Stepping into the mind of musician Conor Oberst is like entering a whirlwind of beautiful metaphors with no limits. Because this is physically impossible fans must instead settle for a concert that puts Oberst’s maddening artistic ability on display. Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band gave an addicting performance Oct. 21 at the Henry Fonda Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. The show opened with performances by “The Like” and “All Smiles.”
Although Oberst and the band kept audiences waiting until 10:30 p.m. before they took the stage it was as they say worth the wait. Also the theater features a “rooftop speakeasy” that is complete with chic cabana seating and intimate couches for those waiting for the headliner. Concertgoers can look out over Hollywood while watching the opening acts on a large monitor mounted on the building’s wall. Oberst and the band began their set with songs from their 2008 album such as the rootsy “Sausalito” and the country-blues sounding “Cape Canaveral.” Oberst’s newly-assembled band is comprised of guitarist Taylor Hollingsworth guitarist Nik Freitas bassist Macey Taylor keyboardist and trumpet player Nate Walcott drummer Jason Boesel along with Oberst himself as lead vocals and guitar. The band carried on its set with other favorites from the album like “Eagle On A Pole” and the upbeat anthem-like “NYC – Gone Gone which really got the intimate crowd moving. The Henry Fonda Theater has an upstairs balcony that can accommodate 258-seated guests, however the downstairs stage area is like one huge mosh pit where Oberst fans can, and did, fight their way to the front. Oberst and the band left the stage around 11 p.m., worrying fans that the show was already at its encore. However, Oberst reassured the crowd he just needed to take a bathroom break.” The bathroom break must have re-energized Oberst because his performances seemed to get more and more tantalizing as the night went on. He gave a spellbinding performance of “Milk Thistle dedicating it to his brother who he joked is the reason [he has] so many problems.” It’s been speculated through his lyrical content and live performances that Oberst is a recreational drug user. Oberst and the band performed songs not found on the 2008 album. They also did a jaw-dropping cover of Bob Dylan’s “Corrina Corrina” – all the while taking gulps of beer and noticeably becoming more playful with each other and their instruments. The band finished its set with a rambunctious fantastic performance of “I Don’t Want To Die (In The Hospital).” Jumping on the speakers distorting his tone and varying his pitch he captivated the audience with lyrics like “Can you get this tube out of my arm / Morphine in my blood like a slow sad song / I don’t want to die in the hospital / you gotta take me back outside.” Cohesively satisfying and beautifully performed Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band’s performance left concertgoers anxiously awaiting its next visit to Los Angeles.