Tampa Calling

Conor Oberst, the young man who began his career writing about breaking up with actress girlfriends and late-night boozing via his alias Bright Eyes, recently told Rolling Stone that he was ready to put that part of his life to rest.

It’s true indie citizens. After one more album, which Oberst plans to record early in 2010, Bright Eyes will be no more. But fear not! Conor plans on keeping himself busy with other projects, including his Mystic Valley Band and this new super group, Monsters of Folk (pictured), which also features M. Ward, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, and producer Mike Mogis. Read the rest of this entry »

A weekly bulletin on musical guests playing late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime.

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Monday, July 6: Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band (pictured)
Tuesday, July 7: Rob Thomas
Thursday, July 9: Levon Helm
Friday, June 10: Maxwell

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, NBC
Monday, July 6: Death Cab for Cutie
Tuesday, July 7: Andrew Bird
Thursday, July 9: Playing For Change
Friday, June 10: Ray LaMontagne Read the rest of this entry »

A weekly bulletin on musical guests playing the five-nights-a-week late night talk shows (and SNL); set your TIVOs or DVRs.

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Tuesday, March 17: Bell X1
Wednesday, March 18: Modest Mouse (pictured, photo by Wendy Lynch
Thursday, March 19: Kara DioGuardi (rerun, Jan. 12)
Friday, March 20: David Sanborn with Sam Moore (Feb. 19)

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC
Monday, March 16: Randy Rogers Band
Tuesday, March 17: Soundtrack of Our Lives
Wednesday, March 18: Naturally 7
Thursday, March 19: Kelly Clarkson
Friday, March 20: Chris Cornell

Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, CBS
Monday, March 16: The Upper Crust
Tuesday, March 17: Dropkick Murphys
Friday, March 20: Conor Oberst (rerun Aug. 7, 2008) Read the rest of this entry »

Editor’s note: This just in from our live music hound by B.Treotch.

Despite a nip in the air and, well, it being a Wednesday night and all, fans filled Jannus Landing to catch the Bright Eyes frontman’s latest musical offering: Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band.

The six piece ensemble, three guitars strong, produced an eclectic set despite sound issues that left the vocal mixes a bit muddy. Somewhat surprising was the band’s use of each member’s vocals — sharing lead duties on every fourth song or so.

The guys are unquestionably solid players who held their own with vocals, but the problem was that Conor Oberst is a tour de force and without his vulnerable growl it felt as if someone jut changed the channel.

Read the rest of this entry »