Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band at the Leeds Festival, 22 August 2008.
Background information
Origin	Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Genres	Americana Alternative Country
Years active	2007-2010, 2013
Associated acts	Bright Eyes
Website	conoroberst.com
Members	Conor Oberst Nate Walcott Jason Boesel Nik Freitas Macey Taylor Taylor Hollingsworth

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band is the name taken by Conor Oberst and his backing band, which is composed of Nik Freitas (guitar), Taylor Hollingsworth (guitar), Macey Taylor (bass), Nate Walcott (keyboards/organ) and Jason Boesel (drums). The band was formed to back Oberst on his 2008 solo album but soon evolved into a band of its own will all members singing and providing songs for 2009's Outer South

In November 2007, it was reported that Oberst would work on a solo record with Jake Bellows, and that he would form a band with M. Ward and perform two shows in late December 2007 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Contrary to this speculation, the shows were not played with M. Ward, but rather with Nik Freitas and Jason Boesel. (Oberst and M. Ward would, however, later form the group Monsters of Folk, which also includes Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes and Jim James of My Morning Jacket.) The band played 20 new songs and it was announced that these songs were not meant for Oberst's main project, Bright Eyes. In early 2008, Oberst and his band traveled to Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico and spent two months living and recording their debut album there. Before leaving the country, the band played a show in Mexico City.

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band played at the 2008 Reading and Leeds Festivals. In addition, they also performed at Connect Festival in Scotland and the Electric Picnic in Ireland in August 2008, the Austin City Limits festival in September and also at the Great Escape Festival in Sydney, Australia in early October 2008. The debut album, titled Conor Oberst, was released in the UK on Wichita on 5 August 2008 and 6 August 2008 on Merge Records in the U.S, billed as a solo album by Oberst. In October 2008 the band released the Gentlemen's Pact EP (again, billed as a solo effort from Oberst), which was available in limited quantities and sold only at shows.