Conor Oberst Copes With Post-Apocalyptic Life in New Video
Conor Oberst lives out a depressing, post-apocalyptic nervous breakdown in the video for “Common Knowledge,” an extension to the clip for another Upside Down Mountain song, “Zigzagging Toward the Light.” Continuing where the latter video left off – a dawning nuclear winter obliterating cities, forests and oceans, after Oberst traversed city streets singing the song – “Common Knowledge” picks up with an unemotional, almost robotic, female voice asking exit-interview questions like, “Do you have any regrets?” (He does.)
A mirror image of its predecessor, “Common Knowledge,” shows Oberst looking ragged and unkempt as he wanders the same streets, interacting with a few other survivors and sifting through a box of copies of Upside Down Mountain LPs in an act of cunning product placement. By the end of it, his depression gets the best of him and he starts to try to move past his funk, even though the clip ends with more interview questions about what once was.
In addition to premiering the video, Oberst has announced that he will be putting out a Record Store Day seven-inch on November 28th. It will contain two previously unreleased songs, “Standing on the Outside” and “Sugar Street,” which he recorded during the sessions for his current album.
Oberst will be embarking on a North American tour in support of Upside Down Mountain later this month. Jonathan Wilson will serve as support for most dates, though John Prine will accompany him at the Los Angeles gig.
Conor Oberst Tour Dates:
September 14 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
September 16 – Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater
September 18 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
September 19 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues
September 20 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
September 21 – Dallas, TX @ AT&T Performing Arts Center – Annette Strauss Artist Square
September 23 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theatre
September 24 – Aspen, CO @ Belly Up
September 25 – Bellvue, CO @ Mishawaka Amphitheatre
September 27 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
September 28 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
September 30 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox at the Market
October 1 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
October 3 – San Francisco, CA @ Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
October 4 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
October 5 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
October 11 – Mexico City, MX @ Corona Capital Music Festival