Review: Bright Eyes at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles

 

☆ BY Fiona Pestana ☆

 
 

COMBINING THE ENERGY AND POWER OF AN ORCHESTRA — with the vulnerability of emo-folk lyrics, Bright Eyes balanced the theatrics and intimacy in their recent live show at The Greek Theatre in LA.

This tour, postponed for COVID and centering their latest album, Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was, has made headlines due to unexpected behavior from lead singer Conor Oberst. If I hadn’t read the news — or if Oberst hadn’t joked mid-show about his wrist brace, which he wore after an injury he sustained from their Detroit date — I would have no idea the tour had previously been so tumultuous.

Oberst led his traditional rock band and its accompanying orchestra with a confident authority. Although he danced around the stage like a grown-up band kid, swaying his arms and pacing around with sweaty bangs in his face, Oberst’s raw voice, terribly sad lyrics, shredding guitar, and tender piano moments commanded the crowd’s attention. 

His banter between songs addressed the melancholy nature of the band’s music. “If the band’s not crying enough, they get sent home,” Oberst said, joking that they had crying tests (akin to COVID tests) on their tour bus. Fans joined in on the banter, screaming “I love you, Conor!” “You’re perfect!” “Take your pants off!” but earning no response from the frontman.

Highlights included “Old Soul Song (for the New World Order),” which featured some gravely, punk vocal elements from Oberst, “Persona Non Grata,” which swelled through the theater with the force of the orchestra, and, of course, “First Day of My Life,” their hit from their most recognizable album, I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning.

Opener Cate Le Bon began the night with a similarly intimate performance but on a much smaller scale. The band, all donning winged eyeliner, congregated in a semicircle as if they settled into a jam session, playing off each other. Le Bon controlled her voice beautifully, feeling like a guide leading me through a meditation (but, I suppose, if the meditation involved dancing and synths).

Leaving The Greek with amongst a crowd of all-black-wardrobe, tattooed millennials, I felt as though I satisfied my inner angsty middle schooler spending the beautiful summer night with Bright Eyes.

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