clearer sound than the previous album. According to the Saddle Creek press release, it features members of Lullaby for the Working Class
, Neutral Milk Hotel
, and of Montreal
. Park Ave.
bandmate Neely Jenkins
also contributed vocals. It was predominantly recorded in the Oberst family basement in Omaha on an analog eight track reel to reel
; with some work also done at keyboardist Andy Lemaster
's Athens, Georgia
studio. Although almost all of the tracks feature a full band, "June on the West Coast" is performed with only acoustic guitar
and vocals. "Padraic My Prince" gives a dramatic fictional account of the death of his baby brother, a story with a multitude of symbolic meanings. Oberst references the song in "Cartoon Blues" on the Four Winds
EP.
EP, which included "Neely O'Hara" and "A Perfect Sonnet."
, with new instruments such as the flute
, piano
, and accordion
introduced into the song arrangements. After "An Attempt to Tip the Scales", there is a mock radio interview that features Todd Fink
of The Faint
doing an impression of Oberst while reading a script that Oberst wrote. In this interview, the fake Oberst presents a strange, contradictory explanation of his attitude towards his music
. It acknowledges criticisms of his lyrics
as overblown and insincere, which had begun to appear as the popularity of the band increased, but responds by stating that the lyrics are meant for personal interpretation. Oberst later commented that "It was a way to make fun of ourselves because the record is such a downer. I mean, that's one part of who I am but I also like laughing
."
The album placed 170 on Pitchfork Media's best 200 albums of the decade.
in 2002, Bright Eyes became one of the year's most celebrated "new" artists, despite having been recording under that moniker for a few years. They received national attention, including in several notable pieces in The New York Times
, The Los Angeles Times, Time
magazine, Rolling Stone
, Blender
, and Spin
, many of which proclaimed Conor Oberst to be a significant new artist. The album was a commercial success and has sold over 250,000 copies, a breakthrough for the label and for all of the band's peers at that time. Oberst stated that, before making this record, both he and Mike Mogis had an idea for a "sort of grandiose sound" that neither could really put into words. This was also the first album made after Oberst's break to play with Desaparecidos
.
and R.E.M.
on the Vote for Change
tour, further pushing Bright Eyes into the public eye. Oberst sang numerous duets with the likes of Springsteen and Neil Young
.
In November 2004, two Bright Eyes singles, "Lua
" and "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)
", reached the two top spots on the Billboard Hot 100 Single Sales. This was the first time this had happened on the list in seven years.
January 25, 2005 saw the release of two distinctly different Bright Eyes albums: the folk-influenced I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
and the electronic-pop inflected Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
. An extensive world tour followed the release of those albums. Part one of the tour was in support of I'm Wide Awake and the second part was in support of Digital Ash. The first part was more similar to past tours with an intimate band setting. The decision to split the tour this way was practical as it would have been a "logistical nightmare" in terms of equipment and staff to perform songs from both albums simultaneously. By the end of January 2005, I'm Wide Awake was #10 on the Billboard charts while Digital Ash was #15.
In early 2005, Bright Eyes supported R.E.M.
in their tour of Australia, as well as headlined shows themselves.
On May 2, 2005 Bright Eyes appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and performed the protest song
"When the President Talks to God
". A 7" vinyl single of the song was sold at concerts soon after.
In November 2005, Bright Eyes performed "True Blue" on the children's television show Pancake Mountain
.
Bright Eyes has actively protested against the Clear Channel
media company. Oberst has vocally advocated the boycotting of all Clear Channel
events, venues, and radio stations, perhaps most publicly at the Shortlist Awards show at the Wiltern Theatre
in Los Angeles
on October 5, 2003. On November 9, 2005, Bright Eyes canceled their November 12 show in St. Louis, Missouri
upon discovering that the venue was associated with Clear Channel
.
Bright Eyes won Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "When the President Talks to God" at the 2006 PLUG Independent Music Awards
, and a special recognition award for the video for "First Day of My Life"
at the 17th GLAAD Media Awards. Additionally, Time
listed I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
as one of the top ten albums of 2005. Later in the year, the live album Motion Sickness
was released, documenting the I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning tour.
In a skit on the May 20, 2006 episode of Saturday Night Live
, Neil Young
(played by Kevin Spacey
) was joined by Dixie Chicks
and "indie sensation Bright Eyes" (played by Andy Samberg
), all of whom have been public in their criticism of George W. Bush
.
After releasing three albums in 2005, Oberst stated that he did not plan to release an album in 2006.
On October 24, 2006, a compilation of rare tracks entitled Noise Floor (Rarities: 1998-2005)
was released.
On March 8, 2007, Oberst appeared on National Public Radio's All Songs Considered
, playing a selection of tracks in his collection, as well as several from Four Winds.
, released in April 2007. The track "Endless Entertainment" circulated over the internet from the new official site, ThisIsBrightEyes.com. In a 2007 issue, Rolling Stone labeled "Four Winds" as a top 100 song of the year.
In support of this album, Bright Eyes toured North America from February to May, and Europe and Japan from June to July. The twelve musicians included two drummers, and they donned white uniforms in front of a video backdrop.
During an encore on May 19, 2007 at the Ryman Auditorium
in Nashville, Tennessee
, Oberst performed a new song with Gillian Welch
and David Rawlings
entitled "Man Named Truth". He said the song was finished in the dressing room that night. The song was officially released on Monsters of Folk
's 2009 self-titled album, on which Oberst teams up with Jim James (of My Morning Jacket), M. Ward (of She & Him), and Mike Mogis (of Bright Eyes).
During a 7-night stint at The Town Hall
in New York City
, Bright Eyes welcomed the following guests on stage for special performances: Lou Reed
on May 25; Ben Kweller
on May 26; Jenny Lewis
and Johnathan Rice
on May 28; Norah Jones
, Little Willie and Derrick E on May 29; Nick Zinner
, Maria Taylor
and Ben Gibbard
on May 30, Steve Earle
on May 31, and finally Ron Sexsmith
and Britt Daniel
on June 1.
