Conor Oberst
Market Showbox, Seattle, WA
09.30.14
Famed songwriter and musician Conor Oberst made a pit stop at the Market Showbox on Tuesday, in one of only a handful of dates which will complete the second leg of his coast to coast tour. Donning camo rain gear and Sperry’s, Oberst looked more like a terrible fisherman than a brilliant guitarist. But, since Seattle isn’t particularly known for possessing a high sense of fashion, I won’t take this one too far. He knows when to play the right card.
Oberst was accompanied by a six-piece tour band, which was fortunate because someone had to carry the load after he broke a string on the first song, “Hundreds of Ways.” Chuckling and having fixed his guitar, he explained that the second song, “Zigzagging Toward the Light,” was about finding his way to Cali, remarking that his bandmates were smart because they were already there. As if originating from the Midwest wasn’t already disarming enough, Oberst sounded amazing and his voice was flawless. At times he seemed overtaken by his process, lost in some other musical dimension. His energy was unwavering, and his acoustic guitar got more touches than a Market salmon. Oberst played “Ladder Song” solo, and chose to upgrade the flashiness of his camo slicker to a comfy, agreeable flannel. For insurance purposes, we’ll bill this as a pre-existing condition.
Jonathan Wilson opened the evening. Currently running Fivestar Studios in LA and furthering his own projects, Wilson also helped produce and contribute to Oberst’s latest album, Upside Down Mountain. Though he calls LA home, Wilson hails from North Carolina, and holds a long list of notables. Sold-out U2 world tours aside, he played a great set this evening and continued on through the night as Oberst’s guitarist. This guy is definitely worth giving a listen.
Conor Oberst Set List:
Hundreds of Ways
Zigzagging
Sausalito
We Are Nowhere and It’s Now
Moab
Bowl of Oranges
Ladder Song
If the Brakeman Turns My Way
Enola Gay
Hit the Switch
Artifact #1
Danny Callahan
Cape Canaveral
Soul Singer
Desert Island Questionnaire
Old Soul Song
The Calendar Hung Itself…
Common Knowledge
Encore:
Pretty Good
Another Travelin’ Song
Roosevelt Room
Review by T. Monte
Photos by Sunny Martini
Conor Oberst
Jonathan Wilson
