With about three weeks to go on the drop date for Outer South – the new album from Conor Oberst and backup-turned-headlining group Mystic Valley Band – a documentary chronicling the musicians’ past year and change will be available online beginning April 15th.
One of My Kind, shot by Mystic Valley guitar tech Phil Schaffart, covers Oberst & Co. making their first album together, Conor Oberst, in Mexico, their subsequent world tour, then hunkering down in El Paso to record Outer South.
The hour-long film is officially being presented by causecast.org – where viewers are encouraged to make donations to a number of non-profit groups in lieu of paying for the film itself – but will also be available for streaming or download at Merge Records, Wichita Recordings and the Independent Film Channel.
“In January 2008, Conor Oberst went to Tepoztlan, Mexico to make a solo record,” the first title card of the trailer reads, then follows up in faux-dramatic fashion: “He accidentally formed a band.” A prejudged critique: what One of My Kind may lack in, say, the sweaty verite of “Gimme Shelter” or the Sturm und Drang of “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart”, it’ll make up for in pretty boys making pretty music.
Conor Oberst & the Mystic River Band 2009 Tour Dates:
04/11 – Aspen, CO @ Belly Up
04/12 – El Paso, TX @ Barnett Harley Davidson
04/13 – Albuquerque, NM @ The Sunshine Theater
04/14 – Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
04/15 – Pomona, CA @ The Glasshouse
04/17 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Music Festival
06/17 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep
06/18 – Telluride, CO @ Telluride Bluegrass Festival
06/19 – Moab, UT @ Star Hall
06/20 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Library Square
06/21 – Boise, ID @ The Knitting Factory
06/23 – Missoula, MT @ Wilma Theater
06/24 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
06/25 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
06/26 – Omaha, NE @ Anchor Inn
06/28 – Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont
06/29 – Columbia, MO @ The Blue Note
06/30 – Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall
07/01 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
07/02 – Bearsville, NY @ Bearsville Theater
07/03 – New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place