Conor Oberst reflects on Omaha roots, new album and tour

Conor Oberst, the legendary frontman of Bright Eyes, recently took a nostalgic dive into his Omaha upbringing during an appearance on the How Long Gone podcast. As Bright Eyes prepares to release their highly anticipated tenth studio album, Five Dice, All Threes, and embark on an expansive North American and European tour, Oberst's reflections on the past provide a poignant backdrop to the band's latest chapter.

Oberst reminisced about the Omaha of his youth—a city that, at the time, had "zero interest in art, zero interest in any kind of subculture, anything." It was in this environment that a young Oberst found himself performing in small venues like the Cobb Factory, a black box theater that could barely hold 100 people. In a scene where punk bands played alongside metal acts and acoustic folk singers, Oberst honed his craft in an environment where genres blurred and musical boundaries were often non-existent. "Everyone played the same shows because there wasn’t that many shows," he recalled, noting how this eclectic mix still influences his music today. "Nothing feels like super categorized or compartmentalized... It's kind of all whatever."

This spirit of genre-defiance is evident in Five Dice, All Threes, set to release on September 20th via Dead Oceans. The album features contributions from indie luminaries such as Cat Power and Matt Berninger, with the second single, "Rainbow Overpass," offering a vibrant, punk-inspired energy. The track, co-written with Alex Orange Drink of The So So Glos, captures the raw, live energy that Oberst sought to bring into the studio, echoing the unfiltered adrenaline of those early Omaha shows.

The release of the new album will be accompanied by an extensive tour that kicks off on September 19th at Brooklyn Steel in New York. Bright Eyes will hit major cities and iconic venues, including a performance at Chicago's Riot Fest on September 21st and a hometown show in Omaha at Steelhouse Omaha on September 22nd. The tour will then take them across the U.S. and Europe, with stops in the UK, Germany, and beyond, before returning to North America in early 2025.

Oberst's reflections on Omaha, combined with the upcoming album and tour, paint a picture of an artist who has never stopped evolving, yet remains deeply connected to his roots. Bright Eyes fans can expect the band to bring the same eclectic energy to their live shows as they do to their records—a celebration of the diverse influences that have shaped their sound over the years.

Tickets for the tour go on sale soon, so be sure to grab yours to witness the next chapter in Bright Eyes' storied career​.