Conor Oberst: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Conor Oberst's new album has fast become my favorite of the Bright Eyes singer's solo projects, so having him come to NPR and perform a few of these songs at the Tiny Desk was especially exciting. The new music on Upside Down Mountain contains the sort of personal songwriting that got me loving him in the first place. His backing band for this tour is the roots-rock group Dawes, which has a huge following in its own right.
At the Tiny Desk, Dawes brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith joined in on beautiful harmonies, guitar and some light percussion. It was an especially sweet day - a rare weekend Tiny Desk Concert that had friends and families present, including Oberst's wife (Corina Figueroa-Escamilla) and his father Matthew.
Oberst actually began making music on his dad's four-track cassette machine more than 20 years ago. Now 33, Oberst seems much happier, if his songs are any indication. You may even see that on his face as he performs these stripped-down and soulful songs on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. --BOB BOILEN
SET LIST
"Time Forgot"
"Double Life"
"Zigzagging Toward The Light"
"Artifact #1"
CREDITS
Producers: Bob Boilen, Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Olivia Merrion; Production Assistant: Alex Schelldorf; photo by Olivia Merrion/NPR

[@Rianaghosn]

Conor's voice is like coffee - acquired and addictive.

[@GathererThompson]

Counting Crows-esque :)

[@bloodSCARSandMCR]

Yes! I think if you hear a song by him when in a similar place as he was in emotionally you cant get enough. But trying to share his tunes w folks who dont know him is hard.

[@miker7795]

"Time Forgot" has so many great lyrics. I would think that any hack songwriter could've probably carved a 3 year career out of one of those lines.

[@bloodSCARSandMCR]

@@miker7795 absoloutely!!

[@tobyclarkthomson8443]

Great stuff to listen to during the pandemic

[@StabYrHeart]

i go through periods without Bright Eyes/Conor's solo projects but when i come back it's the only music i listen for weeks.

[@janelee4271]

Kath m

[@justinnemelka6740]

LITERALLY ME TOO. In one right now. My last one was the whole summer when Pokémon Go came out. 😌

[@Jacebeaner]

You mean short periods without depression before it comes crashing back?

[@dustinb1070]

Same.

[@davidr1122]

Elliott Smith, Bright Eyes, Mac Miler, & Less Than Jake are in a constant never ending rotation of music I binge to.

[@NoahMullinax]

The guy playing the shakers is the chillest dude I've ever seen

[@Hugyourmomm]

Noah Mullinax it’s definitely just the glasses. Lmfao. It even made snoopy cooler. And he was already pretty cool.

[@lancehopkinsmusic]

He’s the drummer for Dawes!

[@TheBella2u]

Seriously, he’s adorable.

[@TheBella2u]

Lance Hopkins ya, I saw Dawes with Jackson Browne. Jackson knows great music..

[@NeverButNothing]

I guess you’ve never seen the drummer for bill withers?

[@dirtbagdingbat6398]

his voice brings me back to being 16 in the winter time, printing BW film in the dark room and riding my bike to the local parks. Times full of genuine emotion and rooms full of weed smoke.

[@blackwindsignomancy8429]

I feel this so hard. God I miss when the world was still real

[@DangerousCandy]

Hahaha Jesus Christ ya something like that ❤

[@bradleylovej]

This is beautiful

[@thatssoironic]

You sound like a cool person

[@tobyclarkthomson8443]

Upside Down Mountain is terrific. The album is so underrated

[@n88neight33]

In my opinion, this is the best Tiny Desk appearance. Waiver I am not a Oberst or Bright Eyes fanatic. I do not even own an album. That first song is fantastic.

[@Rustsamurai1]

I just found this vid, and yes, I listened to the first song x12 today.

[@skinblanketed]

I really hope you both dig deeper into his catalog. Not everything hits for me but there are some extraordinary gems that have been legitimately life-enriching.