On June 4, 2007, they performed "Hot Knives" on The Late Show With David Letterman.
A double-single for "Hot Knives" and "If the Brakeman Turns My Way" was released on July 9, 2007.
In August 2007, Bright Eyes postponed 3 UK shows due to illness. A U.S. tour was announced, and in September, the UK dates were canceled and not rescheduled.
On September 29, 2007, they performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
at the historic Hollywood Bowl
.
Bright Eyes performed at a Barack Obama
rally in Omaha, Nebraska
on February 7, 2008.
Zachary Nipper, the album's art director, was awarded the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Recording Package
.
and supergroup Monsters of Folk
. In a June 2009 issue of Rolling Stone, Oberst announced that he wanted to "retire" the Bright Eyes moniker, and would be making one final album with the band: "It does feel like it needs to stop at some point. I'd like to clean it up, lock the door, say goodbye."
Saddle Creek Records reissued their Neva Dinova
split One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels
on March 23, 2010 with four brand-new songs recorded in late 2009.
On July 31, 2010, Bright Eyes teamed up with the American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU) of Nebraska to put on a concert for equality in Omaha, Nebraska
. The concert raised money
for a federal lawsuit the ACLU filed against the city of Fremont, Nebraska
for an ordinance
the city
passed on June 21, 2010 banning
the hiring of or the rental of properties to illegal immigrants. At this show, Bright Eyes debuted a new song entitled "Coyote Song" about two lovers separated by the Mexico – United States border.
The band's new album titled The People's Key
was released on February 15, 2011, Conor Oberst's birthday.
Conor Oberst has stated that the sound of The People's Key moves away from the folk sound that the band had accomplished on previous records. "We're over the Americana
, rootsy, whatever that sound is. People say country but I never thought we were very country at all. But whatever that element is or that aesthetic is, I guess it's worn a little thin for me these days. So we very much wanted it to be rocking and, for lack of a better term, contemporary, or modern."
The video for the song "Shell Games" was released via Saddle Creek Records on both the band's YouTube channel and that of Saddle Creek, and features the band playing against various projections.
On February 24, the band performed "Jejune Stars" on the Late Show with David Letterman
. They performed "Beginner's Mind" on The Tonight Show
on April 14, 2011.
On June 10, Bright Eyes released the music video for "Jejune Stars". The video features the band playing in a desert with a firework rig behind them, spelling out selected lyrics as Oberst sings them.
In June, July, and August 2011 the band performed shows on tour with The Mountain Goats
.
However, the three collaborate with other artists, of which the following have been credited in the band's releases:
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band founded by singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Conor Oberst
Conor Oberst
Conor Mullen Oberst is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes. He has also played in several other bands, including Desaparecidos, Norman Bailer , Commander Venus, Park Ave., Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, and Monsters of Folk.-Musical career:Oberst began...
. It consists of Oberst, multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Mike Mogis
Mike Mogis
Mike Mogis is a Nebraskan producer/engineer and multi-instrumentalist who, along with his brother A.J. Mogis, founded Presto! Recording Studios ....
, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
player Nate Walcott
Nate Walcott
Nate Walcott is a trumpet, flugelhorn and keyboard player who has appeared on several of Saddle Creek Records artists' albums. He is one of three permanent members of Bright Eyes, along with Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis, and has toured with Bright Eyes....
, and a rotating lineup of collaborators drawn primarily from Omaha's indie music scene.
Bright Eyes is signed to Saddle Creek Records
Saddle Creek Records
Saddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst in 1993 . Conor soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel...
, a Nebraska-based label founded by Conor and his brother Justin Oberst and distributed by Sony Corporation. In 2004, the singles "Lua
Lua (song)
"Lua" is a single by Bright Eyes released in October 2004. Originally appearing on the album, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, the song deals with two people as they struggle through depression, addiction, and an interminable night...
" and "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)
Take It Easy (Love Nothing)
"Take It Easy " is a single by Bright Eyes, released in October 2004. It, along with "Lua," took the top two spots on Billboard magazine's Hot Singles Sales chart, something that had not been accomplished since 1997...
" took the top two spots of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Sales
Hot 100 Singles Sales
The Hot Singles Sales chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures sales of commercial singles and is one of three component charts, along with the Hot 100 Airplay and the Hot Digital Songs, that determine the chart positions of singles on the...
chart within two weeks of their simultaneous release.
Early years (1995-1997)
A founding member of Commander VenusCommander Venus
Commander Venus was an American emo band from Omaha, Nebraska. Fronted by Conor Oberst and Tim Kasher, the band also included Todd Fink and Matt Bowen of The Faint, Ben Armstrong of Head of Femur and Robb Nansel, executive producer of the indie label Saddle Creek...
– which disbanded in 1997 – guitarist/vocalist Conor Oberst turned to focus on his new project, Bright Eyes. Some people get mistaken that the name of the band comes from the Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
song "Total Eclipse of the Heart." However, Conor states it does not and that it is just a term of endearment. In 1998, he released 20 of the songs he had been stockpiling as the first official Bright Eyes album, A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997
A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997
- Personnel :* Conor Oberst – Wrote and performed the majority of the songs.* Ted Stevens – Plays drums on The Awful Sweetness of Escaping Sweat.* Todd Fink – Recorded and drummed on A Celebration Upon Completion....
. The album saw Oberst beginning to experiment with drum machines, keyboards and other instruments. The sound of the album ranges from bleating vocals to acoustic guitar songs and techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
-style synthesizer instrumentals. Critical reaction was negative, with Allmusic saying that many of "the songs disintegrate as his vocals are reduced to the unintelligible babbling of a child. Any balance the music maintained up to that point, however fragile, is lost and so, more than likely, is the listener."
