Conor Oberst to Open Bar in Omaha, Reunites Desaparecidos

According to the Omaha World-Herald, singer-songwriter and noted drinker Conor Oberst will open a cocktail bar in the Dundee district of his hometown, Omaha. Teaming up with fellow Omaha musician Phil Schaffart, Oberst will open a space tentatively named Pageturners Lounge. The space, leased in February, will be a cocktail lounge and not a live music venue. The bar isn’t expected to open for several months as Oberst and Schaffart still need to secure various permits and licenses for liquor, occupancy, outdoor areas, and more.

Oberst will also reunite his band Desaparecidos on August 11th at Omaha’s Maha Music Festival. Most known for his work as the frontman of Bright Eyes, Oberst started Desaparecidos as a more aggressive and dissonant side project to the folk-oriented Bright Eyes. Desaparecidos released one record, 2002’s Read Music/Speak Spanish, and dissolved soon after.