Bright Eyes at Astoria

Date: 14th March 2005
Venue: Astoria, London
Time: Doors open at 7:30pm
Price: 14 pounds
Band: Bright Eyes

First of all, i'd like to point out that at the time, i wasn't ready for gig reviewing. I came late, i didn't know who opened for them but it was a band with a girl singing with a piano and i was too far away (i've shitty pictures as proof) so i'm sorry for all that.

The opening band was okay. Pretty colorful music. They've got the crowd going pretty well. The singer had a pretty voice. I came just in time to hear them belt out their last two songs which were both pretty okay.

Next was Bright Eyes. Seriously, it was great. The kids were not even singing along, they were just looking up at Conor Oberst singing his heart out and sipping his beer at probably every end of all the songs. It was quiet so his voice and the music was vibrant and it was fucking amazing. It was fun to watch the other band members play their instruments, there was even a guy (sitting down next to Conor) who was playing some instrument that i didn't even what it's called.



What really blew me away was when all the other band members went inside and left Conor alone with his acoustic guitar strapped over his shoulder playing the song Lua. It was absolutely beautiful, the song, the lyrics, so sad/lovely. I swear that when he was singing Lua, everybody was dead silent. The last song they performed, i think it was When The President Talks To God was done with the supporting act, it was cool to see all these people on stage playing their instruments randomly but still made it sound so good. And the lyrics bite, a reflection to Conor's political beliefs.



I had a good time (despite the fact that this guy gave me his space saying "here, i know how it feels like being short". uh, thanks. good view though so we were cool) and i still think going all the way from Cardiff to London just to watch Bright Eyes was worth it.