Letting Off the Happiness (1998)
On November 2, 1998, Saddle Creek released Letting Off the HappinessLetting Off the Happiness
Letting Off the Happiness is the second album released by Nebraskan musicians Bright Eyes. The album was released on November 2, 1998. A vinyl re-release of the album was included in the Bright Eyes Vinyl Box Set...
, a ten-track album that boasted a more focused and clearer sound than the previous album. According to the Saddle Creek press release, it features members of Lullaby for the Working Class
Lullaby for the Working Class
Lullaby for the Working Class was an indie folk rock band from Lincoln, Nebraska, active from the mid-to-late 1990s. Fronted by Omaha, Nebraska singer-songwriter Ted Stevens , the group also featured multi-instrumentalist and producer Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes, his brother, producer A.J...
, Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel was an American indie rock band formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeff Mangum in the early 1990s. The band was noted for its experimental sound, obscure lyrics and eclectic instrumentation....
, and of Montreal
Of Montreal
Of Montreal is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. It was founded by frontman Kevin Barnes in 1996, named after a failed romance with a woman "of Montreal." The band is one of the bands of the Elephant 6 collective...
. Park Ave.
Park Ave.
Park Ave. was an indie pop band which started in January 1996 in Omaha, Nebraska.The band lasted only two and a half years, but still retains a substantial fanbase. During their short time together, Park Ave. received rave reviews for their brand of indie pop music...
bandmate Neely Jenkins
Neely Jenkins
Neely Jo Jenkins is a musician from Omaha, Nebraska best known for being a singer in the band Tilly and the Wall. She was also a member of the band Park Ave. with Tilly and the Wall bandmate Jamie Pressnall, . Previously, Jenkins sang "Contrast and Compare" and "Pull My Hair" with Bright Eyes on...
also contributed vocals. It was predominantly recorded in the Oberst family basement in Omaha on an analog eight track reel to reel
Reel to Reel
* For the audio technology, see "Reel-to-reel audio tape recording"Reel to Reel is the debut album by Grand Puba. It was Puba's first solo venture, following group projects with the likes of the short lived group Masters of Ceremony and Brand Nubian. Both of the group’s albums were critically...
; with some work also done at keyboardist Andy Lemaster
Andy LeMaster
Andy LeMaster is an American singer-songwriter and producer/engineer from Athens, Georgia. His primary band is Now It's Overhead. LeMaster has engineered, produced, and performed in many of the releases on the Saddle Creek label, including records by Bright Eyes, Now It's Overhead, Azure Ray,...
's Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
studio. Although almost all of the tracks feature a full band, "June on the West Coast" is performed with only acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
and vocals. "Padraic My Prince" gives a dramatic fictional account of the death of his baby brother, a story with a multitude of symbolic meanings. Oberst references the song in "Cartoon Blues" on the Four Winds
Four Winds
Four Winds is an EP by the indie rock band Bright Eyes, that was released on March 6, 2007. The title track is the first single from their album Cassadaga. The other 5 tracks are exclusive b-sides from the 2006 recording sessions. It is marketed as being "quietly enchanting" and including "a...
EP.
Every Day and Every Night EP (1999)
In November 1999, Bright Eyes released the five-song Every Day and Every NightEvery Day and Every Night
Every Day and Every Night is the third record and the first EP by Nebraskan indie rock band Bright Eyes. It became the 30th release by Saddle Creek Records on November 1, 1999....
EP, which included "Neely O'Hara" and "A Perfect Sonnet."
Fevers and Mirrors (2000)
In 2000, Bright Eyes released Fevers and MirrorsFevers and Mirrors
Fevers and Mirrors is the third album by the Nebraska emo/indie band Bright Eyes, recorded in 1999 and released on May 29, 2000. It was the 32nd release of the Omaha, Nebraska-based record label Saddle Creek Records...
, with new instruments such as the flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, and accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
introduced into the song arrangements. After "An Attempt to Tip the Scales", there is a mock radio interview that features Todd Fink
Todd Fink
Todd Fink from Omaha, Nebraska is the lead singer of the band The Faint. He attended Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska....
of The Faint
The Faint
The Faint is an American indie rock band. Formed in Omaha, Nebraska, the band consists of Todd Fink, Jacob Thiele, Dapose, Joel Petersen and Clark Baechle. The Faint was originally known as Norman Bailer and included Conor Oberst...
doing an impression of Oberst while reading a script that Oberst wrote. In this interview, the fake Oberst presents a strange, contradictory explanation of his attitude towards his music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. It acknowledges criticisms of his lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
as overblown and insincere, which had begun to appear as the popularity of the band increased, but responds by stating that the lyrics are meant for personal interpretation. Oberst later commented that "It was a way to make fun of ourselves because the record is such a downer. I mean, that's one part of who I am but I also like laughing
Laughter
Laughing is a reaction to certain stimuli, fundamentally stress, which serves as an emotional balancing mechanism. Traditionally, it is considered a visual expression of happiness, or an inward feeling of joy. It may ensue from hearing a joke, being tickled, or other stimuli...
."
The album placed 170 on Pitchfork Media's best 200 albums of the decade.
Lifted (2002)
With Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the GroundLifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground
Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground is the fourth album by Bright Eyes. This album is the 46th release of Saddle Creek Records...
in 2002, Bright Eyes became one of the year's most celebrated "new" artists, despite having been recording under that moniker for a few years. They received national attention, including in several notable pieces in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The Los Angeles Times, Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
, and Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
, many of which proclaimed Conor Oberst to be a significant new artist. The album was a commercial success and has sold over 250,000 copies, a breakthrough for the label and for all of the band's peers at that time. Oberst stated that, before making this record, both he and Mike Mogis had an idea for a "sort of grandiose sound" that neither could really put into words. This was also the first album made after Oberst's break to play with Desaparecidos
Desaparecidos (band)
Desaparecidos was a short-lived American emo/post-hardcore band. It was a side project headed by singer/guitarist Conor Oberst, the frontman of the indie folk band Bright Eyes....
