Chosen family: a night with Better Oblivion Community Center

When I approached August Hall on March 15th, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I was promised a “healing sound bath – live in concert,” but it felt no different from every other indie rock show, compromised of baby bangs and urban lumberjacks. I didn’t anticipate anything less; after all I was about to see Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers’ new duo: Better Oblivion Community Center.

Christian Lee Hutson started the night off with a sleepy set of timid folk songs. He seemed a bit nervous, and channeled those nerves into playful banter with an audience member he said reminded him of Texas politician, Beto O’Rourke. He reminds me of Tom Petty, his songs full of emotion as each one tells a different story of longing or heartbreak. His acoustic guitar and singing, however, was overpowered at times by the audience in the bar. He is undoubtedly talented, but perhaps not energetic enough to keep many interested for longer than two songs.

Sloppy Jane served as the counterbalance to Hutson. The lead singer, Hayley Dahl, started the show off by conducting her band members and their instruments before turning to the audience, spitting up a dark blue sludge and stripping down into a two piece velvet bikini with matching thigh high boots. Their performance showcases seizures, screaming, and lots of laughter that sends shivers up your spine all while Disney’s Fantasia plays on a small TV screen on the corner of the stage. Unlike Hutson, the band members did not address the audience until a quick goodbye as they took their simultaneous leave of the stage. Overall, Sloppy Jane feels like the lovechild of psychedelic mushrooms and cocaine; at points I was scared, but in the most exhilarating way possible.

Finally taking the stage, Oberst and Bridgers opened with crowd favorite “Dylan Thomas,” and transitioned between slower tracks and lively renditions of album highlights and covers. I was unsure how they would navigate their live performance given that many of their songs are on the slower side, but they spruced them up a bit to keep themselves and the audience more engaged.

Oberst and Bridgers thrilled fans by performing pieces from their solo discographies, including Bright Eyes’ “Lua” and Bridgers’ “Would You Rather,” a song off of Bridgers debut album that also featured Oberst. The singers fed off of each others energy without taking themselves too seriously. Their irreverence is best exemplified by Oberst who broke into a punk cover of Bridger’s ballad “Funeral.”

Throughout the night Bridgers seemed hesitant, scared even, as she waited for Oberst’s queues, which was
a sweet gesture. She is, after all, in a band with one of her biggest musical idols. Even Oberst, a veteran performer spanning nearly three decades, had moments of timidity. Their emotions were clearly transcribed in their performances and searing guitar riffs. I am curious if this seemingly introverted group came off as such due to their individual personalities or a judgement on their own parts to perform this way.

Better Oblivion is something you never knew you needed, but something that seemed to make everything okay. Upon reading their statement that their concerts (or “community meetings”) would help in “realigning and resonating in your journey toward serene healing and true bliss” I was skeptical, but I left with a smile on my face and feeling lighter. It was bizarre, it was heart wrenching at moments, but it’s unpredictability and weirdness was part of the fun, and part of its perfection.