photos by Chris La Putt

"[Jenny Lewis's] hour long set (as the opening act for their good friends, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band) featured Lewis classics such as "Acid Tongue", "The Next Messiah" and Rilo Kiley's "Silver Lining" plus one or two new songs. And of course, they pulled Conor Oberst out to join them on one song, at which point he and Lewis pressed their faces together to share the microphone center stage." [Cassie]

"It was nice being able to just lay down and sun-nap for a little while listening to live music." [Spatula Queen]

"The concert was fabulous. The weather was perfect (clear sky, breezy), and there was a great energy in the park. There were tooons of people there.." [my so-called life]

"conor oberst was great. much better than i thought he would be." [Anonymous | July 4, 2009 10:36 PM]

"Kicked it on a blanket in a park listening to those two for hours. Pretty much one of the best afternoons I had ever had." [Typoscura]

Continue reading "Jenny Lewis & Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band @ Battery Park in NYC (July 4th) - pics & setlists"

"STREET SCENE, one of the nation's longest running music festivals, will celebrate its 25th anniversary with two full days of music Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 29. The Black Eyed Peas, M.I.A., Thievery Corporation, Modest Mouse, The Dead Weather and Cake are among the more than 35 acts that will bring the streets of downtown San Diego's East Village neighborhood alive with music and entertainment from 4:00 PM to midnight daily. The venue site will include Tailgate Park (adjacent to Petco Park) in the heart of East Village, incorporating 14th Street as the main thoroughfare and bordered by Imperial Avenue to J Street."

Continue reading "San Diego's Street Scene Festival announces 2009 lineup"

photos by Darren Kim

"Coachella exists in two time zones: the event itself and its digital afterlife. The second zone, on cameras and blogs and Twitter and video-sharing sites, comes a heartbeat after the first, like a rockabilly slap-back echo. In its 10th year now, Coachella has been the music festival for the most technologically advanced teenagers-to-young-professionals, sniffing around the alternative mainstream. Even when the music doesn't present an argument they haven't heard before, they're controlling their own media representation of it; the act of listening is almost immediately contextualized into their own lives." [NY Times]

Continue reading "Coachella 2009 - Day 1 in Pictures "

Jenny Lewis (on a bill w/ Conor) in Austin (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

As suspected, this year's free 'River to River Festival' concert at Battery Park in NYC on July 4th will be headlined by Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band. Jenny Lewis, who also plays a smaller indoor show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on June 9th, will be opening the NYC show. "This year this event is not ticketed, but space is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis."

Last year's show was Sonic Youth and The Feelies. The year before that was New Pornographers and Midlake. Before that was Belle & Sebastian. Before that was Stephen Malkmus and Yo La Tengo...

All Conor Oberst dates HERE. All Jenny Lewis dates HERE.

DOWNLOAD: Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band - Nikorette (MP3)

Conor Oberst @ Terminal 5 (more by Eric M. Townsend)

Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band are set to release "One of My Kind" on April 15th, a documentary that will give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the band's journey over the past year and a half. Made by the band's guitar-tech Phil Schaffart and presented by causecast.org, "One of My Kind" traces the group's ever-growing bond as friends and collaborators. Footage from Tepoztlan, Mexico, where they recorded their first album, Conor Oberst, their worldwide tour in 2008, and the making of Outer South in El Paso, TX takes viewers on a 60-minute musical journey around the world.

The film will be available as a free stream or HD download exclusively on Causecast.org, IFC.com, conoroberst.com, mergerecords.com, and wichita-recordings.com.

Unlike any film release before, Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band are donating the documentary, "One Of My Kind" for FREE, in the hope that viewers will make a donation to one of the many nonprofits or causes on Causecast.

Oberst's new record Outer South will be releaesd May 5th, but is streaming now (and available for preorder) at Merge Records. "Nikorette," above, is also from the disc.

Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band have dates scheduled across the country. Stops include April 17th at Coachella and XX Merge, the label's 20th anniversary fest which runs from July 22nd-26th (Merge isn't announcing the nightly lineups, so Oberst could be playing any of those days).

There are no NYC dates scheduled, but they are playing CT on July 3rd and nowhere on July 4th... Oberst was also featured on the Dark Was the Night comp, which is having a charity show at Radio City on Sunday, May 3rd. That's a lineup he seems much less likely to be added to at this point though.

All tour dates, the doc trailer, and Outer South art and track list below...