.
I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning / Digital Ash in a Digital Urn (2004-2005)
During the 2004 election season, Bright Eyes toured with Bruce SpringsteenBruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
and R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
on the Vote for Change
Vote for Change
The Vote for Change tour was a politically-motivated American popular music concert tour that took place in October 2004. The tour was presented by MoveOn.org to benefit America Coming Together. The tour was held in swing states and was designed to encourage people to register and vote...
tour, further pushing Bright Eyes into the public eye. Oberst sang numerous duets with the likes of Springsteen and Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
.
In November 2004, two Bright Eyes singles, "Lua
Lua (song)
"Lua" is a single by Bright Eyes released in October 2004. Originally appearing on the album, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, the song deals with two people as they struggle through depression, addiction, and an interminable night...
" and "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)
Take It Easy (Love Nothing)
"Take It Easy " is a single by Bright Eyes, released in October 2004. It, along with "Lua," took the top two spots on Billboard magazine's Hot Singles Sales chart, something that had not been accomplished since 1997...
", reached the two top spots on the Billboard Hot 100 Single Sales. This was the first time this had happened on the list in seven years.
January 25, 2005 saw the release of two distinctly different Bright Eyes albums: the folk-influenced I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning is one of two Bright Eyes albums released on January 25, 2005, by Saddle Creek Records.-Songs:The music video for "First Day of My Life" was directed by John Cameron Mitchell....
and the electronic-pop inflected Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
Digital Ash in a Digital Urn is one of two Bright Eyes albums released on January 25, 2005 by Saddle Creek Records. It peaked at #15 in the US and #43 in the UK...
. An extensive world tour followed the release of those albums. Part one of the tour was in support of I'm Wide Awake and the second part was in support of Digital Ash. The first part was more similar to past tours with an intimate band setting. The decision to split the tour this way was practical as it would have been a "logistical nightmare" in terms of equipment and staff to perform songs from both albums simultaneously. By the end of January 2005, I'm Wide Awake was #10 on the Billboard charts while Digital Ash was #15.
In early 2005, Bright Eyes supported R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
in their tour of Australia, as well as headlined shows themselves.
On May 2, 2005 Bright Eyes appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and performed the protest song
Protest song
A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...
"When the President Talks to God
When the President Talks to God
"When the President Talks to God" is a protest song by Bright Eyes, with a very pointed political message directed towards George W. Bush and his policies...
". A 7" vinyl single of the song was sold at concerts soon after.
In November 2005, Bright Eyes performed "True Blue" on the children's television show Pancake Mountain
Pancake mountain
Pancake Mountain is a children's television show based in Washington, D.C. Created by filmmaker Scott Stuckey , it is notable for featuring many indie rock bands, such as Tegan and Sara, Bright Eyes, Deerhoof, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Shonen Knife, Weird War, The Fiery Furnaces, Thievery...
.
Bright Eyes has actively protested against the Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
media company. Oberst has vocally advocated the boycotting of all Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
events, venues, and radio stations, perhaps most publicly at the Shortlist Awards show at the Wiltern Theatre
Wiltern Theatre
The Wiltern Theatre and adjacent 12-story Pellissier Building are Art Deco architectural landmarks located on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue in Los Angeles, California. The entire complex is commonly referred to as the Wiltern Center...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on October 5, 2003. On November 9, 2005, Bright Eyes canceled their November 12 show in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
upon discovering that the venue was associated with Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
.
Bright Eyes won Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "When the President Talks to God" at the 2006 PLUG Independent Music Awards
PLUG Independent Music Awards
The PLUG Independent Music Awards, or just PLUG Awards, began in 2001 as a "cartel" of music lovers ranging from DJs and managers to indie retailers and fans.*This event is not in any way associated with the .-2008:...
, and a special recognition award for the video for "First Day of My Life"
at the 17th GLAAD Media Awards. Additionally, Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
listed I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning is one of two Bright Eyes albums released on January 25, 2005, by Saddle Creek Records.-Songs:The music video for "First Day of My Life" was directed by John Cameron Mitchell....
as one of the top ten albums of 2005. Later in the year, the live album Motion Sickness
Motion Sickness
Motion Sickness: Live Recordings is a live album by Bright Eyes. Documenting the I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning tours from the first half of 2005, Motion Sickness is a compilation of live tracks, including covers of Feist and Elliott Smith...
was released, documenting the I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning tour.
In a skit on the May 20, 2006 episode of Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
(played by Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey, CBE is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and crooner. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television...
) was joined by Dixie Chicks
Dixie Chicks
The Dixie Chicks are an American country band which has also successfully crossed over into other genres. The band is composed of founding members Martie Erwin Maguire and Emily Erwin Robison, and lead singer Natalie Maines...
and "indie sensation Bright Eyes" (played by Andy Samberg
Andy Samberg
David Andrew "Andy" Samberg is an American actor, comedian, rapper and writer best known as a member of the comedy group The Lonely Island and as a cast member on Saturday Night Live...
), all of whom have been public in their criticism of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
After releasing three albums in 2005, Oberst stated that he did not plan to release an album in 2006.
On October 24, 2006, a compilation of rare tracks entitled Noise Floor (Rarities: 1998-2005)
Noise Floor (Rarities: 1998-2005)
Noise Floor is a compilation of previously recorded but unreleased or hard-to-find songs by Bright Eyes.The compilation was released on CD and vinyl on October 24, 2006 on Saddle Creek Records. The vinyl version of the album includes five extra tracks not found on the CD...
was released.
On March 8, 2007, Oberst appeared on National Public Radio's All Songs Considered
All Songs Considered
All Songs Considered is a weekly online multimedia program started in January 2000 by NPR's All Things Considered director Bob Boilen. At first, the show featured information and streaming audio about the songs used as bumper music on All Things Considered. The program has turned into a source of...
