Jeremiah Garcia
Better Late Than Never: Conor Oberst at The Greek and Apogee Studio
Oct 11, 2014
Photography by Jeremiah Garcia
Conor Oberst
Over the years, I’ve been to countless Conor Oberst shows. I’ve been late twice. Both times were the result of epic poor planning. Both times involved me charging up the side of a hill. Both times, I walked in on the same song.
This past Sunday at the Greek Theater was the second instance. Folks, there should be photos from that show gracing our lovely website. Alas. (Photo Credit: Jeremiah Garcia)
Oberst’s latest release, Upside Down Mountain (Nonesuch Records), had him on the road again, with a lone Los Angeles date opening for John Prine. I can vouch for four out of seventeen songs from Conor’s set and all of John Prine’s. With the exception of a drunk fan pausing in the walkway to sardonically yell out the final two words of “Common Knowledge” two seconds too early (“You ain’t! We get it!”), Conor and company had the audience neatly tied up.
I walked in as the band cued up “Old Soul Song,” and memories of my late arrival in the rain at the Santa Barbara Bowl flashed in my mind. John Prine talking about the history behind “Fish And Whistle” and just generally making beautiful music mostly redeemed the night, but there’s nothing like planning your weekend around a show and missing half of it on your own errors to put a damper on the mood.
Thank goodness for KCRW. Most artists of note in town or passing through end up in the local independent station’s clutches. Their famed but intensely intimate Apogee Sessions in Santa Monica are equal parts small club show and recording session, and that’s where Conor landed this past Wednesday.
I sat behind Conor’s long-time live sound guy (I’ve seen that face since 2004) and producer/engineer Bob Clearmountain in the studio, which looks directly out to the stage. Possibly the best seats in the house for an eleven-song set—twelve, if you count the Bette Midler song Conor sang to DJ Anne Litt just before a short interview together (“That’s the song I sing whenever someone hands me a wireless mic. It’s the first thing I have to do”).
He’s always been fairly funny when bantering, but it’s hard to miss Conor’s new comfortable swagger on stage. His ease during the interview and playful rapport with his backing band may not convey the serious, sentimental tone of his early performances (which I loved), but in its place is a rousing and enjoyable live show.
Notable moments included a botched “Lua” start that resulted in a second beautiful trumpet solo from Nathaniel Walcott, a soulful cover of John Prine’s “Pretty Good,” and the touring version of “Another Travelin Song” re-worked as pure rock and roll.
The session will be broadcast and streamed on KCRW on Wednesday, October 29.
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October 11th 2014
8:03am
What’s the Bette Midler song he sings?
October 12th 2014
8:09pm
Hi Don—Pretty sure it was “The Rose,” which I suppose is not exactly a Bette Midler song. Just the first few lines.
November 2nd 2014
12:51am
I could find a better way to say it now
October 27th 2018
6:18am
nice
Amal for Married Soon with our love