Bright Eyes

Fact Sheet

Musical genre:

Rock, Indie

Bright Eyes is an indie rock band fronted by Conor Oberst, an American singer-songwriter from Nebraska. Bright Eyes is often classified as emo, although some people disagree with that label, including Oberst himself, who has referred to his music as folk.

Bright Eyes currently resides on the Saddle Creek record label, an Omaha-based label that is home to bands including Cursive, The Faint, and Rilo Kiley.

Conor Oberst is the only constant member of Bright Eyes; other musicians in the band change frequently. Oberst's vocal style and lyrics often have a desperate edge: He frequently sounds like he's on the verge of crying, or of having a nervous breakdown.

Oberst has stated that his lyrics do not necessarily reflect his personal experience, and are often similar to short stories. "Padriac My Prince," for example, tells of a mother drowning the narrator's brother in a bathtub, an event Oberst has stated is fictional. In interviews, Oberst has explained such situations are often required to achieve the emotive extremes he seeks.

Oberst has served in many bands since the age of 13, and currently is also the lead singer of Desaparecidos. Although there are some parallels between Desaparecidos and Bright Eyes, the lyrics of Desaparecidos tend to reflect more on society rather than individuals, and the music fits more to punk rock than folk.

In Early November, 2004, two Bright Eyes singles, Lua and Take it Easy (Love Nothing), reached the two top spots on the Billboard Hot 100 Single Sales, a remarkable feat for a musician on an independent label. This was the first time this has happened on the list in seven years.

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