, playing a selection of tracks in his collection, as well as several from Four Winds.
Cassadaga (2007)
Bright Eyes released the Four Winds EP in March 2007, featuring the first single from their seventh studio album CassadagaCassadaga (album)
Cassadaga is the seventh studio album by Bright Eyes, released on April 10, 2007. Around 25 to 30 songs were recorded in 2006, with 13 of these appearing on the final track list...
, released in April 2007. The track "Endless Entertainment" circulated over the internet from the new official site, ThisIsBrightEyes.com. In a 2007 issue, Rolling Stone labeled "Four Winds" as a top 100 song of the year.
In support of this album, Bright Eyes toured North America from February to May, and Europe and Japan from June to July. The twelve musicians included two drummers, and they donned white uniforms in front of a video backdrop.
During an encore on May 19, 2007 at the Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue, located at 115 5th Avenue North, in Nashville, Tennessee and is best known as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry....
in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Oberst performed a new song with Gillian Welch
Gillian Welch
Gillian Welch is an American singer-songwriter. She performs with her musical partner, guitarist David Rawlings. Their sparse and dark musical style, which combines elements of Appalachian music, Bluegrass, and Americana, is described by The New Yorker as "at once innovative and obliquely...
and David Rawlings
David Rawlings
David Todd Rawlings is a professional guitarist and singer. He is best known as the longtime musical partner of bluegrass singer-songwriter Gillian Welch.David attended the Berklee College of Music and studied with guitar professor Lauren Passarelli....
entitled "Man Named Truth". He said the song was finished in the dressing room that night. The song was officially released on Monsters of Folk
Monsters of Folk
Monsters of Folk is an American supergroup, consisting of Jim James from My Morning Jacket, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes, and M. Ward, renowned solo artist. The band was formed in 2004 when the members were on tour with their respective bands and solo projects. After playing...
's 2009 self-titled album, on which Oberst teams up with Jim James (of My Morning Jacket), M. Ward (of She & Him), and Mike Mogis (of Bright Eyes).
During a 7-night stint at The Town Hall
The Town Hall
The Town Hall is a performance space, located at 123 West 43rd Street, between Sixth Avenue and Broadway, in New York City. It seats approximately 1,500 people.-History:...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Bright Eyes welcomed the following guests on stage for special performances: Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
on May 25; Ben Kweller
Ben Kweller
Ben Kweller is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.-Early life:Ben Kweller was born in San Francisco, CA in 1981. In 1982, his family relocated to Emory, Texas, where his father, Howard Kweller, became the town's first doctor. In 1986, the Kwellers moved to a much larger city,...
on May 26; Jenny Lewis
Jenny Lewis
Jennifer Diane Lewis , is an American singer-songwriter musician and actress. She was the primary vocalist of the indie rock band Rilo Kiley, and has released two solo albums. She currently performs as part of the duo Jenny & Johnny with boyfriend Johnathan Rice...
and Johnathan Rice
Johnathan Rice
Johnathan Rice is a Scottish-American singer-songwriter. His first album, Trouble is Real, was released on Reprise Records on April 26, 2005. His follow up, Further North, was released by Reprise on September 11, 2007...
on May 28; Norah Jones
Norah Jones
Norah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
, Little Willie and Derrick E on May 29; Nick Zinner
Nick Zinner
Nicholas Joseph Zinner is the guitarist for the New York rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. He is known for his "unmistakable" wild hair, skinny physique, and pale appearance...
, Maria Taylor
Maria Taylor
Maria Diane Taylor is an American singer/songwriter from Birmingham, Alabama. She is also a member of the duo Azure Ray with Orenda Fink, as well as the band Now It's Overhead, both of which are signed with Saddle Creek Records...
and Ben Gibbard
Ben Gibbard
Benjamin "Ben" Gibbard is an American musician known as a member of several successful indie rock bands. He is the lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, and is also known for his project ¡All-Time Quarterback! and his first band, Pinwheel.-Personal life and career:Gibbard was...
on May 30, Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
on May 31, and finally Ron Sexsmith
Ron Sexsmith
Ronald Eldon "Ron" Sexsmith is a Canadian singer-songwriter from St. Catharines, Ontario, currently based in Toronto. He started his own band when he was fourteen years old, and released the first recordings of his own material seven years later, in 1985...
and Britt Daniel
Britt Daniel
John Britt Daniel is the co-founder, lead singer and guitarist of the Austin, Texas, rock band Spoon.-Biography:Britt Daniel was born in Galveston, Texas, and grew up in Temple, Texas, in a household of five children...
on June 1.
On June 4, 2007, they performed "Hot Knives" on The Late Show With David Letterman.
A double-single for "Hot Knives" and "If the Brakeman Turns My Way" was released on July 9, 2007.
In August 2007, Bright Eyes postponed 3 UK shows due to illness. A U.S. tour was announced, and in September, the UK dates were canceled and not rescheduled.
On September 29, 2007, they performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
at the historic Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
.
Bright Eyes performed at a Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
rally in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
on February 7, 2008.
Zachary Nipper, the album's art director, was awarded the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Recording Package
Grammy Award for Best Recording Package
The Grammy Award for Best Recording Package is one of a series of Grammy Awards presented for the visual look of an album. It is presented to the art director of the winning album, not to the performer, except if the performer is also the art director....
.
The People's Key (2008-2011)
During 2008 and 2009, Oberst recorded music and toured in support of his other music projects, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley BandConor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band is the name taken by Conor Oberst and his backing band, which is composed of Nik Freitas , Taylor Hollingsworth , Macey Taylor , Nate Walcott and Jason Boesel .-History:...
and supergroup Monsters of Folk
Monsters of Folk
Monsters of Folk is an American supergroup, consisting of Jim James from My Morning Jacket, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes, and M. Ward, renowned solo artist. The band was formed in 2004 when the members were on tour with their respective bands and solo projects. After playing...
