Math rock

Me

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Conor Oberst (and those other guys)

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the Greek theater

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free tickets

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Jubilation!

I love free tickets. They make up for the ones I had to buy. I like to think that my presence at their show is a musician's reason for living. Literally. Without my ticket purchase, these artists wouldn't be able to buy toilet paper. And there is no one on earth that will deny the value of toilet paper.

I know I called the Monsters of Folk album a few dirty names in a previous post but do recall two things: 1) this is a free ticket and 2) this is my cult figure love. Please refer to the above equation for further clarification. 

So the concert calender for the following weeks read as so:
10/18 Monsters of Folk at the Greek
10/21 Choir of Young  Believers at Spaceland
10/22 Jason Lytle at the Echoplex
10/28 Le Loup at the Echo
10/29 Alela Diane at the Echo
10/30 Dead Man's Bones at the Echo
11/7 Or, the Whale at Echo Curio

If I were in the country and not gallivanting around in Japan, I would be at the following shows:
11/14 Pinback at the El Rey
11/17 Loch Lomond at the Bootleg Theater in downtown
11/21 Friendly Fires with the xx at the Henry Fonda Music Box

But sadly (not really), I will be in Tokyo and expecting it to be like Times Square NY on acid.

Monsters of Folk

Monsters of Folk.

Monsters. Of. Folk.

Let's try that one more time: Monsters of Folk. Okay, I still don't believe the so-called supergroup named themselves as such. Sure, it's a testimony to their status in the indie folk community but it also seems like the most expensive inside joke. MOF comprises of Conor Oberst, M. Ward (also in She&Him), Mike Mogis (of Bright Eyes), and Jim James (of My Morning Jacket.) Their back story finds the four musician playing on each other's set five years ago that a collaboration was eminent.

Here we are in 2009 and from the songs released so far, it sounds like somebody put together a Bright Eyes/M. Ward/My Morning Jacket mesh. There doesn't seem to be a cohesive feeling on the tracks leaked so far, hence my disappointment. Individually, each track has it merits as well as faults. "Dear God" rolls over this lush drum loop. "Between The Sandman, The Brakeman, And Me" carries a jaunty guitar line under smile-worthy harmonies. "Temazcal" must have been left off the track list for Outer South while the chorus in "Magic Marker" shows their songwriting as their weakest. "Say Please" trails as a continuation of "Handle with Care" from Jenny Lewis' debut album. Basically, we've got the Travelling Wilburys stretched out on fifteen tracks.

The album as a whole wobbles on unsure feet of where to walk: Do we go with a Oberst song or a James song? Maybe we'll throw Ward's vocal over Oberst's lyrics? Monsters of Folk teeters and totters on potential only to topple underneath old ideas and familiar territory. Worst yet, these are four very talented men and three come with weighted musical histories. I'm not surprised by my disappointment in a sense. Their collaboration doesn't work as we're rehashing An Evening With Jim James, M. Ward, and Bright Eyes. People can shit bricks over this album but I'm going to wipe my ass and walk away. Let me know when each respective band releases their next album as these tracks might as well be b-sides to old records.

If you must, listen at their myspace.

Omaha's prodigal son

Warning: I have an unhealthy obsession with Conor Oberst. I won't discuss the length of my fanatic adoration but be prepared for many entries related to him.

I also have the Conor Coachella Curse. Three years running that I've been to Coachella, I've missed his set each and every year due to circumstances beyond my control. I think it's God ongoing joke with me, except he's the only one laughing and I'm the punchline.

On his early stuff, there was the noted "Conor yelp" that greatly divided new listeners into returning listeners or abstainers. Outer South is his latest release, featuring songs from his band mates as well. Unfortunately, the album's dragged down by Taylor Hollingsworth, who should stick to looking cute while playing the guitar. He's a tremendous finger picker but his voice beguiles his appearance. Nik Freitas and Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley and the Elected's drummer) have noteworthy songs that deserve a listen. Nik Freitas, especially, is on my list of favorite new artists. And I never knew Boesel could be a songwriter.

On to the song with their wonderful Midwestern twang, it features Conor and Nik on vocals. So. Enjoy. And neat guitar solo at 2:59.

Nikorette - Conor Oberst and t...

P.S. Visit Nik Freitas or Conor at their websites or iTunes.