Bright Eyes

Conor Oberst : Chant/Guitare/Claviers/Basse Mike Mogis : Banjo/Mandolin/Pedal Steel/Guitare Nate Walcott : Orgue/Trumpet/Acordion
Bright Eyes , whose surname is drawn from the Planet of the Monkeys , is Conor Oberst's musical project, a songwriter from Nebraska who began his career at the age of 14 with Commander Venus with Tim Kasher (Cursive ). This first band split after the release of two albums, and its members decided to set up their own label: Saddle Creek Records ( Two Gallants , The Good Life , Maria Taylor ,...). After the completion of another project, Park Ave. , the label signs Oberst entirely devolved to its new project, Bright Eyes , also counting in its ranks Mike Mogis , who served at Lullaby For The Working Class and Fun Chiken . So there are two founding elements to which a multitude of players, not to say friends, join, including Andy LeMaster ( Now It's Overhead ) and of course Maria Taylor ( Azure Ray ), who thus contribute to each of Bright Eyes' new releases. The first two dates from 1998 with A Collection Of Songs Written And Recorded 1995-1997 first, followed by the group's first real effort, Letting Off The Happiness, which saw the participation of members of Neutral Milk Hotel and Of Montreal. The following year released an EP, Every Day And Every Night, followed in 2000 by the second LP of Omaha's combo: Fevers And Mirrors. Conor Oberst marks a break in the Bright Eyes adventure in order to get involved in this simply stunning new project that is Desaparecidos . Once this resentment and energy were released, he decided to return to the studio in '02 to give birth to Bright Eyes' third opus: Lifted Gold The Story Is In The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Ground. Then, three years later, after having released some EPs, Oberst resurfaced with a double album, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning first, but especially Digital Ash In A Digital Urn very oriented electronica. Finally, 2007 saw the release of the band's eighth, or rather sixth, real album, Cassadaga , which marks the official integration of Nate Walcott who has been helping them since 2003. Other guests include Ben Kweller (The Bens), Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Janet Weiss (ex-Sleater Kinney), Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley), John McEntire ( Tortoise), Maria Taylor and Rachael Yamagata. A new production, however, preceded by a compilation of rarity published in 2006 : Noise Floor (Rarities: 1998-2005).