Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band is a US group led by alt-country musician Conor Oberst. The line-up includes Nik Freitas on guitar, Taylor Hollingsworth on lead guitar, Macey Taylor on bass, Nate Walcott on keyboards, organ and French horn, and Jason Boesel on drums. The group is active from 2007 to the present.

Formation and early shows

The project begins with two shows at 400 Bar in Minneapolis, Minnesota in late December 2007. At that point, Oberst performs with Nik Freitas, Jason Boesel, Macey Taylor and Nate Walcott, and makes clear that the band is not Bright Eyes and has not yet settled on a name. By early February, the group is billed as Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band.

Repertoire and performances

Those early performances include 13 new songs and three Bright Eyes songs. The band also plays a show in Mexico City in February. Oberst is reported to have been working on a solo record with Jake Bellows, and there is also mention of plans for a band with M. Ward before the Minneapolis shows take place with the Mystic Valley line-up instead.

Festivals and release activity

The group announces appearances at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2008, as well as Electric Picnic in Ireland, Austin City Limits, and the Great Escape Festival in Sydney. Its debut album is issued by Wichita in the UK and Merge Records in the US.