Justin Nuoffer
BRIGHT EYES
w/ Cursive
4/4/25 – The Sylvee – Madison, WI
©Justin Nuoffer/NuofferMedia.com
The evening was chilly and a bit windy, but that didn’t stop fans from lining up outside of The Sylvee early. The crown jewel of Wisconsin music venues is hosting the Omaha-based indie rock band Bright Eyes w/ supporting act Cursive.
All of the activity happening outside was a great indicator that we were all about to have a great night, and what a fun night it was. The Sylvee’s massive glass facade was lit up, and the doors below were open. The security checkpoint was easy to move through. Entering the main room, the Bright Eyes merch stand is set up off to the right in a large nook. Straight ahead are a set of stairs that lead down to the main floor. Standing-room and ADA areas are all around the main GA sections. Along the back wall, a long-running bar was packed full of people lined up for drinks. Upstairs, two rows of seats wrap around the edge, looking down onto the floor. Behind the seats are two tiers of standing room areas. The upper level held suites that lined up along the back, looking down. With everything open, people filled in rather quickly.
Opening the night’s festivities is Cursive. The emo indie rock band out of Omaha, NE, wasted no time taking the stage and jumping into their first songs, “Sierra” and “Big Bang”. Ted Kashner was out front on vocals. While tuning his guitar, he looked up from the tuner, smiling, and said, “We are going to pack in as many songs as possible, then pack up and get out of here”. The audience erupted in laughter. It was a great sign that the band intended to do just that. Less talk, more tunes.
The band’s 2024 release, Devourer, had four tracks firmly placed within the setlist: “Up and Away”, “The Avalanche of Our Demise”, “Dark Star”, and “Botch Job”, which was one of their closers for the show. The enthusiasm pouring off the stage was contagious. Bassist Matt Maginn manned the far left side of the stage and guitarist Ted Stevens the right. The keyboard and multi-instrumentalist had his keyboard set up near the front of the stage next to the Cellist Megan Seibe.
Behind everyone, a drum riser with Clint Schnase smashing away was set up. Cursive worked their way through material that covered seven studio albums. The fans ate up what the bands cooked. Heads bobbed, bodies swayed, and hands were in the air. The crowd was appropriately amped up for the main act.
Check out our concert photos of Cursive below:
The anticipation filled the venue. The general admission areas were packed. Everything felt right and ready to go for Bright Eyes. The backdrop on stage read, “You Are Now At A Bright Eyes Concert,” just in case anyone forgot. Frontman and guitarist Conor Oberst took the stage to roaring applause. Oberst is the last founding member, but he is one of three members of the band. The two other members are Mike Mogis, who is a multi-instrumentalist, but mainly on guitar, and Nate Walcott, the keyboard, synthesizer, and trumpet master. While the three are the engine that makes Bright Eyes go, Oberst is the brain and main songwriter, and his popularity amongst the crowd was immense.
Opening the performance with “Bells and Whistles”, “El Capitan”, and “We Are Nowhere and it’s Now” set the tone. Two of the opening tracks are off the most recent release, Five Dice, All Threes. The album was the focus of the evening despite a twenty-three-song marathon.
At times, they threw in some very creative covers like “Running Back” by Thin Lizzy and “Sorry You’re Sick” by Ted Hawkins. The most incredible cover, though, was “Carmelita” by Warren Zevon. Bright Eyes added layers of horns to bolster the already impressive country rock song and give it a whole new feel. Their musical capabilities were undisputed. Their most popular album, I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning, also featured several songs on the night. You knew the album had an impact on the fans because those songs had a lot of reaction.
Two in particular stood out. “At The Bottom of Everything” was performed before the very short encore, and the crowd danced and sang along. While everyone was waiting, Oberst emerged and began to sing “Poison Oak”. Couples held hands, and the crowd swayed from side to side. The emotional wreckage that the lyrics dished out hit like a sledgehammer. You felt the weight of them in his voice alone.
The magnum opus of the night was the closing song “Let’s Not Shit Ourselves (To Love and To Be Loved)”. It’s a tale about all aspects of modern life, from societal downfall to political bickering to hope and growth. It was such a raw emotional rollercoaster that it made for an incredible way to close the night. It was a perfect encapsulation of what is happening outside the venue doors and in the world around.
The Five Dice, All Threes tour is full of fun and emotion. Walking down the stairs, the venue was alive with chatter and laughter. Merchandise stands were busy as well. Bright Eyes impressed, and as the masses started to empty the venue, many posed for photos in front of the marquee with the night’s lineup posted. Having such positive reactions out front should tell you everything you need to know about how well the performances were. This was a fantastic bill of long-time touring artists who had fans thoroughly excited. Bright Eyes are skilled performers who deliver and then some.
Check out our concert photos of Bright Eyes below:
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