Merge Records

Conor Oberst

Conor Oberst
When Conor Oberst fled the mid-western winter for Tepoztlan, Mexico in early 2008, his plan was to record a collection of songs in beautiful surroundings with some friends. The band he put together for the recording sessions (all done in an adobe house half way up a mountain) was released last year as Conor Oberst, his first non-Bright Eyes release since 2001. The band then took to the road as Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band, named for Valle MŹ«żstico where the recording took place.

While touring in support of Conor Oberst, the talented 6-piece began to write new songs, each band member sharing their compositions and working them out on the road. Energized by the live performances, and eager to capture the synergy they felt onstage, Oberst took his musical compadres to Sonic Ranch Studios in Tornillo, Texas outside of El Paso to capture these gems on tape. In recording sessions in November and December 08 The Mystic Valley Band recorded 16 songs and this time they shared the songwriting. The result, the sparkling Outer South is the first album credited to Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band and features the fruits of their enticing musical symbiosis. Oberst's songwriting and delivery remain an engaging presence, but the addition of songs by Taylor Hollingsworth (guitar), Nik Freitas (guitar) and Jason Boesel (drums) make for a multi-textured and colorful collaboration.

Along with Oberst, Hollingsworth, Freitas and Boesel, The Mystic Valley Band includes Macey Taylor (bass) and Nathaniel Walcott (piano/keyboard).

"One of My Kind," presented by Causecast, takes viewers on a 60-minute musical journey including: footage from TepoztlŹ«ˇn, Mexico, where they recorded their first album, Conor Oberst, their worldwide tour in 2008, and the making of Outer South in El Paso, TX.

Watch and download the story of Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band for free on Causecast!
07/15/10
Conor Oberst will join two concerts in July to raise awareness in protest for Arizona’s controversial immigration law, SB1070, known as the “Fremont Law.”

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band will join Rage Against the Machine who will take the stage at the Hollywood Palladium on July 23rd, 2010 to support organizations combating SB 1070, law set to go into effect July 29th. Projected proceeds from the concert along with donations raised by The Sound Strike are expected to exceed over $300,000. This will provide much needed resources to community organizations, student groups, legal defense funds and assist activists targeting key voting districts for voter registration. These two organizations need immediate assistance to fight SB1070 on the ground: Puente Arizona, and The Florence Project.

Also, Bright Eyes and Desaparecidos (in their first live performance since 2002) will join Cursive and Lullaby for the Working Class to play July 31st in Omaha, NC to benefit ACLU Nebraska. ACLU Nebraska are currently preparing a law suit against the town of Fremont, Nebraska, the latest in a series of U.S. towns that have decided to take immigration law into their own hands. There will be two shows, an outdoor day time show commencing at 5pm at Downtown Benson, as well as a late night show at the Waiting Room in Omaha, NE. Tickets to the daytime show are $20. Additionally there are a limited number of Deluxe Packages available for $50 which allows access to both shows. Visit One Percent Productions for information on how to buy tickets to the Omaha shows.

07/06/09
Watch Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band perform live on The Late Show with David Letterman tonight, July 6th. Other guests will include Wimbledon champion, Serena Williams and actress, Hayden Panetierre.

The Late Show with David Letterman airs weeknights on CBS at 11:30 PM EST, but check your local listings and set your DVR just in case!

Conor & the MVB are on tour in support of Outer South and will appear at XX Merge.

04/28/09
Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band will release their new album, Outer South, on Tuesday, May 5th. NPR is streaming the whole record on their website. Go listen and feel free to comment on your favorite songs.

Pre-order Outer South on CD, LP or digital download in the Merge store, and don’t forget to watch the documentary, “One of My Kind” to learn more about Conor & the MVB!

04/15/09
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band have released “One of My Kind”, a documentary that gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the band’s journey over the past year and a half. Made by the band’s guitar-tech Phil Schaffart and presented by Causecast, “One of My Kind” traces the group’s ever-growing bond as friends and collaborators.

“One of My Kind” takes viewers on a 60-minute musical journey including: footage from Tepoztlan, Mexico, where they recorded their first album, Conor Oberst, their worldwide tour in 2008, and the making of Outer South in El Paso, TX.

Watch “One of My Kind” in its entirety in high definition now! Pre-order the forthcoming new album from Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley band, Outer South, on CD and LP in the Merge store.



04/07/09
With one critically acclaimed record under their belt and a highly anticipated sophomore album Outer South on its way, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band are set to release “One of My Kind” on April 15th, a documentary that will give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the band’s journey over the past year and a half. Made by the band’s guitar-tech Phil Schaffart and presented by Causecast, “One of My Kind” traces the group’s ever-growing bond as friends and collaborators. “One of My Kind” takes viewers on a 60-minute musical journey including: footage from Tepoztlán, Mexico, where they recorded their first album, Conor Oberst, their worldwide tour in 2008, and the making of Outer South in El Paso, TX.

Watch the trailer for “One of My Kind”

The film will be available as a free stream or HD download exclusively on Causecast.org, IFC.com, conoroberst.com, mergerecords.com, and wichita-recordings.com. Additionally, Causecast.org partner sites The Huffington Post and Myspace IMPACT will each feature exclusive outtakes, trailers and live acoustic performances from the film.

