Conor Oberst is an American singer-songwriter born February 15, 1980 in Omaha, Nebraska. He began his recording career in 1993, aged 13, and since then has produced a huge amount of material; Rolling Stone has referred to him as "rock's boy genius". His current projects are Bright Eyes (of which he is the only constant member) and Desaparecidos (a rock oriented side project).

At fourteen years of age, Oberst was singer and guitarist of Commander Venus, an indie rock band, in 1994. The former members of Commander Venus – Ben Armstrong, Robb Nansel (who now runs Saddle Creek) and Todd Baechle of The Faint – would later go on to feature in many Saddle Creek records groups.

Oberst is also a guitarist and singer for the band Desaparecidos. The music and lyrics of Desaparecidos differ greatly from Bright Eyes, having more in common with punk rock than folk. The lyrics are generally social commentary on the state of affairs in America, compared to Bright Eyes' introspective lyrics.

Oberst is one of the founding members of the indie record label Saddle Creek Records, who host and have hosted bands including Cursive, Desaparecidos, The Faint, Rilo Kiley, Bright Eyes, Son Ambulance , Azure Ray, The Good Life, Sorry About Dresden , among others.

Past and present bands

• Desaparecidos (2001 to present)
• Bright Eyes (1995 to present)
• Park Ave (1996-1998)
• The Magnetas (1996)
• Commander Venus (1994-1997)

Bright Eyes Discography

Full length releases :

• "Digital Ash In A Digital Urn" (2005)
• "I'm Wide Awake It's Morning" (2005)
• "Lifted, or, The Story Is In The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Ground" (2002)
• "Fevers And Mirrors" (2000)
• "Letting Off The Happiness" (1998)
• "A Collection Of Songs Written And Recorded 1995-1997" (1998)

External links

• Saddle Creek Records
  
• Fan website, thestoryisinthesoil.com