Continue reading "Conor Oberst - new Merge album (MP3, stream, pre-order), documentary (trailer), 2009 Tour Dates (July 4th???) "

DOWNLOAD: Guv'ner - Bay's Way Cruel (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Guv'ner - Help Me (MP3)

In celebration of our 20th anniversary, Merge bands of the past and present will converge for 5 days of live music, July 22-26th in the heat of the sunny North Carolina summer. We are calling these 5 days of live music and mayhem, XX Merge.

XX Merge Wednesday, July 22nd - Sunday, July 26th
4 nights at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC
1 night at Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill, NC on UNC Campus Details of additional music & bedlam yet to come!

Featuring over 25 of your favorite Merge artists including...Superchunk, Spoon, Conor Oberst, Spent, M. Ward, The Rosebuds, Destroyer, Guv'ner, Polvo, Pipe & The Broken West. Many more bands both expected and unexpected still to-be-announced!

5-Day Passes are $150 and will get you in to all XX Merge festivities. Passes will go on sale on Wednesday, April 8th at 10 AM EST via catscradle.com and mergerecords.com. 5-day passes are nontransferable. A limited number of tickets for individual Cradle shows and the Memorial Hall show will be made available at a later date.

The Rosebuds are now in the midst of their April tour that brings them back to NYC for two shows soon.

M Ward is also playing Coachella and Central Park Summerstage this year. All dates below.

Check out the video for Spent's "Umbrella Wars", below...

Continue reading "XX Merge - ticket info & initial festival lineup announced (Guv'ner, Spent, Pipe, Spoon, Conor & M Ward included)"

Headliners Paul McCartney, The Killers and The Cure are among the 130-plus acts set for the tenth COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL (APRIL 17, 18 AND 19) at the beautiful Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA, the same grounds where the COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL debuted in 1999. Other artists confirmed for America's most critically acclaimed music festival include Morrissey, Amy Winehouse, Franz Ferdinand, My Bloody Valentine, Leonard Cohen, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Thievery Corporation, Yeah Yeah Yeahs (the complete line-up is listed below).

This marks the first ever U.S. festival appearance for McCartney who is currently supporting his latest release ELECTRIC ARGUMENTS.

"I have heard that Coachella is one of the greatest festivals in the world. I'm really excited to get out there and rock!" McCartney says.

Throbbing Gristle and the rest of the full (real) line-up (as of 1/30) is below:

Continue reading "Coachella 2009 - OFFICIAL lineup announced (My Bloody Valentine, Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney, Morrissey, The Cure, Antony, Amy Winehouse...) - tix on sale"

"What a fitting day to announce the complete list of artists involved with our upcoming album DARK WAS THE NIGHT - the February 17th 4AD release that will benefit the Red Hot Organization. It's World AIDS Day, and in honor of that, we bring you the exciting news."

Continue reading "Dark Was the Night - full 4AD comp artist list, cover art, etc"

photos by Eric M. Townsend

DOWNLOAD: Conor Oberst - Danny Callahan (MP3)

Conor & Ben

Ben Kweller opened for Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band at their two shows at Terminal 5 in NYC over the weekend. Ben also returned to the stage during Conor's set to join them for a cover of Paul Simon's "Kodachrome".

On Monday Conor and band played Washington DC. That entire show is streaming at NPR. Last night Conor played Conan O'Brien (video anyone?). Back in August, Conor played an in-store at Other Music in NYC. You can watch the video of that at OM's site. More Terminal 5 pictures (night 2), and a setlist (from night 1), below...

Continue reading "Conor Oberst & Ben Kweller @ Terminal 5, NYC - pics/setlist"

Photos by Leia Jospe

Ben Kweller is opening both of the Conor Oberst shows at Terminal 5 in NYC this weekend. Ben's last NYC was Friday October 17th at Bowery Ballroom. A few more pictures from that show and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Ben Kweller - 2 shows this weekend, Bowery Ballroom pics"

Kaki King @ SXSW 2008 (more by Ryan Muir)

The Hold Steady and Drive by Truckers play their second of two shows together at Terminal 5 in NYC tonight (11/7), and two more big indie rock pairings are rolling into town to play their own doubleheaders this weekend. Deerhunter, Times New Viking play Music Hall of Williamsburg (with Knyfe Hyts) and Bowery Ballroom (with Vivian Girls) on Friday and Saturday. The Mountain Goats and Kaki King are at Music Hall of Williamsburg and Webster Hall on Satuday and Sunday.

