Mr. Oberst

[mahgeetah]

I enjoyed the Connor Oberst set. However, I bought his latest album about a month before the festival and had time to let it really sink in. At first it sounds like the average indie-folk rock band, but after a few turns you can hear where it stands out as a well crafted piece of 21st century music. There is alot of Dylan influence while at the same time you can hear influences of bands like The Clash, Wilco, and Conner Oberst's own personal touch, not for everybody, but worthy of some critical praise.

It's very interesting that Ryan Adams becomes such a heated discussion every time it gets brought up. I'll put it this way, if you ever get a chance, see him out of the festival circuit. I really enjoy his recordings, but thought during Telluride he could hardly keep up with his backing band, The Cardinals (which have members that could play a great show with or without RA). However, when I saw him at the Murat Theatre it was an absolutely stellar show full of rock tunes, country-rock tunes, sweet tunes, and everything inbetween. In some way it's similar to Todd Snider's set, which was good (better than Ryan Adams set), but lacked the amount of tongue-in-cheek, personal atmosphere he usually creates at a show done by himself.

A very fair assessment. I think that what gets my goat is that every time Ryan Adams gets brought up, he gets criticized for reasons such as "he was too LOUD" or "he sucks" .... which are musical criticisms I expect from my great grandmother, not open-minded music fans that the majority of TBF patrons seem to identify themselves as.

I still haven't heard the new Oberst album because of previous opinions of him, but after reading your positive review I'll have to give him another chance.

 Listening to: The Replacements

[UselessJo]

Her is what it boils down to. Give every artist a chance. If you dont like the music walk away and find something constructive to do like by a beer for someone or just walk around and people/mountain watch. the people are too nice and the setting too beautiful to let a set of music you dont enjoy kill the buzz.

[Bevin]

Oh, christ. Well my opinion is that a lot of people have bagged heavily on some of the artists that TBF has booked without acknowledging their own musical biases and preferences, and so I feel compelled to call em on it... at least judge an artist on a wider spectrum of their work than on an isolated late Thursday nite in 45 degree weather.

Ryan Adams is a very unpredictable personality...and his setlist that nite was par for the course, as far as Cardinals sets go. Did TBF sign him to play an acoustic set? If not, then why was his set shocking to anyone other than folks who knew nothing about him?

Apparently I was wrong to think that Telluride was a great fest for people who love bluegrass, acoustic, AND rock n' roll. I mean, that's why I go. It's as if Lucifer himself emerges as soon as someone throws on the distortion in that valley.

I can go to any fest and see Yonder, Del, and Bela or another one to see Adams, Oberst, and Byrne, but that's what makes Telluride special is that you get both. If people are so easily unsettled by edgier music, perhaps they should stick with RockyGrass or something similar.

Here here to TBF for continuing to bring a diverse lineup to the festival...it's what brings my friends and I over a 1000 miles to attend.

Aw, jeez - I'm almost sorry I brought it up.  Try to crack a joke around here...

Anyway, for the record, I'm no Ryan Adams hater.  I was psyched to hear he was on the bill last year because I was familiar with Whiskeytown.  But I just wasn't able to appreciate his set, and like I said, I sometimes just don't get it.  And I'm entitled to that. 

Like I've also said, I, too, appreciate the diversity Planet Bluegrass brings us.  It's their Festival, and they are entitled to that.  And if I don't like it, I can go get a corn dog or something. 

Planet Bluegrass isn't getting any complaints from me about the line-up or the musical variety, and I keep coming back knowing I'll never connect with every band.  Rather, I'm just saying what I like and don't like.  I'd bet a nickle that most people would have different opinions than me. 

However, over the years at TBF I've seen lots of bands that you might not expect to see at a bluegrass festival.  Some tried harder to connect than others.  And you can call me on this if you want, but it's my opinion that Ryan Adams was one of the acts that didn't really try.  And my frame of reference is acts like the Barenaked Ladies and Counting Crows, both of whom reworked a bunch of material specifically for Telluride.  Those bands felt to me like they knew they were slightly out of their element and they were there trying to earn our respect, and I thought that was cool.  Which is not to say that every non-traditional band should be in Tellulride grovelling for kudos from us bluegrass groupies.   

[AnythingAtAll]

Wow-  I've held this Ryan rant for over a year.  Here goes:

I very much looked forward to his set, but I was embarrassed for him.  The Cardinals propped him up (or attempted to) all night.

