Photos: Bright Eyes at the Fillmore, Denver

I feel like this show was announced about a year before it took place. I know that isn’t true, but I was head over heels for The People’s Key back in February and the chasm of time between then and June seemed endless. Then suddenly it was June. Then the show was pushed back (due to a family emergency) and my world was thrown for a bit of a loop. However, I found myself at the Fillmore Auditorium for the last show Bright Eyes will play in Denver.

I feel like Bright Eyes are notorious; that everyone is familiar with their work and live show. I suppose that also isn’t true, but they’ve been an essential part of my life for some time now. Those who love Conor Oberst love Conor Oberst. And then there are those who hate Conor Oberst, those I don’t understand. As expected, what stood out for me on Sunday night was indeed Conor Oberst, specifically the positive energy absolutely radiating from him. Conor was all performance and passion and smiles. Maybe I’ve only seen him on off shows before, but he has been much more withdrawn in my past experience. Don’t get me wrong, it has always been brilliant, but this show was something else.

Both new and old songs shook my soul from “Bowl of Oranges” to “Haile Selassie”. “Shell Games” was particularly amazing live. Even though it really hadn’t been an eternity since the release of The People’s Key, it was fun revisiting these tracks with the new eyes and ears that the live experience brings. Whether this is the end of Bright Eyes or not, I’ll still always have room for them in my heart.

Bright Eyes – Shell Games