. In a June 2009 issue of Rolling Stone, Oberst announced that he wanted to "retire" the Bright Eyes moniker, and would be making one final album with the band: "It does feel like it needs to stop at some point. I'd like to clean it up, lock the door, say goodbye."
Saddle Creek Records reissued their Neva Dinova
Neva Dinova
Neva Dinova is an indie band from Omaha, Nebraska. Neva Dinova is named after the grandmother of lead singer Jake Bellows. They have been on crank! a record company , and have recorded a split-release with Bright Eyes entitled "One Jug Of Wine, Two Vessels" that was also released on crank! a...
split One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels
One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels
One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels is a collaborative split EP by Bright Eyes and Neva Dinova. It was released in 2004 on Crank! Records. It was also re-released on CD/LP/Digital by Saddle Creek Records on March 23, 2010, with four newly-recorded bonus tracks not included on the original release.-Track...
on March 23, 2010 with four brand-new songs recorded in late 2009.
On July 31, 2010, Bright Eyes teamed up with the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
(ACLU) of Nebraska to put on a concert for equality in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. The concert raised money
Money
Money is any object or record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, occasionally in the past,...
for a federal lawsuit the ACLU filed against the city of Fremont, Nebraska
Fremont, Nebraska
Fremont is a city in and the county seat of Dodge County, Nebraska, United States, near Omaha in the eastern part of the state. The population was 26,397 at the 2010 census....
for an ordinance
Local ordinance
A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code.-United States:In the United States, these laws are enforced locally in addition to state law and federal law.-Japan:...
the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
passed on June 21, 2010 banning
Ban (law)
A ban is, generally, any decree that prohibits something.Bans are formed for the prohibition of activities within a certain political territory. Some see this as a negative act and others see it as maintaining the "status quo"...
the hiring of or the rental of properties to illegal immigrants. At this show, Bright Eyes debuted a new song entitled "Coyote Song" about two lovers separated by the Mexico – United States border.
The band's new album titled The People's Key
The People's Key
A limited edition deluxe packaging edition contains mp3 file samples of various Saddle Creek artists.-Reception:The People's Key has received mixed to positive critical reception. Allmusic praised its smaller scale and gave the album 3 and a 1/2 out of 5 stars. Pitchfork gave the album 5 out of 10...
was released on February 15, 2011, Conor Oberst's birthday.
Conor Oberst has stated that the sound of The People's Key moves away from the folk sound that the band had accomplished on previous records. "We're over the Americana
Americana
Americana refers to artifacts, or a collection of artifacts, related to the history, geography, folklore and cultural heritage of the United States. Many kinds of material fall within the definition of Americana: paintings, prints and drawings; license plates or entire vehicles, household objects,...
, rootsy, whatever that sound is. People say country but I never thought we were very country at all. But whatever that element is or that aesthetic is, I guess it's worn a little thin for me these days. So we very much wanted it to be rocking and, for lack of a better term, contemporary, or modern."
The video for the song "Shell Games" was released via Saddle Creek Records on both the band's YouTube channel and that of Saddle Creek, and features the band playing against various projections.
On February 24, the band performed "Jejune Stars" on the Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
. They performed "Beginner's Mind" on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, three days following Johnny...
on April 14, 2011.
On June 10, Bright Eyes released the music video for "Jejune Stars". The video features the band playing in a desert with a firework rig behind them, spelling out selected lyrics as Oberst sings them.
In June, July, and August 2011 the band performed shows on tour with The Mountain Goats
The Mountain Goats
The Mountain Goats is an American indie rock band formed in Claremont, CA by singer-songwriter John Darnielle. For many years, the sole member of the Mountain Goats was Darnielle himself, despite the plural moniker....
.
Members
The band's permanent members are:- Conor OberstConor OberstConor Mullen Oberst is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes. He has also played in several other bands, including Desaparecidos, Norman Bailer , Commander Venus, Park Ave., Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, and Monsters of Folk.-Musical career:Oberst began...
– vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Mike MogisMike MogisMike Mogis is a Nebraskan producer/engineer and multi-instrumentalist who, along with his brother A.J. Mogis, founded Presto! Recording Studios ....
– banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, pedal steel guitarPedal steel guitarThe pedal steel guitar is a type of electric guitar that uses a metal bar to "fret" or shorten the length of the strings, rather than fingers on strings as with a conventional guitar. Unlike other types of steel guitar, it also uses pedals and knee levers to affect the pitch, hence the name "pedal"...
, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Nate WalcottNate WalcottNate Walcott is a trumpet, flugelhorn and keyboard player who has appeared on several of Saddle Creek Records artists' albums. He is one of three permanent members of Bright Eyes, along with Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis, and has toured with Bright Eyes....
– organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, keytarKeytarA keytar is a relatively lightweight keyboard that is supported by a strap around the neck and shoulders, similar to the way a guitar is supported by a strap. Keytars allow players a greater range of movement compared to conventional keyboards, which are placed on stands...
However, the three collaborate with other artists, of which the following have been credited in the band's releases:
- Shane Aspegren
- Clark BaechleClark BaechleClark Alan Baechle is the drummer in the band The Faint. He also played in another Nebraskan band, Park Ave. He has also played on many releases and tours for Bright Eyes, playing drums and clarinet...
- Kevin BarnesKevin BarnesKevin L. Barnes is the singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter for the indie rock group Of Montreal, part of the Elephant 6 Collective. Barnes started the band on his own and, although providing several stories as to the origin of the name, is said to have named it after a failed romance...
- Jake Bellows
- Z Berg
- Dan Bitney
- Jason BoeselJason BoeselJason Boesel was the drummer for Rilo Kiley and has also played with The Elected. He also drummed in the Bright Eyes touring band during their 2005 tour, and went on to write the liner notes for the consequent Bright Eyes live album, Motion Sickness and contributing to Bright Eyes' 2007 record,...