I don't know what was wrong, but something was wrong with RA.  Drugs, alcohol, inner ear, I don't know.  He was consistently trying to draw phrases out longer than the bars (the musical ones) would allow.  He seemed at a different tempo, vocally and on the guitar, than his band.  I could not stand to listen to it.  It had nothing to do with volume.  It was painful.

As I walked off the field in mid-set, I remember thinking of the old rehab center commercial: if you don't get help here, get help somewhere- just get help.

It was well known, even before last year, that there was a "good Ryan" and a "bad Ryan"- it doesn't take anyone's grandma to figure out which showed up.

I hope he gets help with whatever it is and can function in life.  I still love the work that he has done and wish him the best.  He's too f-n young and talented.

[FreebornMan]

I think that Conor Oberst was a bit of an interesting choice for Telluride.  I had heard his newest album and was somewhat unimpressed.  I thought that it was rather sloppy and uncreative in regards to his previous ones.  Furthermore, his songs are mostly not happy ones, that has certainly been spoke about on here.  That fact is a large reason why I was unimpressed.  In the middle of the day, I want to happy as hell and Conor actually managed to bring me back down to a pre-fest mood and sent me to my tent at Warner for a little ear-plugged nap.

With that being said, I needed that nap and was happy I wasnt missing someone that I would have loved to see.  The point is, there are some people that dug that set and others that obviously did not.  There is also some people that dug the Steeldrivers set(me) and some that did not.  To each their own.  I think Planet Bluegrass should keep taking risks and every once in a while, they will turn out incredible.

 Listening to: Pert Near Sandstone

[Cindy Lou]

Her is what it boils down to. Give every artist a chance. If you dont like the music walk away and find something constructive to do like by a beer for someone or just walk around and people/mountain watch. the people are too nice and the setting too beautiful to let a set of music you dont enjoy kill the buzz.

Right on.  I  was there when Conor's set started and I was up dancing and enjoying it for a few songs and then I left to go back to camp.  I don't listen to words so much as I do the music, and what I did hear, I liked.  Didn't hear the whole set, but good grief, why go on and on about it.  I hear tell that there are those out there who don't like banjo music.   

[Dean]

I can think of a number of acts I'd love to see in small venues, on their own, but not at TBF. 

Umm. . . y'know, 10K is a "small venue". Check the attendance at JazzFest or Newport or Merlefest?

 Listening to: Finders & Youngberg 5/30/09 acoustic

[jjwood64]

While I respect Ryan Adams as a songwriter and recording artist,
as a performance artist...I'm sorry, folks, but I would not pay to
see him.

However, keep in mind that the first time I saw RA, he
was part of Phil Lesh & Friends at the Denver Fillmore back in
July 2005.  I'm just going to cut to the chase and say that was
one of the single worst shows I've ever experienced in over
31 years of live music; and it was strictly because Ryan was
not with it and butchered song after song, whether it was
badly messing up lyrics or being unable to execute a guitar solo
of sustenance.   As a 26+ year Deadhead, I wound up leaving
midway through the second set, as I get fed up with watching
with the equivalent of a first rehearsal!

That said, I found Conor Oberst's set to be pedestrian, to the
point it boggles me that Gillian Welch & David Rawlings opened up
several shows for Oberst under his Bright Eyes moniker early last year! 
However, Planet Bluegrass is to be applauded for giving these artists an
opportunity, because it is truly rare when you enjoy every artist because of a
matter of individual tastes.  Sometimes the gamble misfires, but when it
works like the stellar set by the Carolina Chocolate Drops at last
year's Rockygrass; it makes your festivarian experience that much
more special!

[UselessJo]

I was not able to see RA at TBF last year but did see him two years ago at a nice indoor venue here in St. Louis and he along with the Cardinals were just phenomenal. That being said, I rarely seek out his recordings on my Itunes catalog. I know he has had some problems to the point that he is now not performing.
Lets just focus on the positive here kids and get back to talking about all the wonderful music that PB provided for us!

[vetniles]

When I got back to my tarp there were 10 or so 16-18 year old girls swooning, singing every word, and gabbing about how excited they were to be seeing him.  I sat for a song, and decided to let the teens put my tarp to good use.  It was not for me. 

I have tried to listen to several 5 star rated RA shows on archive and once again, not for me.  I sure as heck would have given him a shot to entertain me, though. 

[wilco1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaV-nGQ5yqw&feature=related

[funkymtn]

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaV-nGQ5yqw&feature=related"

^That pretty much sums up my experience, where were the marsh mellows during the Oberst-ing?????

see ya next year, Oberst or not(hopefully not!)