Also this weekend: Conor Oberst at Terminal 5 (Saturday and Sunday), and the show I'm presenting, Deer Tick at Southpaw on Saturday. I have one pair of Deer Tick tickets to giveaway. If you want them...

Continue reading "Mountain Goats, Kaki King, Deerhunter & Times New Viking"

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

M. Ward took the stage first to start off Conor Oberst's aftershow at La Zona Rosa around 10 p.m Sunday, without the high-powered band that accompanied him during his Friday set at the festival. Ward is just as good solo as he is with his band, however, as the big sound of his finger-picking style compensates for the lack of umph. He played a few repeats from his Friday set, including, "Sad, Sad Song" and "Chinese Translation," before bringing out Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, who appeared at the festival on Sunday. Rawlings and Ward traded licks and Welch sang backup on Ward's "Fuel For Fire," a mellow cover of "It Hurts Me Too" and Ward's "One Life Away" to finish the set.

Lewis came out second. Her performance on Friday in the WaMu tent was good, but inside La Zona Rosa the show was bigger and better. [Austin 360]

Continue reading "Conor Oberst & Jenny Lewis @ La Zona Rosa, Austin - pics"

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band played the Austin City Limits festival over the weekend and they're currently making their way east towards NYC where they'll play two shows at Terminal 5 in November. Tickets are still on sale. More ACL pictures, the setlist and the most updated tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Conor Oberst & the MVB - ACL pics, setlist, more tour dates"

photos by Chris Graham

DOWNLOAD: Portastatic - Some Small History (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Julian Koster - Jingle Bells (MP3)

Superchunk @ Bumbershoot - Sept 1, 2008

Saturday 10/25/2008
Merge Records CMJ Showcase @ Mercury Lounge, NYC w/
* The Music Tapes
* Wye Oak
* Portastatic
* The Broken West
* The Rosebuds
* Oakley Hall

The Music Tapes (Julian Koster)'s new album is out on Merge this week. The Singing Saw At Christmastime (from whence the above Chrismas MP3 came) is out October 7th. He/they'll also be touring before CMJ as part of Elephant 6's Holiday Surprise Tour. One day Elephant 6, the next Merge - lots of sleeping around, kind of like...

...Conor Oberst whose new self-titled album is out now on Merge (and not on Saddle Creek or Team Love- two labels he founded). Conor's tour dates are HERE.

Wye Oak, another band that recently came out with an album on Merge (and is playing the showcase) are on tour as we speak. They're next Brooklyn show happens before September is over.

The Rosebuds will be playing at least one more show during CMJ, probably with the Ladybug Transistor who aren't on the Merge showcase, but could be. The Rosebuds' new album Life Like is out October 7th and some of the new songs are streaming at MySpace.

The Broken West, in addition to October 25th, are also playing Mercury Lounge on September 21st. That earlier show has them opening for Bobby Bare Jr. Tickets are on sale. Their new album Now or Heaven is out this week. All tour dates below.

The Broken West will also bid a fond farewell to drummer, Rob McCorkindale. A new baby and other family commitments have made Rob's departure necessary, but everyone will miss him! Sean McDonald will take over the skins and join Dan, Brian, Ross and Jeff on the road this fall.

Though not playing the CMJ show, Lambchop shares that MErge affiliation. Kurt Wagner (Mr Lambchop) plays Joe's Pub on October 8th. OH (Ohio) is out October 10th.

You can now subsribe to SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years.

And last but not least you'll notice that one of Mac (Mr. Merge himself)'s bands is on this Mercury Lounge CMJ bill too. Portastatic has a 2-CD compilation of singles (covers included) coming out this week. The entire "Some Small History" tracklist is below.... right under the rest of the pictures (and a rough setlist) from Superchunk's set at the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle on Labor Day.....

Continue reading "Merge's CMJ Showcase, Broken West tour dates, new Portastatic, Superchunk Bumbershoot pics & more"

photo by Blank Slate Photography

Conor Oberst @ Other Music, NYC - August 12, 2008

"With these two literate albums out this year and a knockout performance at the recent C.M.J. festival in New York, he has critics buzzing that he might be the next Bob Dylan. But for the kids who make up the audience tonight, Dylan is grandpa. The club smells like a high-school gym, of teenagers in heat. The kids are hip in the studied way of those who take advanced-placement English classes. Oberst thanks everyone for showing up. He shuffles his feet, as if overcome by a fit of modesty. He chugs from a bottle of wine." [The NY Times, 2002]

Continue reading "Conor Oberst played Other Music & Bowery Ballroom "

could be Conor Oberst in a cop costume @ APW (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Despite what I wrote, Girl Talk (Terminal 5) tickets are in fact on sale (thx Ashleigh).

