'Lectrify My Soul...

Do not be fooled by the lyrics. Life is not all doom and gloom with Conor Oberst & Bright Eyes. This 10 piece came to Royal Oak, Michigan to deliver a memorable Rock 'n Roll Revival. But the table was set before they even hit the stage. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings created the mood nicely with their soulful "Yawl-ternative" folk stylings. This duo harmonizes as well as any group I have ever seen...the music world is blessed that these two have found each other. Fighting a talkative crowd, their sparse arrangements could have easily been knocked down. But they came prepared with some of their more lively songs, like I Want To Sing That Rock 'n Roll, My First Lover, Elvis Presley Blues, Caleb Meyer, and To Be Young (a Rawling's original made popular by Ryan Adams). David Rawling's flawless and energetic guitar always impresses as he bears down on his instrument. This man goes into some type of electrified trance as he convulses to find the groove on every single fret he can reach. The perfect accompaniment to Gillian's voice. Amazing to see live.

Then the crowd was treated to Conor & his band, taking to the stage like a gang of Rock 'n Roll angels all dressed in white. Cellos, violin, flute, sax, trumpet, clarinet joined in with a guitars, bass, drums and keyboard to produce a full course meal. This music was powerful and loud and full of soul. Visually, the screen behind the band was filled with projected images (water, food coloring, glass marbles, Etch-a-Sketch doodles) created on the spot by a performance artist named Joey (I think). At times, this imagery really helped you feel the emotion of the music as it was pulsated to the beat.

By the end of the night, 16 musicians (Oakley Hall, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, & Conor & his band) had found their way to the stage to stir up a frenzied version of Road to Joy, which carried all the destructive force of a hurricane. The perfect storm!

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - Caleb Meyer

Bright Eyes - Four Winds

If you can't get enough:
Bright Eyes Video - First Day of My Life
Bright Eyes Video - Road To Joy on Late, Late Show
Bright Eyes Video - AOL Sessions
Bright Eyes Video - Live on KCRW
Gillian & David with Old Crow Medicine Show Video - The Weight