Conor Oberst launches site, tours, talks with Paste

Artistic name changes are not reserved for such pop icons as he who dons purple crushed velvet or the hip-hop mogul who helms the Making the Band series. Quite the contrary, we've learned. This August, the brooding alt-indie artist sometimes known as Bright Eyes plans to release his first recording as Conor Oberst since the late '90s.  And in support of his self-titled LP, Mr. Oberst will satiate listeners with a new website and international tour dates.

We've been tracking Oberst's growth over the years as he shed layers of tortured, confessional cries to cultivate expansive folk, culminating in 2007's Cassadaga.  Since then, the Omaha native has shipped out to Tepoztlán Morales, Mexico to record Conor Oberst , backed by his group, The Mystic Valley Band.

"It was a real amazing experience," he recently told Paste. "Tepoztlán is a town about two hours away from Mexico City. I’m not sure how many people live there, but you can walk around the whole place in probably like an hour. People come from other towns [for the market], but for the most part it’s just this quiet little place.”

Look for more from Oberst in Paste's special International Issue in August. In the meantime, you can stream two tracks fresh off the record ("Danny Callahan" and "Souled Out!!!") on his brand-new website that launched recently.

The album will hit the streets on August 4 in the U.S. and August 5 in the U.K.  Catch the troubadour performing tracks off his new release around the world with other sought-after singers like Jenny Lewis, Levon Helm and Bob Dylan: 

July

16 - Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Studio SP

17 - Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Studio SP

18 - Santiago, Chile @ Cine Arte Normandie

19 - Buenos Aires, Argentina @ La Trastienda

25 - Billings, Mont. @ Bones Brewing *

27 - Calgary, Alberta @ Calgary Jazz Festival, Prince's Island Park

29 - Vancouver, British Columbia @ Richard's on Richards Cabaret <

30 - Seattle, Wash. @ Neumo's <

31 - Bend, Ore. @ Midtown Ballroom <

August

1 - San Francisco, Calif.@ Bottom of the Hill <

2 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Bottom of the Hill <

3 - Santa Cruz, Calif @ Rio Theatre <

5 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ Troubadour <

8 - Nashiville, Tenn. @ Mercy Lounge **

9 - Carrboro, N.C. @ Cat's Cradle **

10 - Norfolk, Va. @ NorVA **

11 - Philadelphia, Pa. @Trocadero **

12 - New York, N.Y. @ Bowery Ballroom **

17 - Saratoga, N.Y. @ Saratoga Music Festival ^

22 - Leeds, U.K. @ Leeds Festival

23 - Birmingham, U.K. @ Reading Festival

24 - Reading, U.K. @ Reading Festival

26 - Portsmouth, U.K. @ Wedgwood Rooms

27 - London U.K. @ Electric Ballroom

28 - Manchester, U.K. @ Academy 2

29 - Inveraray Castle, Scotland @ Hydro Connect Music Festival

30 - Belfast, Ireland @ Spring and Airbrake

31 - County Laois, Ireland @ Stradbally Hall/ Electric Picnic

September

2 - Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg

3 - Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique

4 - Luxembourg @ Den Atelier

5 - Zurich, Switzerland @ Rote Fabrik

7 - Munich, Germany @ Backstage Werk

8 - Zagreb, Croatia @ Studenski

9 - Vienna, Austria @ Arena

10 - Prague, Czech Republic

11 - Berlin, Germany @ Columbia Club

12 - Cologne, Germany @ Gloria

13 - Paris, France@Nouveau Casino

14 - Salisbury, U.K. @ End of the Road Festival

20 - Omaha, Neb. @ Anchor Inn

21 - Nashville, Tenn. @ Ryman Auditorium %

23 - Fayetteville, Ark. @ George's Majestic Lounge %

24 - Oxford, Miss. @ The Lyric %

25 - Tulsa, Okla. @ Cain's Ballroom %

27 - Austin, Texas @ Austin City Limits

October

2 - Melbourne, Australia @ The Palace

3 - Brisbane, Australia @ Tivoli

4 - Sydney, Australia @ Enmore

5 - Sydney, Australia @ Great Escape

* indicates dates with A Weather

< indicates dates with Dri

** indicates dates with Evangelicals

^ indicates dates with Bob Dylan, Levon Helm, The Swell Season, Gillian Welch, Steve Earle and Raul Malo

% indicates dates with Jenny Lewis

Related links:

Conor Oberst details on MergeRecords.com

Bright Eye's bio on Saddle-Creek.com

Feature: Bright Eyes: Growing Up on Record

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