[@az-co4jb]

Mac Mill

[@neros12346]

I'm surprised how insanely good all these songs are. Conor has been making and releasing music constantly over the last 25 years, and yet I love almost all of the things he creates. Such a wonderful human.

[@jedwalsh4055]

this tiny desk concert has gotten me through a lot. thanks, conor oberst.

[@Seth-hc2bj]

He always says what I cant manage to, so eloquently. This skill leads to tears.

[@vivalanina]

The fact that he doesn't only make me cry during artifact no.1 but he makes himself cry when he's singing it makes it seem so real and raw. He completely broke me when he changed the lyrics from "the sound that's been keeps echoing" to "you're the sound that's been, you keep echoing" SO beautifully heartbreaking

[@kevinmichaelcallihansr5053]

He is singing from the heart. He'll be okay. Someone told me that same thing, too. It works with music.

[@TheoVoidTV]

That dude on the maraca's is KILLIN IT though!!!!

[@steelrain3686]

+Theo Void it's Griffin Goldsmith from Dawes.

[@AnonymousQwerty]

Nicolas A naw dude it's a guy named Howard Stern he has a radio show

[@JimmyGrackle]

GRIFFFFFFFF!

[@Cptidris]

He is healing himself with his music . Kudos Conor always inspiring us.

[@natashamorgan1698]

Healing us all haha

[@louieo.blevinsmusic4197]

Sharing his soul.

[@abbytee1]

I love that Conor collaborates will all the bands he goes on tour with

[@simone_asleep9953]

SETLIST 0:00 Time Forgot 5:20 Double Life 9:46 Zigzagging Toward The Light 13:56 Artifact #1

[@MikePouch]

I was like, "there's gotta be a hero in this comment section!" BOOM!

[@TheRoundaboutCrew]

I'm glad blonde Howard Stern is getting some maraca work. Enjoyed this set!

[@Tsumami__]

Lmfao noooooo 😄😆😂😆😂 I'm crying

[@kewlkid629]

lmao im dying from this

[@kewlkid629]

and im 99% sure none of these guys know that the orlando magic are a basketball team

[@bandawhat33]

kewlkid629 it's sad that anyone knows that.

[@johnshears5160]

kewlkid629 you immature hipsters know nothing! the "howard stern" is the drummer for Dawes and the back up guitarist is the lead for Dawes! BTW he's a basketball fan you naive little child! go back to middle school before you get caught truant

[@kati4191]

I just want him to be happy

[@1833semperfi]

P Haxke and

[@JoshtheEnigma]

Me too

[@jefflangenberg2411]

1833semperfi I want conor to have my baby

[@bhew7409]

I want my body to have corners ¬

[@vicinteriano]

Conor Oberst and happiness are 2 words that don't combine at all. XD

[@blobfishrescue]

Oh. Its just Me. Coming in for my weekly dose of live Artifact #1.

[@UnCleT215]

Mrs O there's no better version of that song anywhere . 100%

[@gregfolino906]

Soul singer in a session band.

[@ophiliafox4268]

oh my god i love how like 60% of the comments are about the guy in the back with the sunglasses and maraca

[@progressiveGal73]

ophilia fox right?!! They are cracking me up!!! I have to re-listen to the set because the comments are messing with my melancholy 🤨😄

[@martilack]

That’s an awesome profile pic or whatever love that record

[@uptheantie417]

I missed this guy. way too much.

[@SomethingAboutMars]

....strummin my pain with his fingers, singing my life with his words........

[@zzdoodzz]

Unmistakable voice of Conor Oberst, such a unique style. Definitely one of the true greats of this generation.

[@lucidinterval8012]

Conor has been my favorite artist since the early 2000's.

[@talktothewalls]

this is so good, it hurts. i've strayed from conor for a few years, but i'm back and an even bigger fan now! also love how that shaker dude takes his light percussion so seriously.

[@brigademember7363]

Playing those things as good as he did is pretty tough tbh

[@friendship6668]

I listened to him in the first half of the 00s. But now its really resonating again.