In addition to the release of “One of My Kind,” you can catch the guys on their upcoming tour. Check mergerecords.com for the most up-to-date schedule, including a stop at XX Merge in July.

Download a free MP3 of “Nikorette” from Outer South. Pre-order Outer South on CD and LP in the Merge store.

April 9: Omaha, NE @ The Slowdown
April 10: Denver, CO @ Ogden Theater
April 11: Aspen, CO @ Belly Up
April 12: El Paso, TX @ Barnett Harley Davidson
April 13: Albuquerque, NM @ The Sunshine Theater
April 14: Tempe. AZ @ The Marquee
April 15: Pomona, CA @ The Glasshouse
April 17: Indio, CA @ Coachella
June 17: Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep
June 18: Telluride, CO Telluride Bluegrass Festival
June 19: Moab, Utah Star Hall
June 20: Salt Lake City, UT Library Square (Utah Arts Festival Kickoff)
June 21: Boise, ID Knitting Factory
June 22: Missoula, MT Wilma Theater
June 24: Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
June 25: Milwaukee, WI Summerfest
June 26: Omaha, NE Anchor Inn
June 28: Kansas City, MO Beaumont
June 29: Columbia, MO Blue Note
June 30: Louisville, KY Headliners Music Hall
July 01: Cleveland, OH Grog Shop
July 02: Bearsville, NY Bearsville Theatre
July 03: New Haven, CT Toads Place
July 22-26: Carrboro, NC XX Merge

Conor Oberst :: CD/LP (Merge) 2008
Gentleman's Pact :: CDEP/LP (self released) 2009
Outer South :: CD/LP (Merge) 2009

Nikorette


from Outer South
DOWNLOAD 

Danny Callahan


from Conor Oberst
DOWNLOAD 
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On Tour

Archers of Loaf [+]

February
25 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
26 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
April
26 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
27 Cambridge, MA Middle East - Downstairs
28 Cambridge, MA Middle East - Downstairs
[see all]

Richard Buckner [+]

February
22 New Haven, CT BAR
24 Lexington, KY Cosmic Charlie's
25 Atlanta, GA Highland Inn Ballroom
27 Easton, MD The NightCat
March
02 Bayport, NY The Grey Horse Tavern
[see all]

Caribou [+]

April
17 Mexico City Foro Sol
18 Mexico City Foro Sol

Crooked Fingers [+]

February
29 Los Angeles, CA Hotel Cafe

Destroyer [+]

April
14 Indio, CA Coachella
21 Indio, CA Coachella

Eleanor Friedberger [+]

February
03 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
04 San Francisco, CA The Independent
07 Portland, OR Mississippi Studios
09 Seattle, WA The Crocodile

Hospitality [+]

February
03 Brooklyn, NY Glasslands
25 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
26 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
29 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
March
02 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
[see all]

Imperial Teen [+]

February
24 San Francisco, CA Cafe Du Nord
25 San Francisco, CA Amoeba Records

Lambchop [+]

February
23 Berlin Babylon
24 Berlin Babylon
25 Dresden Beatpol
26 Leipzig Werk II
27 Vienna Konzerthaus
[see all]

The Love Language [+]

March
09 Charlotte, NC Visulite Theatre
10 Savannah, GA Savannah Stopover at Ships of the Sea Museum
11 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
12 Baton Rouge, LA Red Star Bar
20 Birmingham, AL The Bottletree
[see all]

The Magnetic Fields [+]

March
06 Hudson, NY Helsinki Hudson
07 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
10 Minehead All Tomorrow's Parties curated by Jeff Mangum
18 Vancouver The Vogue
19 Seattle, WA Neptune Theatre
[see all]

Jeff Mangum [+]

February
04 Minneapolis, MN Pantages Theatre
06 Chicago, IL Athenaeum Theater
07 Chicago, IL Athenaeum Theater
08 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater
10 Athens, GA 40 Watt
[see all]

the Mountain Goats [+]

February
03 Greensboro, NC The Blind Tiger
04 Saxapahaw, NC The Haw River Ballroom
March
09 Denton, TX 35 Denton
13 New York, NY Carnegie Hall
24 New York, NY Merkin Hall

Portastatic [+]

February
11 Chapel Hill, NC The Cave
18 Durham, NC Duke Coffeehouse
23 San Francisco, CA Swedish American Hall

Superchunk [+]

February
11 Chapel Hill, NC The Cave
18 Durham, NC Duke Coffeehouse
23 San Francisco, CA Swedish American Hall

Versus [+]

March
09 London The Lexington
April
10 Brooklyn, NY The Bell House

M. Ward [+]

March
20 London Leicester Square Theatre
21 Paris Le Zenith
22 Lyon Transbordeur
23 Lille Theatre Sebastopol
25 London Royal Albert Hall
[see all]

Wild Flag [+]

February
03 Ghent Vooruit
04 Paris La Fleche D'Or
05 Koln Gebaude 9
06 Amsterdam Melkweg
07 Hamburg Uebel and Gefahrlich
[see all]

Wye Oak [+]

February
23 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
24 San Francisco, CA The Independent
see all tour dates

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