So I'm getting about forty seconds of face time with Conor Oberst...

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... what the heck should I say?

I mean, I'm neither a fan nor a hater but this is such an ILM sort of moment that I had to ask...

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 18:05 (twenty years ago)

How many punches can you throw in 40 seconds?

― I'm Hi, Jared Fogle (ex machina), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 18:08 (twenty years ago)

Ask if the fact he started out at a young age and he's still perceived as youthful allow him to get away with more of a jaded naivete than other musicians.

― mike h. (mike h.), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 18:10 (twenty years ago)

Incidentally, I apologize for namedropping, but this is a serious question!
I really have nothing to say and I'm not precisely sure what's appropriate. Maybe just silence, acknowledgement of fame with a knowing nod and a hearty handshake?

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 18:39 (twenty years ago)

ask if there are any plans for a new desaparecidos album

is this a press interview or what?

― JD from CDepot, Wednesday, 27 July 2005 19:02 (twenty years ago)

Ask him how he got Hawkwind's roadcrew to tour with him.

― Jay Watts III (jaywatts), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 19:07 (twenty years ago)

ask him his opinion on supplyside economics

― Michael Burble, Wednesday, 27 July 2005 19:09 (twenty years ago)

Ask him if he ever went shoplifting with Winona!

― Jay Watts III (jaywatts), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 19:11 (twenty years ago)

Ask him whose under-wear is under there?

― Rob Upt1ght., Wednesday, 27 July 2005 19:12 (twenty years ago)

"What proof is that stuff you're drinking?"

― donut ferry (donut), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 19:15 (twenty years ago)

"Your persona is usually of the spurned-lover/person-in-pain variety, and your fanbase would argue that there's no persona working at all in Bright Eyes albums: that they're getting the 'real you.' Some of them have a good deal invested in this idea. What are your thoughts about this?"

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 19:41 (twenty years ago)

(also, is it seriously forty seconds or something? Totally crazy!)

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 19:41 (twenty years ago)

(p.s. no attributing this question to me pls)

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 19:42 (twenty years ago)

ts: rhythm or melody

― jake b. (cerybut), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 21:31 (twenty years ago)

Long enough for 8 good spits.

Don't let me down.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 21:32 (twenty years ago)

"are you for real, dude?"

― michael burble, Wednesday, 27 July 2005 21:53 (twenty years ago)

WILL WE EVER GET ANOTHER DESAPERACIDOS ALBUM???? IF NOT, WHY NOT AND FUCK HIM!!!

― miccio (miccio), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 21:55 (twenty years ago)

Forks - Seriously, ask him about making the transition from acclaimed prodigal lyricist to poster-boy for a wracked indie generation.

When I first heard Conor - and I still really like his first LP, Letting off the Happiness, - he was being murmured about, but was far from the mainstream. There was simply a lot of talk about this kid (he was only 16 or something) writing really strong lyrics, and who obviously sounded really sad.

In the intervening years - especially via Lifted and the building buzz between that and this year's LPs, - he's totally become something different. He's not a cult artist, he's a celebrity. He epitomises something. And that's got to affect the way he approaches his art. It's very different when you're making bedroom confessions as a symbol.

I'd also ask him about why he's so big on making Statements. (anti Clearchannel at the Shortlist, slagging John Peel [or whatever] at Glastonbury, etc.) Does he think he accomplishes anything?

Hmm... Maybe about the philosophy between splitting up his albums like he did? What does it say about music when you have to keep folk/country at arms length from more electronic stuff? Isn't that a pretty conservative position?

What sort of music does he see his label (Team Love) fostering? What makes the bands they'll sign different from the bands another label (say, Saddle Creek) might sign?

OH, and you should totally ask him more about Team Love, actually, given your interests, John. The label's 2 partners (Conor + some other guy) have expressed their intention to be waaay more invested in the digital distribution thing. The first album they released was available to download in its entirety (for free), a more recent one had some downloadable tracks, and they've said in interviews that this aspect is really important to them.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 22:31 (twenty years ago)

Thank him for the Tonight Show appearance. Even if you hate his guts, it was ballsy and there hasn't been NEARLY enough of that kind of thing over the course of this preznit's era.

And, seriously, IS there ever going to be another Desaparecidos album?

― Nostalgic for the Pre-Conservative Hendrie (Bent Over at the Arclight), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 22:32 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, Team Love put out a rap record, and Pitchfork today says they're putting out the solo Craig Wedren album, which I think is awesome.

― Nostalgic for the Pre-Conservative Hendrie (Bent Over at the Arclight), Wednesday, 27 July 2005 22:33 (twenty years ago)

Tell him never to return to Austin if he hates Texas so much.

Also, I support the hitting.

― SusanWayward, Thursday, 28 July 2005 00:59 (twenty years ago)

HAHAHAHA, I love the feedback on here.

For the record, I said something like "Hi, how are you? Do you know where Greg (the label rep) is at? Great. Okay. So, they'll show you where you're sitting inside. Enjoy the show!"

It was truly one of the greatest moments of my life.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Thursday, 28 July 2005 02:47 (twenty years ago)

haha. i thought your "forty seconds" line was a line, not literal!

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 28 July 2005 07:45 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, your suggestions are all great Sean, but it would've been the equivalent of cornering him and pummelling him with questions given the social setting. Though pummelling seems to have been the preference of many respondents on this thread...

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Thursday, 28 July 2005 11:51 (twenty years ago)

you should have pummelled! very hard!

― lex logged out, Thursday, 28 July 2005 12:02 (twenty years ago)

So you didn't rip off his head and shit down his neck?

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 28 July 2005 12:03 (twenty years ago)

He needs to answer for the John Peel thing.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Thursday, 28 July 2005 12:25 (twenty years ago)

He needs to answer for the SINGING LIKE THAT thing.

― lex., Thursday, 28 July 2005 12:27 (twenty years ago)

Shoulda kissed him!

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 28 July 2005 12:46 (twenty years ago)

He Kissed Me (And It Felt Like A Hit)

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 28 July 2005 12:55 (twenty years ago)

like miccio suggested, you should have fucked him

― gear (gear), Thursday, 28 July 2005 13:26 (twenty years ago)

So I'm getting about forty seconds of face time with Conor Oberst...

Probably only takes about twenty seconds to kill a man. Spend your seconds wisely.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 28 July 2005 13:29 (twenty years ago)

Oh, it already happened? Oh well.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 28 July 2005 13:29 (twenty years ago)

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