[@jarretttindle5101]

Love you Conor! You're THE GREATEST songwriter of our generation...possibly of all time! Thank you

[@bentolleson8582]

He writes such pretty songs

[@billkruegler1749]

I'm swimming in the coolaid. My ggosebumps have goosebumps! In my humble opinion Conor is one of our best singer songwriters. I love Steve Earle and many others, but Conor is surely one very crazy stupid off the charts special American artist.

[@MEbrickCo]

That music comes deep from the heart.

[@fiftythree30]

Tiny Desk really has shown me amazing songwriters and musicians I would never have found otherwise. This is my favorite format and when I strike gold like this one it makes my month. I get to dive into new amazing music now and have something new in my life. Thanks guys! This Collings and Gibson sound just great together. Tiny Desk is my favorite guitar museum.

[@andrewhuffman7129]

Conor and Taylor should do a ep together. You can tell their chemistry is great.

[@emilymclemore2774]

There are not enough words. Conor oberst is everything

[@jarmstrong026]

That shaky voice is so beautiful. Bright Eyes.

[@ChristCrucifiedforyou]

Here a little late, but doesn't matter. Timeless....glad to hear this now.

[@BryanHaywood]

I've loved his previous work but this is probably some of his strongest work yet.

[@AidenWylieIsSoWonderful]

A lot of his recent output has been substandard. I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning was his last consistently great record. This new one is right up there. He sometimes lets that annoying whiney woe-is-me self indulgence creep into his lyrics, but for the most part this is a much more mature record with his strongest melodies.

[@BryanHaywood]

Aiden Wylie wide awake is a wonderful album.

[@BryanHaywood]

***** yes?

[@levimcduffie]

Aiden Wylie Dude the people's key is a masterpiece and his first solo album is ridiculous as well... to each his own I guess though

[@MusicInMotion]

Artifact #1 is one of the best songs I've ever listened to. It's a poem. A masterpiece.

[@akobrien9142]

love the goldsmiths so much

[@benholland1331]

The best tiny desk performance ever, so many emotions from one second to the next , thank you Conor ❤️👏🙏

[@matthewaubertin9452]

Dawes should be his permanent backing-band. So solid.

[@MrPDTaylor]

Greatest songwriter ever.

[@justinfearior357]

Sometimes you think and realise this isn’t just consumable product there for me to sit back and listen to, a person created this. And it’s fucking amazing. And you think “could i do this?” And you know, no I couldn’t. All i can do is enjoy. Sit back and listen.

[@Nabooshlove7]

♥️

[@willkirby5214]

The most genuine soul for the most beautiful music.

[@ASAPQUARTERBAG]

jesus christ, like a lot of other people have said, i go to and fro with conor's work. 3 months ago started listening to the old stuff again. first time listening to this, and to say he's the greatest artist of our generation is a little over the top, but how committed he is to his craft still blinds my heart. "it's a little early to be singing but doing the best i can" One of the best , if not , "The"

[@TheSuperPolarBear]

Still my favorite version of Time Forgot! I come back to this often to listen.

[@inurb4se]

I'm going to see him live in a few weeks, he has been my favorite artist throughout my teens and twenties. I worried about his direction for a little bit, but this was incredible.

[@anigmasaur5280]

Same.

[@Blandyman]

Fantastic performance of fantastically written songs.

[@MethenySco]

Once i started listening, I couldn't stop.

[@anewstatic]

Conor's jacket looks like something the rebels on Endor would wear.

[@poisonjoe1812]

Ya know, it kinda does.

[@JTD472]

Justin Newell nice one. Nice. Nice one. Nice

[@LIamaLlama554]

That’s because he is the rebel from Endor.

[@Eeli2008]

So lovely! But the shaking voice sounds sort of heartbreaking at the same time.

