Viernes 25 May 2007, 11:31
So I finally got to my first Bright Eyes show. Hooray! I was so sad when I missed them in February when Conor brought along M. Ward, so I was determined to get to this show. And while I don't know Gillian Welch as well as M. Ward, I was very pleased with the whole show.
Gillian came on with long time collaborator David Rawlings and they did a sweet acoustic set. She's got a full yet smooth voice that was just perfect for her old school country style. And Rawlings… I am in awe of the man. I've known about him for years, mostly for his contribution's to Ryan Adams's Heartbreaker, but I was just blown away by his talent on the guitar. He produced a sound that could most accurately be described as bluegrass, but it was also so clear and pure that it reminded me a little of Slash. Amazing. His and Gillian's harmonies were also spot on, their voices blending so well that it was hard to tell who was singing each part. I could have listened to these two for hours!
But of course their set had to end so that Conor Oberst and his currently 12 member band (2 guitars, bass, keys, 2 drummers, flute, sax, 2 violins, 2 cellos) could take the stage. Dressed all in white, the band slowly trickled in as the opening phone clips to Clairaudients (Kill Or Be Killed) came on. After such a toned down performance from Gillian and David, the sheer volume of sound coming from stage when Bright Eyes began was shocking. I could actually feel the intensity in my seat, which I sadly admit I was sitting in for the first half of the show, since we were in an opera house and it took a while for the audience to get roused to their feet. However, I must say, while seated, I noticed for the first time how trippy Bright Eyes can be. Over half of the set was from Cassadaga, which, with tracks like No One Would Riot For Less and Middleman, has a very subdued and yet intense feel. With so many instruments and so much sound on stage, these particular songs were just mesmerizing. I seriously couldn't pull my eyes from the stage. I've seen my share of truly great shows in the past couple of years, but it's been a while since I felt completely encompassed by a show like I was last night. I must also mention the reworked version of First Day Of My Life, with the full band and and almost swing like beat. I think it took everyone by surprise, but a happy surprise!
To my delight, Conor brought Gillian and David back to the stage for the encore, for which the trio played what I am told is a new song, Man Named Truth, and then most gorgeous version of Lua I have ever heard. With Rawlings guitar intro picking away the melody and Gillian's harmonies, I didn't think I could like this song any more. And then Gillian took over completely for the verse "I got a flask inside my pocket…" In the octave higher than Conor and somewhere between a lilt and a belt, Gillian made the song even more heartfelt and beautiful than I thought possible. The full band finally came back on for Gillian's Look At Miss Ohio which might just be my new favorite song ever. And finally, bringing on members of Oakley Hall (the first opener) and even some roadies banging the bongos, the band closed out with Road to Joy. This performance was complete with the mess of uncoordinated sound from all the instruments representing that "failures always sounded better" and Conor's obligatory smashing of his guitar at the end. And as the cacophony began to die out, people slowly trickled off stage just as they came on, leaving finally the sax player alone on a pillar, literally squeaking through his instrument over the feedback. Classic.
Set List:
*Clairaudients
*Hot Knives
*Make A Plan To Love Me
*Four Winds
*First Day Of My Life
*Middleman
*No One Would Riot For Less
*The Calendar Hung Itself
*Gold Mine Gutted
*Cleanse Song
*Soul Singer In A Session Band
*I Believe In Symmetry
Encore
*Man Named Truth
*Lua
*Look At Miss Ohio
*Road To Joy