- Gretta CohnGretta CohnGretta Cohn is a cellist who is best known for playing cello in the rock group Cursive from 2001-2005. She left the group in August 2005. Her departure was announced on the Cursive website in late August:...
- Jonathan CrawfordJonathan CrawfordJonathan Crawford is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing for Montrose.-Career:He made his first team debut on 22 August 2009, for against Hamilton Academical....
- Britt DanielBritt DanielJohn Britt Daniel is the co-founder, lead singer and guitarist of the Austin, Texas, rock band Spoon.-Biography:Britt Daniel was born in Galveston, Texas, and grew up in Temple, Texas, in a household of five children...
- Stefanie DrootinStefanie DrootinStefanie Drootin is the bass guitarist for the band The Good Life on Saddle Creek Records. She also plays or has played in Bright Eyes, She and Him, McCarthy Trenching, Azure Ray, Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor.-Album Appearances:...
- Sabrina Duim
- Sherri DuPreeSherri DuPreeSherri Kay DuPree-Bemis is a vocalist, guitarist and lyricist for the band Eisley.-Career:Three of her siblings, Chauntelle, Stacy and Weston are also members of Eisley, along with her cousin, Garron. Her youngest sister Christie has performed with them live as well...
- Stacy DuPreeStacy DuPreeStacy Lynn DuPree is the keyboardist and one of the lead vocalists in the indie pop band Eisley. She is also credited the writing of the band's lyrics along with her sister Sherri.-Biography:...
- Aaron Druery
- Orenda FinkOrenda FinkOrenda Fink is a musician on Saddle Creek Records.Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Fink was half of the Southern dream pop duo Azure Ray from 2001 to 2004. Fink is also a former member of Now It's Overhead, another Saddle Creek band. She released her first full-length solo album Invisible Ones on...
- Todd FinkTodd FinkTodd Fink from Omaha, Nebraska is the lead singer of the band The Faint. He attended Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska....
- Margret Fish
- Jordan Fish
- Jason Flatowicz
- Matt FochtMatt FochtMatt Focht is an American musician originally from Omaha, Nebraska. He is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist in the Chicago-based band Head of Femur...
- Cory Greenwood
- Emmylou HarrisEmmylou HarrisEmmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
- Jesse HarrisJesse HarrisJesse Harris is a Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter. He has collaborated with several musical artists including Norah Jones, Melody Gardot, Madeleine Peyroux, Nikki Yanofsky, and Lizz Wright.-Early life and education:...
- Jim JamesJim JamesJames Edward Olliges Jr. , professionally known as Jim James or Yim Yames, is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of Louisville, Kentucky-based rock band My Morning Jacket. James grew up in the Hikes Point neighborhood of Louisville, attended St. Martha grade school and graduated...
- Neely JenkinsNeely JenkinsNeely Jo Jenkins is a musician from Omaha, Nebraska best known for being a singer in the band Tilly and the Wall. She was also a member of the band Park Ave. with Tilly and the Wall bandmate Jamie Pressnall, . Previously, Jenkins sang "Contrast and Compare" and "Pull My Hair" with Bright Eyes on...
- Simon JoynerSimon JoynerSimon Joyner is a singer-songwriter from Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Considered by some to be the forefather of the burgeoning Omaha music scene , he has profoundly influenced the music of Bright Eyes. Joyner also collaborated with John Darnielle, of The Mountain Goats, and Beck listed Joyner...
- Tim KasherTim KasherTim Kasher is a musician from Omaha, Nebraska, and is the frontman of indie rock groups Cursive and The Good Life, both of which are on the Omaha based record label Saddle Creek Records. Prior to those bands, Kasher was in a band called Slowdown Virginia...
- Joe KnappJoe KnappJoe Knapp is an artist from Omaha, Nebraska. He is the lead singer and songwriter of Saddle Creek band Son, Ambulance. Knapp has also collaborated with friends and musicians such as Bright Eyes and David Dondero....
- Tiffany Kowalski
- Ben KwellerBen KwellerBen Kweller is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.-Early life:Ben Kweller was born in San Francisco, CA in 1981. In 1982, his family relocated to Emory, Texas, where his father, Howard Kweller, became the town's first doctor. In 1986, the Kwellers moved to a much larger city,...
- Jiha LeeJiha LeeJiha Lee is the former keyboardist of the Good Life and has performed with Bright Eyes. Having left the Good Life after their second album, Black Out, she returned to record the track "Inmates" for Album of the Year. Her recordings with Bright Eyes include vocals and flute on tracks from Fevers...
- Andy LeMasterAndy LeMasterAndy LeMaster is an American singer-songwriter and producer/engineer from Athens, Georgia. His primary band is Now It's Overhead. LeMaster has engineered, produced, and performed in many of the releases on the Saddle Creek label, including records by Bright Eyes, Now It's Overhead, Azure Ray,...
- Clay Leverett
- Jenny LewisJenny LewisJennifer Diane Lewis , is an American singer-songwriter musician and actress. She was the primary vocalist of the indie rock band Rilo Kiley, and has released two solo albums. She currently performs as part of the duo Jenny & Johnny with boyfriend Johnathan Rice...
- Matt MaginnMatt MaginnMatt Maginn is a musician from Omaha, Nebraska. He plays bass guitar in the indie-rock band Cursive and is a frequent contributor on a number of Bright Eyes records...
- John McEntireJohn McEntireJohn McEntire is an American recording engineer, drummer and multi-instrumentalist. He is best-known for being in Tortoise and The Sea and Cake, as well as being a highly in-demand producer and engineer....
- Ben McKee
- Alex McManusAlex McManusAlex McManus is a musician from Omaha, Nebraska. He is part of the indie scene and played with bands such as Acorns, Empire State, Lambchop, Vic Chesnutt, and Bright Eyes...