[@neros12346]

I keep coming back to this video, it's so freakin good

[@gustercc]

I've loved this guy's music for the longest time. His writing has grown stronger with each passing album. He's a far better songwriter than half the people out write now. Even at his worst, better still than the other half. I've been waiting for another acoustic based album like a toddler waiting for Santa.

[@GrantBosnich]

wow he is an incredible lyricist

[@mallulamounier]

you're the sound that's been, you keep echoing, you never disappeared

[@Richhookspin]

I think about 1,000 of the views of this are me watching it again and again!

[@apocalypto-v7f]

7:50 conors face when he says "my mind" is a mood

[@reldith]

oh my GOD

[@avarwaen5887]

Underrated comment.

[@humanonearth1]

Don't know bright eyes much. But man this guy has the folk in him like a fire. Bravo!

[@emilygreen6720]

Best thing I have heard in quite some time.

[@ophiliafox4268]

I love Tiny Desk concerts SO MUCH! Every single one just seems like a showcase of the very best of whatever artist is performing. They have amazing brilliant small indie artists, as well as such iconic music as Aurora and PWR BTTM. I love these. Yessss

[@kyletanner6703]

Conor right up there with Dylan and Paul Simon when it comes to song writing. Unfortunately, it will probably take his death for many to appreciate how good his writing is.

[@andrewptob]

He really does have that unique talent to write great songs like it’s the simplest thing in the world.

[@liamgallagherrr]

Honestly better and I’m not even a bright eyes fan his solo song writing is the best I’ve heard.

[@thefumexxl]

He definitely hit a niche with his angst and his popularity in the indie/folk scene of the early 00's. He's absolutely one of the greatest songwriters living right now though.

[@lucasvidana8236]

He is already in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Net worth 160 million. Pretty sure many people know he's a prodigy.

[@casperhelix]

So true but he better make a sht ton morw music before then

[@meganbright94]

I listened to Bright Eyes and other Conor Oberst projects throughout high school and they have meant so much 💛

[@taycirgaffrache5304]

This man makes my life bearable

[@thepearlnextdoor1820]

Let's just take a moment and realize how absurdly beautiful this performance was

[@sdslancs]

Reminds me of the lead singer of Counting Crows. Love the rawness

[@brazenlilhussy5975]

S'pose they do use a bit of tremolo in their singing, both effortlessly convey emotion when they sing too and that's as rare as it is real. I do think Adam Duritz overdoes it sometimes these days (cos he hasn't got quite the same pitch as when he started, that's not a dig either he's been around a long time) 😊

[@egoagnosco]

zigzagging towards the light is the shit. this is my favorite version

[@SarahZ333]

Listening to him makes me cry. Is that normal?

[@wulfbuoygarwalfey3582]

Completely

[@Snacktime12345]

Oprah Jones yup me too!

[@cameronchapman171]

100%

[@melancholyskittle]

Totally normal. I cry while listening to him a lot

[@starlamoon286]

It's probably abnormal if you don't.

[@Snacktime12345]

I live for Conor’s music

[@alebole]

Amazing and moving to tears thank you Charlie for letting me know Conor Oberst....

[@jonathanrandol794]

Thank you Meg my dear, for introducing me to bright eyes, and for all that you do to put a smile on my face. 😙

[@skifullydone8165]

Time Forgot is such a beautiful song! With the beatiful voice of Taylor it's even more beautiful! What a great Tiny Desk Concert. I love this approach!

[@leopants]

That cat in the back with the mini-maracas is pretty cool

[@zanegrande4799]

He was priceless!

[@Obironnkenobi]

Zane Grande 8:16 basically sums up your comment.

[@matthewmandregan1467]

Excuse me but what cat? I see no cats. Can you tell me where this cat is? I tried looking for the cat in the video but I want able to find any cats. : (

[@nickclayton412]

He's laying in the books you gotta find him

[@JustinSemenoff-jy9w]

where the hell have you guys been?...living under a rock? he's a musical genius.

