Conor Oberst

Conor Oberst is an American singer-songwriter born February 15, 1980 in Omaha, Nebraska. He began his recording career in 1993, aged 13, and, since graduating from Omaha Creighton Prep, has produced an enormous amount of material; Rolling Stone has referred to him as "rock's boy genius." His current project is Bright Eyes, and the now-defunct Desaparecidos (a punk-oriented side project) is his only non Bright Eyes project still in print.

At fourteen years of age, Oberst was singer and guitarist of Commander Venus, an indie rock band, in 1994. The former members of Commander Venus, Tim Kasher of Cursive and The Good Life, Robb Nansel (who now runs Saddle Creek) and Todd Fink of The Faint, would later go on to feature in many Saddle Creek recording groups.

Oberst was a guitarist and singer for the band Desaparecidos. The music and lyrics of Desaparecidos differ greatly from Bright Eyes, having more in common with punk rock than folk. The lyrics are generally social commentary on the state of affairs in America, compared to Bright Eyes' introspective lyrics.

Oberst is one of the founding members of the indie record label Saddle Creek Records, who host and have hosted bands including Cursive, Desaparecidos, The Faint, Rilo Kiley (who left to start their own label Brute/Beaute Records), Bright Eyes, Son Ambulance, Azure Ray, The Good Life, Sorry About Dresden, among others.

Oberst is currently involved in a boycott of Clear Channel Communications. He was featured on The Tonight Show in March 2005, sparking controversy with his performance of the incendiary "When the President Talks to God".

Oberst has recently started his own label, Team Love, which is currently hosting bands such as Tilly and the Wall and M. Ward.

Bright Eyes released new studio album Cassadaga on April 10, 2007 in the U.S. and April 9, 2007 in the UK, with an EP entitled Four Winds on March 6, 2007.

Oberst released the album Conor Oberst with the Mystic Valley Band, and is currently touring in preparation for a new album with them called Outer South.

From: Wikipedia