Conor Oberst, The Felice Brothers @ Melbourne Zoo Twilight Series, Melbourne (28/02/2015)
As crowds piled into the Melbourne Zoo for Conor Oberst and friends, the late-afternoon sun was beaming in all its ferocity.
The umbrellas packed for the rain promised later came in handy as shields from its intense heat. As the swelling audience sweated, eagerly awaiting the main event, the on-site bar enjoyed the assured beer and cider trade. One treat of the Zoo Twilight Sessions is the time before live music fills the open parkland, prime for people watching. Young, old and everyone in between flock to the manmade natural habitat, home of many a wild beast in Parkville. Family-friendly, it’s a BYO picnic blanket and antipasto affair, and while licensed, boozing is optional and by no means mandatory. |
Of course, the flipside of the open-air
venue is thunderstorms. This is at best inconvenient, at worst
completely unworkable, for a Twilight Session. On Saturday 28 February,
Melbourne put on its finest display of four seasons in one day, and the
beaming sun made way for a warm twilight before the heavens opened up.
Fork lightning precipitated a deluge. It rained - a lot.
Sadly, this change in weather happened as our headliner was just 5 songs in to Conor’s highly anticipated set.
Supporting Conor Oberst, not for the first time in their 8 year career, were The Felice Brothers. Founded in New York, the band of 5 played their dusty Americana/Folk Country to an audience that seemed comprised equally of Conor fans as their own. They have collected a cult following over the years, and more than one pundit is sporting a Felice band tee.
Their sprawling storytelling country songs take you to another place – a wonderful place only accordions go. With plenty of blues swagger in tow, The Felice Brothers are equal parts Dylan, Springsteen and themselves. A highlight of their set is the moment, without any fanfare, Conor Oberst takes to the stage to join his tour buddies – that voice is unmistakable and if you weren’t paying attention already, it was the moment you started to.
As Conor Oberst’s set begins, it’s clear we’re in for some aural joy. A voice that is beguiling, captivating and utterly authentic, songs that are delicate and true and a stage presence not unlike the great Ryan Adams – albeit, a little softer.
Opening his set was Time Forgot, off 2014’s Upside Down Mountain, followed by an old Bright Eyes favourite, Four Winds (2007).
Particularly for an open-air gig, the sound at the Zoo was hard to fault – crisp and clear, even after the lightning started.
Thankfully, the rain stayed away long enough for an enchanted crowd to enjoy We Are Nowhere And It’s Now off the beloved I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning. Seth Cohen, were he present, would have been in seventh heaven. Ten Women – a song Conor originally performed with the Mystic Valley Band – and Southern State rounded out the night’s set, prematurely cut short by ominous skies.
Conor was a perfect gentleman, telling us he looks forward all day to playing for fans while on tour and so was bitterly disappointed to have to stop on strict instructions from the Zookeepers. Chances are, not as disappointed as we were.
Rebecca McCann
Sadly, this change in weather happened as our headliner was just 5 songs in to Conor’s highly anticipated set.
Supporting Conor Oberst, not for the first time in their 8 year career, were The Felice Brothers. Founded in New York, the band of 5 played their dusty Americana/Folk Country to an audience that seemed comprised equally of Conor fans as their own. They have collected a cult following over the years, and more than one pundit is sporting a Felice band tee.
Their sprawling storytelling country songs take you to another place – a wonderful place only accordions go. With plenty of blues swagger in tow, The Felice Brothers are equal parts Dylan, Springsteen and themselves. A highlight of their set is the moment, without any fanfare, Conor Oberst takes to the stage to join his tour buddies – that voice is unmistakable and if you weren’t paying attention already, it was the moment you started to.
As Conor Oberst’s set begins, it’s clear we’re in for some aural joy. A voice that is beguiling, captivating and utterly authentic, songs that are delicate and true and a stage presence not unlike the great Ryan Adams – albeit, a little softer.
Opening his set was Time Forgot, off 2014’s Upside Down Mountain, followed by an old Bright Eyes favourite, Four Winds (2007).
Particularly for an open-air gig, the sound at the Zoo was hard to fault – crisp and clear, even after the lightning started.
Thankfully, the rain stayed away long enough for an enchanted crowd to enjoy We Are Nowhere And It’s Now off the beloved I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning. Seth Cohen, were he present, would have been in seventh heaven. Ten Women – a song Conor originally performed with the Mystic Valley Band – and Southern State rounded out the night’s set, prematurely cut short by ominous skies.
Conor was a perfect gentleman, telling us he looks forward all day to playing for fans while on tour and so was bitterly disappointed to have to stop on strict instructions from the Zookeepers. Chances are, not as disappointed as we were.
Rebecca McCann