And despite being previously sold out, tickets are back on sale for Tuesday's Conor Oberst show at Bowery Ballroom. (thx all)

And like Girl Talk, Conor Oberst is playing Terminal 5 too, and those tickets are still on sale too.

Conor Oberst is also playing Other Music Tuesday afternoon.

And speaking of Saddle Creek (and above), tickets are still on sale for the show The Faint are playing soon at Terminal 5.

new Conor video..

Continue reading "Conor Oberst - 'Souled Out' (new video)"

Cavalera Conspiracy @ Irving Plaza (more by Lori Baily)

today in NYC
* FREE STUFF
* Ed Harcourt @ Rehab
* Black Kids @ Virgin store
* Bound Stems @ Union Hall
* Takka Takka & Peasant @ Pianos
* Jarvis Cocker is playing Terminal 5
* Naughty by Nature @ Queensbridge Park
* Joan of Arc & Ponytail @ Knitting Factory
* Laurie Anderson & Lou Reed at Rose Theater
* Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid @ World Financial Center

Dr. Dog is not playing Sound Fix tonight.

As promised, the new Conor Oberst album is streaming.

Dance to Weezer's 'Pork and Beans'. Win fame, glory and $500.

McCarren Pool body 'believed to be man in 50s'. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

DOWNLOAD: Conor Oberst - Danny Callahan (MP3)

Make that four upcoming NYC shows in support of the new self-titled ("Conor Oberst") album that will be streaming some time today at his website. In the meantime, grab the MP3 from it above. All tour dates below....

Continue reading "Conor Oberst - new MP3, album stream, in-stores, tour dates"

Conor Oberst Wall (via)

Conor Oberst and his new band have a lot of shows coming up including one at Bowery Ballroom in August. Now they have two more. November 8th & 9th at Terminal 5. On sale Saturday at noon.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the show Conor is playing at Bowery Ballroom.

As you know, Steve Earle is playing a bunch of shows at Judson Church. Tickets are now on sale (@ noon) for those.

Tickets are on sale for Robert Pollard's upcoming NYC show.

Tokyo Police Club are playing Webster Hall on October 18th. You can get tickets for that.

Black August Hip Hop Project features "EPMD, Bilal, Smif N Wessun, Black Moon, Mahsinah, Shadia Mansour, Special Guest Immortal Technique, DJ OP, DJ Marley Marl, DJ Evil Dee, and DJ K-Salaam" at Nokia Theatre on August 31st. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are on sale for the show Gang Gang Dance is playing at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are still available for the show Gogol Bordello is playing at McCarren Pool tonight (June 20, 2008). Tickets are also still on sale for the show Daniel Johnston is playing in the same neighborhood.

No tickets necessary for the multitude of free events happening in NYC today and this weekend.

Songs from his new record are streaming at his new website. Tour dates below.....

Continue reading "Conor Oberst - (lots of) 2008 Tour Dates & new songs "

Connor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band (aka Bright Eyes sort of basically I think) (new album out soon on Merge) are playing Bowery Ballroom on August 12th. $25 tickets will sell out immediately on June 20th at noon, and as anonymous pointed out, The Evangelicals are opening.

He & Him

Info on Conor's latest venture below. No NYC date yet....

Continue reading "Conor Oberst releasing solo album on Merge, touring "

sort of....

"Born of social ineptitude and an ageless belief in trick-or-treatery, EL MADMO offers escape, justice, karmic postulation, and that feeling you get when you know something that no one else does. Starting out as a garage band trapped in the basements of various hockey arenas, theirs is a powerfully raw sound that could only be inspired by the smell of Zamboni fuel and sweaty skates.

The band consists of guitarist/singer, Maddie, bassist/singer, El, and majestically afroed drummer, Mo. Their self-titled debut album is a solid piece of body rocking ear-munition revealing a musical labyrinth that challenges you to, "Choose your own adventure." From the Aeolian darkness of "Vampire Guy", to the sassy cha-cha of "Fantasy Guy", to a song that simply asks, "What good is a smile when your head's in a vise?", EL MADMO serves up a hot and tasty meal that'll fill you up and also "Rock Yer Balls Off."

EL MADMO's Debut record will be released on 5/20."

Continue reading "Norah Jones signs to Conor Oberst's label Team Love"