Photo of Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes by Laura Jerele
Bright Eyes arrived in St. Louis on Saturday night, deep into their 2025 tour supporting Five Dice, All Threes, their September 2024 release. I was happy to see that The Pageant was packed nearly to capacity, filled with fans eager for an evening with such an amazing and unique band. Their simple backdrop made it quite clear: “You are now at a Bright Eyes concert.” For me, a longtime fan of the band and Conor Oberst’s unmistakably stark vocals, this show was a much-needed bright spot in my week—both literally and figuratively, so pardon the pun.
Opening the night was Hurray for the Riff Raff, the Chicago-based project led by singer-songwriter Alynda Segarra. Segarra mentioned it was their last night on tour with Bright Eyes; their set felt especially heartfelt, with songs that carried a polished, folky, and punchy energy. I was proud that the crowd didn’t ignore this band and didn’t talk over their performance which needed the space and nuance of attentiveness as their songs tend to build on momentum, volume, and power.
Bright Eyes came to the stage quickly and unceremoniously without a massive intro, getting right down to it with a setlist that pulled from nearly three decades of music, striking a perfect balance between nostalgia and reinvention. Early in the night, “Method Acting” and “We Are Nowhere and It’s Now” transported the crowd back to the band’s early 2000s heyday, while “Mariana Trench” and “Tiny Suicides” brought a fresh energy to the mix. Fan-favorite “First Day of My Life” hit surprisingly early in the set. The core lineup of Bright Eyes currently consists of Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, and Nate Walcott, who have been playing and touring together since 2006.
Having some fun with the tour (and with this being the last night for any shenanigans), Segarra returned to the stage to join Oberst on a hauntingly beautiful rendition of “Clairaudients (Kill or Be Killed)” and a stripped-down version of “Lua,” adding even more emotional weight to an already powerful set. After that, Oberst spoke to the crowd, reminding us that while times are dark and politically unsettling right now, the way through is with action and getting involved by doing something, anything—telling us not to sit idly by, and to get involved now. And by the sounds of the thunderous applause, that message was incredibly well received.
The encore was simply kick ass! “Road to Joy” was as cathartic as ever, building to a crashing finale, but the absolute best moment of the night goes to the unexpected Blondie cover, “Dreaming,” featuring Segarra once again! Talk about adding a playful and joyful touch! The night closed with “One for You, One for Me,” a fitting end to a performance that felt entirely communal and gave a fitting close to the night. Bright Eyes has always been a band that thrives on emotion and gives a unique performance, and this show was no exception. | Laura Jerele
