Bright Eyes @ LMUSU
By Gavin Miller
"When you're on, yeah you're really fuckin' on!" yells the diminutive Jenny Lewis, singer and guitarist for Rilo Kiley, an odd looking bunch of misfits from the stable of Saddle Creek, the label started by one Conor Oberst and pals.
Their glittering indie pop music is a treat tonight, sounding understandably tight for such a hard working group, the Kiley move swiftly through a few songs from their second, and breakthrough album 'The Execution of All Things'. Although, unfortunately the blistering title track has been left off in favour of material from their latest LP 'More Adventurous', which sees them rip through a stunning array of power chords matched to Lewis' sultry southern tinged drawl. 'Portions For Foxes', the roaring new single gets an airing, as does the country- esque 'Hail To Whatever You Found In The Sunlight That Surrounds You', and the crazy prog- esque outro to their set takes me for one a bit off guard, but still sounds amazing, especially the ultra reverbed vocal wailing. Top stuff. The band themselves look like they're having fun, despite the efforts of some drunken idiot who keeps shouting nonsense at them- "no anchovies!" he yells at one point.
And then, the main attraction. As he walks on stage, Conor Oberst looks every bit the sensitive, slightly troubled emo boy, with his skinny shirt, his floppy fringe and his reluctance to interact with the crowd. "Give us a smile!" someone shouts as the band play through the first few tracks from their recent LP 'I'm Wide Awake It's Morning', although without the presence of Emmylou Harris, who joins Oberst and co. on the record, there's maybe something missing.
After a while, the band start to find their feet and play triumphantly through songs like 'A Scale, a Mirror and Those Indifferent Clocks' from 'Fevers And Mirrors', the album that brought him the first taste of mainstream notoriety. 'Make War' from his previous effort 'Lifted' has a run through, as does some of his earlier works, but seeing as how he's still only 24, he has a hell of a back catalogue.
So much so that throughout tonight, people shout at him the songs they want to hear, and it seems to be taking Oberst by surprise, as with every request, he looks slightly uneasy, a bit overwhelmed by it all. Someone comes to his rescue, in the form a female voice shouting "you play whatever you want Conor".
Most of the (decidedly female) kids in tonight's audience are weak at the knees when the reluctant front-man starts singing, or starts playing a song, which is a daunting task when on top of awe stricken fans to impress, you have to deal with two louts who insist on shouting "Something Vague!" all night, and who at one point unsuccessfully start a two man mosh pit. Security stepped in though, and they seemed to calm down after that.
The last song in tonight's set is either 'One Foot In Front Of The Other', or 'Landlocked Blues', depending on what stage of his career you delved into first. It's a shame that the band doesn't play anything from their other recent (and a lot better) album 'Digital Ash In A Digital Urn', which seems more focused and which had obviously more time spent on it.
Anyway, for the encore, the band gives me one of the finest surprises a band has ever given anyone. A cover of Canadian singer/ songwriter Feist's pretty little ditty 'Mushaboom'. I think I was the only one singing along, but it was worth it.
As the lights fade, and Oberst is the last man on stage, pouring out his heart, you get the feeling that he means every single lyric he writes. As he fluffs a line though, the audience cheers and applauds, and it's fitting, as his lyrical prowess is usually what he's known for.
They may not to be to everyone's tastes, but tonight Bright Eyes confirmed what many already know: he's brilliant.
