Bright Eyes

Bright Eyes started off as a side project of Conor Oberst, when he was a part of the indie rock band Commander Venus. After Commander Venus disbanded in 1997, Conor and some of his friends started Park Ave.; Park Ave. was started with the intention of writing pop music. Park Ave. released a split 7' with 'The Wrens', had two songs on a Saddle Creek Sampler CD, and a full-length of four track recordings. When Park Ave. broke up, Saddle Creek which had been listening to the home four track recordings that Conor had been making over the years, evinced its interest in getting his old recordings released. Though the sound quality of the recording was poor, the lyric writing skills were there. Conor sifted through his old recordings and came up with a selection of twenty songs. These twenty songs are what made up the first Bright Eyes release; A Collection of Songs -Written and Recorded 1995-1997. Conor's inability in getting consistent band members to record, tour, practice, etc., made him decide that Bright Eyes would be the moniker for his music and whoever else he could get to play with him at the time. Bright Eyes won Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for 'When the President Talks to God' at the PLUG Independent Music Awards and Special Recognition Award for the video for 'First Day of My Life' at the 17th Annual GLAAD Media Awards.