- Eden O'Brien-Butcher
- Matthew Olsen
- Anton PatznerAnton PatznerAnton Patzner is a violinist, composer and arranger who is a founding member of Judgement Day, has been featured on several major label and indie label records, frequently tours with Bright Eyes and Audrye Sessions and has also toured with Mates of State, The Faint, dredg, Margot and the Nuclear So...
- Steve PedersenSteve PedersenSteve Pedersen is an American guitarist from Omaha, Nebraska.He left Cursive in 1998 to attend law school at Duke University in North Carolina. It was there he started the band The White Octave, which released two albums and appeared on a few samplers...
- David RawlingsDavid RawlingsDavid Todd Rawlings is a professional guitarist and singer. He is best known as the longtime musical partner of bluegrass singer-songwriter Gillian Welch.David attended the Berklee College of Music and studied with guitar professor Lauren Passarelli....
- Clint SchnaseClint SchnaseClint Schnase is a musician from Omaha, Nebraska. He played drums in the indie-rock band Cursive from 1996 until early 2007. His official departure was announced on October 21, 2007...
- Casey Scott
- Blake SennettBlake SennettBlake Sennett is the lead guitarist for indie rock band Rilo Kiley and the lead singer/lead guitarist for his alt-rock side project the Elected. He was born as Blake Sennett Swendson in San Diego, California. He attended La Jolla High School with his Rilo Kiley bandmate Pierre De Reeder...
- Ted StevensTed Stevens (musician)Ted Stevens is an American rock musician from Omaha, Nebraska, best known as the guitarist and backup singer for the band Cursive, as well as fronting Mayday...
- Cody James Stilfield
- Jimmy Tamborello
- Macy Taylor
- Maria TaylorMaria TaylorMaria Diane Taylor is an American singer/songwriter from Birmingham, Alabama. She is also a member of the duo Azure Ray with Orenda Fink, as well as the band Now It's Overhead, both of which are signed with Saddle Creek Records...
- M. WardM. WardMatthew Stephen Ward, known by his stage name M. Ward, is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to prominence in the Portland, Oregon music scene. In addition to his solo work he is known as a member of She & Him and Monsters of Folk.-Career:...
- Janet WeissJanet WeissJanet Lee Weiss was the drummer of now defunct Sleater-Kinney and is currently a member of Quasi and Wild Flag. She was the drummer for Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, leaving after the album Mirror Traffic.-Early life:...
- Gillian WelchGillian WelchGillian Welch is an American singer-songwriter. She performs with her musical partner, guitarist David Rawlings. Their sparse and dark musical style, which combines elements of Appalachian music, Bluegrass, and Americana, is described by The New Yorker as "at once innovative and obliquely...
- Nick WhiteNick WhiteNicholas Edward White is a musician who plays keyboards in the indie-pop group Tilly and the Wall from Omaha, Nebraska. He has also been known to play keyboards for Bright Eyes on tour...
- Jamie PressnallJamie PressnallJamie Lynn Pressnall is a musician from Omaha, Nebraska and is a member of the band Tilly and the Wall. She was also in a band with Clark Baechle, Neely Jenkins, and Conor Oberst called Park Ave. and a band called Magic Kiss with Kianna Alarid...
- Rachael YamagataRachael YamagataRachael Yamagata is an American singer-songwriter and pianist from Arlington, Virginia. She began her musical career with the band Bumpus before becoming a solo artist and releasing four EP's and three studio albums...
- Nick ZinnerNick ZinnerNicholas Joseph Zinner is the guitarist for the New York rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. He is known for his "unmistakable" wild hair, skinny physique, and pale appearance...
Discography
- A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995–1997 (1998)
- Letting Off the HappinessLetting Off the HappinessLetting Off the Happiness is the second album released by Nebraskan musicians Bright Eyes. The album was released on November 2, 1998. A vinyl re-release of the album was included in the Bright Eyes Vinyl Box Set...
(1998) - Fevers and MirrorsFevers and MirrorsFevers and Mirrors is the third album by the Nebraska emo/indie band Bright Eyes, recorded in 1999 and released on May 29, 2000. It was the 32nd release of the Omaha, Nebraska-based record label Saddle Creek Records...
(2000) - Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the GroundLifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the GroundLifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground is the fourth album by Bright Eyes. This album is the 46th release of Saddle Creek Records...
(2002) - A Christmas AlbumA Christmas Album (Bright Eyes album)-Personnel:The album was arranged by Conor Oberst and Maria Taylor. The performers also include Jake Bellows, Gretta Cohn, Armand Costanzo, Denver Dalley, Stefanie Drootin, Orenda Fink, Neely Jenkins, Jiha Lee, Andy LeMaster, Mike Mogis, Matt Oberst, Stephen Pedersen, Blake Sennett, Macey Taylor,...
(2002) - I'm Wide Awake, It's MorningI'm Wide Awake, It's MorningI'm Wide Awake, It's Morning is one of two Bright Eyes albums released on January 25, 2005, by Saddle Creek Records.-Songs:The music video for "First Day of My Life" was directed by John Cameron Mitchell....
(2005) - Digital Ash in a Digital UrnDigital Ash in a Digital UrnDigital Ash in a Digital Urn is one of two Bright Eyes albums released on January 25, 2005 by Saddle Creek Records. It peaked at #15 in the US and #43 in the UK...
(2005) - CassadagaCassadaga (album)Cassadaga is the seventh studio album by Bright Eyes, released on April 10, 2007. Around 25 to 30 songs were recorded in 2006, with 13 of these appearing on the final track list...
(2007) - The People's KeyThe People's KeyA limited edition deluxe packaging edition contains mp3 file samples of various Saddle Creek artists.-Reception:The People's Key has received mixed to positive critical reception. Allmusic praised its smaller scale and gave the album 3 and a 1/2 out of 5 stars. Pitchfork gave the album 5 out of 10...
(2011)
External links
- Official site
- Bright Eyes at Saddle Creek RecordsSaddle Creek RecordsSaddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Conor Oberst and Justin Oberst in 1993 . Conor soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel...