He was Bright Eyes, now he's just Conor Oberst. And now he not only fronts the Mystic Valley Band -- he's also a member. Case in point: for the band's Coachella debut on Day One of the California festival, Oberst let others sing their originals, too, including drummer Jason Boesel's 'Eagle on a Pole.' Oberst didn't only appear humble within the confines of his own group -- he also dedicated 'The Beach' to "my brother M. Ward," who played right before Oberst. He later said, "We've only got a couple more songs and then to the best of my knowledge, something really special is going to happen after that." Oberst was referring to Leonard Cohen's headlining set.

But special things happened during his own set, too, as he focused almost exclusively on material from the Mystic Valley Band's upcoming CD, 'Outer South,' including the CD and set opener, 'Slowly,' and 'Air Mattress' -- a song that unintentionally nailed it for thousands of Coachella-ers who'll be sleeping on air mattresses in the campgrounds and nearby rental houses tonight. Conor Oberst had the bright idea that he could play all unknown material for a large festival crowd and still get them into it. Lucky for him, he was right.

Bright Eyes
Inspired by Art Garfunkel's 'Bright Eyes'

Likely encountered in the 1978 animated film about rabbits, 'Watership Down.' We're still waiting for Conor Oberst to return the favor when some new four-piece band names itself A Spindle, a Darkness, a Fever and a Necklace.


Download Bright Eyes Songs

This just in: Courtney Love has something to say. OK, so she might not be totally insane in thinking that MTV's VMAs are no longer as musically relevant as they once were, but to say "y'all need some p---- and some c--- and shut the hell up" ... Courtney, you're a lady. Kinda.

Love's cumbersome blog begins with her admitting that she didn't actually attend (or even watch) the show this year and it ends with her signing off as "KooKoo."

"I didnt go to the 'VMAS' as we used to call them but they've gotten so f---ing Urban," she writes. "I dont know I guess Van Toffler thought (hes an exec at MTV) he was being edgy and he WAS by letting my darkling prince [Russell] Brand host the MTV awards -- but theyre not the 'VMAS' and they never will be again."

What follows are 2,035 unfocused words that lead to half-formed thoughts (mortgage fraud), old rants (Ryan Adams), new praises (Bright Eyes) and every once in awhile, fury at the VMAs.

'From a Balance Beam,' Bright Eyes
From 2002's 'Lifted: Or the Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground'

When this album came out I literally scraped coins together -- some from the floor of my car, some from the floor of my apartment -- and went to Newbury Comics on Newbury Street in Boston, and bought it. I remember the price even: $11.88. Best $11.88 I ever spent.

While this album produced a few songs that are still in the Bright Eyes rotation, 'From a Balance Beam' -- a song deals with stage fright and the pressure that comes with being in the spotlight -- is the one that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up and turns my skin cold. Conor Oberst writes like a Shakespearean poet on this album. He tells lavish stories accented with imagery.

Artist: Conor Oberst
Songs: 'Danny Callahan'
Album: 'Conor Oberst'
Sounds Like: Bright Eyes, M. Ward
Why You Should Listen: Indie rock's unofficial poet laureate is releasing his first solo album in 13 years, finally free from the creative constraints of ... having a band name? (True, Bright Eyes have a rotating lineup of musicians, but given that the albums have always been an Oberst affair, we're as confused as you are.)

Download: 'Danny Callahan' (MP3)

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Maria Taylor has a permanent case of wanderlust. The singer-songwriter now lives in Los Angeles, by way of Omaha, NE, by way of Athens, GA. She's originally from Birmingham, AL. "I'm living in another place and letting go of other aspects of my life," Taylor tells Spinner. "And I wanted to get away from the cold."

Taylor is escaping from more than just the cold. When discussing her new album, which she is currently recording in various locations around the country -- namely, her old cities -- she said the songs had a more "positive outlook." "They have less of a somber tone," she says.

Taylor has been enjoying California and her new Silverlake neighborhood, making new friends and preparing for a tour with Johnathan Rice, boyfriend of Jenny Lewis. Undoubtedly, Lewis and other Rilo Kiley members are part of Taylor's new scene; Rilo Kiley is a former Saddle Creek band, which has released two Taylor solo albums. But old connections always bring about new ones. Also on the tour is Nik Freitas, who has just released an album on Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes' other label, Team-Love.

• Conor Oberst will release a new solo album -- his first in 13 years -- on August 4. The dewey-eyed rocker also has a handful of live dates lined up, including an appearance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in September.

• Stone Temple Pilots may offer up some new music following their run of reunion shows this summer. "I think new material will come probably after this tour," bassist Robert DeLeo told Billboard. "I think the whole thing now is kind of getting back and re-acclimating ourselves to the songs that we know. I think that's gonna make for a better atmosphere and better performances ... instead of doing a new record."

• The marriage of Jay-Z and Beyonce is official, according to a town clerk in a New York City suburb. The couple, who reportedly tied the knot on April 4 but have yet to confirm such details, have since filed marriage papers.

• Bauhaus' Peter Murphy will launch a lengthy solo tour this summer, beginning May 30 in Seattle. The jaunt is set to wrap on July 12 in Dallas.