Although short of a sellout, Thursday night’s Meijer Gardens concert boasted an enthusiastic young crowd, passionate performances and double-duty for Dawes as opening act and backing band.
Sensitive, Gracious, Even Goofy: Conor Oberst performing at Meijer Gardens on Thursday. (Photo/Anna Sink)
By Tricia Woolfenden
LocalSpins.com
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It’s impossible to know how many bummer breakup mixes have been graced by Conor Oberst’s expressive quake of a voice.
The Omaha, Neb., singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s tone is perpetually defeated, his inflection conveying every ounce of pain and melancholy reflected in his descriptive — at times, overly so — lyrics.
That said, Oberst’s delivery and performance Thursday night to a crowd of roughly 1,200 fans at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park was anything but sad sack.
Dawes served as opening act and backing band for Oberst, impressing adoring fans. (Photo/Local Spins)
The musician — who is associated with numerous projects, from Bright Eyes to Desaparecidos to Monsters of Folk and his own solo work — was pure charisma, wonderfully toeing the line between mysterious rock star and solicitous crowd-pleaser.
After a week of intense social media and news scrutiny in the wake of an, um, “unusual” high-profile performance and stage walk-off, Meijer Gardens needed something to clear the air.
Oberst, who ostensibly is a very Sensitive and Serious Singer-Songwriter, may have been just the one to do it. While he obviously takes his craft seriously, he doesn’t appear to put himself on an obnoxiously high pedestal. He was chatty, gracious and even a bit goofy, twirling with his guitar and stomping his feet, jumping onto the drum platform and slapping hands with adoring fans in the front row.
A YOUNG AND ENGAGED CROWD, A PASSIONATE PERFORMANCE
Thursday night’s audience bucked some Meijer Gardens’ trends, skewing younger and more engaged than per the norm. The front section was unusually free of chairs, and instead accommodated a group of mostly-attentive fans, a majority of whom stood from the time opening act Dawes took the stage until Oberst exited after playing his third encore song and show closer of “Another Travelin’ Song” (from Bright Eyes’ 2005 release “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning”).
Oberst (Photo/Anna Sink)
American folk-rock band Dawes pulled double duty Thursday evening, playing a 45-minute opening slot for Oberst before transitioning into its position as his backing band for the entirety of his set. The four-piece was remarkably well received by Mejier Gardens early arrivals, commanding more attention as an opening act than this reviewer has seen accorded some headlining bands who have stood on the same stage. (Overheard: “This is the BEST opening band I’ve ever seen here!”).
Perhaps it was Taylor Goldsmith’s passionate vocals and at times bluesy guitar solos, or Wylie Gelber’s resonant bass lines. Whatever was happening, it was working for an audience that seemed already predisposed to pay attention and be cool — at least from this reviewer’s perspective. (Nice work, everyone!).
Dawes continued to hold its own once Oberst took the stage in dark sunglasses and black blazer for a roughly two-hour, 17-song (plus three-song encore) set spanning a decade or more of his catalog, from his various Bright Eyes releases to his most recent solo offering, “Upside Down Mountain.” The band was a great fit for Oberst’s particular brand of alt-country-folk-indie-what-have-you — from the subdued show opener of “Time Forgot” to the slow burn of “Desert Island Questionnaire” (on which Goldsmith’s backing vocals proved especially effective).
Some of the stronger musical and performative moments came midway though the show, when Oberst set aside his guitar and took to the keyboards for a tour through his moodier early work. “Lover I Don’t Have to Love” from 2002’s Bright Eyes release “LIFTED or the Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground” was a special standout.
That said, Oberst’s newer material — including multiple songs from “Upside Down Mountain,” released in May via Nonesuch Records — and stage demeanor show there is more to this artist than suggested by his persistent, if misleading, mopey image. Because, for all the melancholy at play in the melodies, Oberst and Co. actually know how to host one hell of a carefree evening.
CONOR OBERST, DAWES: THE LOCAL SPINS PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Anna Sink
(Click on photo to enlarge gallery)
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music
Great review. Sorry I missed the show; two great acts!
Totally agree with you John, Dawes is not just an opening act – they are greatly in demand on the summer tour circuit. Many fans that I talked with at the show were there to see Dawes. I thought Oberst, backed by Dawes was a perfect combination.
The front section was young and enthusiastic, but more than anything … courteous and respectful of the music experience. My wife and I (60somethings) were midway in the mix when a group of revelers asked “you wanna get up front for some pics?” Let’s go!
Outstanding show. I went with my 20 year old son who turned me onto Conor’s music about three years ago. I have been a fan ever since. Amazing song writing and an exceptional performance. I will be certain to catch Conor, and whatever incarnation of a group he performs with. His previous solo album from 2008 is all great songs, be sure to check that out if you haven’t already.