[@dlowery1024]

Wow, what a great mini-set. Conor's voice sounds as emotive as ever and it's pretty cool to have Taylor Goldsmith as your sideman. Taylor and Griffin are pretty busy with their own thing.

[@richhoracek7561]

That's ridiculous good. His hung over state just makes it better. I love that guy. Put Bright Eyes to bed? Yes this album has done it.

[@nulluser4015]

I've watched this set so many times, and I never get sick of it. So good!

[@adaswedentr]

Same!!

[@mattthielhorn]

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE DAWES ON FOR A TINY DESK CONCERT!!!!!?!?!?!?!?

[@jakedurm]

preach

[@skyekent9934]

I saw them at Hangout Fest where they played and then they also played with Conor - so good! They deserve a TDC of their own, for sure.

[@Weareroses]

i literally said to myself about 5 minutes ago to go check out somw live footage of bright eyes cause i havent listened to him in a long time and then i open uo youtube and this was on my feed... crazy world thank u!

[@justinfearior357]

A hero. Thank you.

[@DamianKonopka]

mazing...Conor is one of my musical and life-living idols. Beautiful

[@springheeledjack165]

Oh Conor. We are getting old, but still the same guys we were as teenagers.

[@tj03297]

Age is an illusion

[@perrygrossman2008]

Amazing performance, especially the solos by Taylor Goldsmith.

[@rickhelm8106]

Fantastic set. Great stuff. Particularly love Disco Stu on percussion.

[@ZachByrd]

Conor is finally looking healthy. For a long stretch I thought he'd be leaving us early... It took his last album time to grow on me and I'm looking forward to this one doing the same. I feel it happening already. Todd Snider taught me to never make my mind up until I've seen the shit live.

[@dominicbennettmusic]

This is him looking healthy!!????

[@frankbooth5490]

"Conor is finally looking healthy." ... well ... and then came Ruminations.

[@kenmaust8347]

I've seen Todd Snider live twice, and he walked off the stage halfway through both shows. I'd still go back for a third though.

[@litethepath]

My God, I've always heard the standard for music was to hear it live. Connor, you are the closest to a god we have ever had.

[@be9nz]

Conor is such a great person.

[@davidstrope]

I wanted to push the like button again for every song lol

[@tobyclarkthomson8443]

@1toniy ha so true

[@brismith6148]

I love this performance so much, I'm seeing Conor in concert this June and I'm so excited!!

[@bradperry1515]

Conor Oberst is simply an amazing Lyricist!

[@meganbright94]

Ok he brought Bob a gift, that is so cute. So sweet. I love that

[@nimblemix]

"It's a little early to be singing..." Preach. But you sound great dude!

[@gradenhill6851]

"Spins around just like a clock" I wonder if he changed the lyrics in Zigzagging Toward the Light. He seriously makes great music and is one of my favorites now. I wish I wasn't broke so I could own more of his albums and he's only getting better from the past even though i loved those albums too

[@knittingthestash]

Absolutely love this album. Thanks for the excellent live show!

[@BritishRulez]

we're old and I'm scared

[@LIamaLlama554]

VandaB me too

[@vegancomicnerd86]

I wasn't sure about his new album at first, but this performance for sure won me over. I'm looking forward very much to seeing him live in August!

[@TheJaceriley]

I love the gift at the end!! Conor Oberst is amazing!!!

[@emilysavage2151]

I've actually never seen him sing and the way his mouth moves is fascinating.

[@takeshelter5313]

this album and performance did alot for me thank you Connor it was awesome

[@laurenpayne8213]

look at this heroic man

[@melissamagana2986]

Bands like these are why I love tiny desk concerts.

[@Actionday21]

This wonderful, special way of conors music... its so good.

[@walterwhiteification]

Such a damn good songwriter. Music with feeling

[@Nabooshlove7]

This performance always stuns me, no matter how many times I watch. It's always there when I need it