Forest Hills Stadium kicked off its summer concert season on June 6 with a birthday party hosted by Bright Eyes. The indie-rock legends were scheduled to celebrate the 21st anniversary of two of their most impactful albums- I’m Wide Awake, it’s Morning and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, however the threat of severe storms forced the cancellation of the show after the band’s opening set.
It was back in 1998 when Conor Oberst first donned the Bright Eyes moniker. Then just 18 years old, he released A Collection Of Songs and Letting off the Happiness. He further gaining indie rock stardom with the release of Fevers and Mirrors (2000) and Lifted… (2002), adding Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott to the Bright Eyes foundation along the way.
In 2005 the band simultaneously released two new albums- I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn. On the surface, the albums could not have been more of a contrast. I’m Wide Awake was the natural progression of the Bright Eyes’ sound, blending elements of folk-rock and Americana, while Digital Ash saw the band embrace new territory. It drew influence from synth-driven bands such as The Faint, and incorporated elements of electronic instrumentation, drum machines, and synthesizers. The successful dual release firmly cemented the band in indie rock lore.
Saturday evening’s performance was scheduled to have Bright Eyes open the show and perform I’m Wide Awake, Its Morning in full, followed by a support set from Built To Spill, and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn closing the evening. It was the final show of a three-show run, with previous performances at Red Rocks Amphitheater and the Hollywood Bowl.
At exactly 6 P.M., the PA system began to play the spoken word intro from I’m Wide Awake. The stage was filled with child actors who circled the stage, dressed as key elements from the spoken story. There were clouds, an airplane, and kids dressed in party hats, drawing smiles and laughter from the crowd. As the story built in intensity, Oberst and his band took to the stage, drawing a thunderous roar from the crowd, and launched in to the opening track, “At the Bottom of Everything”.
Queens seemed the perfect setting for the celebratory performance of an album that was mostly written by Oberst while living in the city. References to the city adorn the album’s lyrics which paint a scene of loneliness and isolation amid the busy city streets, intertwining references to subway rides to Brooklyn, and participation in anti-war protests. They played in front of a backdrop that paid homage to the album’s cover, a composite of the city skyline and a scene inspired from the borough of Harlem.
Often, full-album shows can feel phoned in, like a band going through the motions but that was not the case on Saturday. Oberst and Mogis could not hide their smiles as they took to the stage, with Oberst seemingly in awe of the crowd as he looked around during the set’s opening notes. With such a legendary album, it is hard to pick highlights, however Oberst’s solo rendition of “Lua” was an early standout. His voice reminded us of Oberst at 25. Pure and vulnerable, quivering in a way that only he can deliver. For many acts, the solo rendition would get lost in such a large scale venue, but he held the audience captive, as fans sang along and eyes filled with tears.
Mogis and Walcott recreated the familiar Bright Eye’s sound of the album with precision, with Mogis adding mandolin and pedal steel guitar and Walcott contributing keyboards and trumpet. The MVP of the evening may have been Emma Ogier, who performed the background vocals originally performed Emmylou Harris. Her voice provided stunning balance and harmony to Oberst’s.
The remainder of the set played out in cinematic fashion, with an engagement in the audience during “First Day of My Life”, a stunning performance of “Land Locked Blues”, and the dramatic ending track, “Road to Joy”, which drew the loudest audience participation of the evening. As the band left the stage, anticipation was sky high for the band’s second set.
As quickly as the show reached an emotional climax, the mood shifted drastically. Soon after the band left the stage the venue’s video boards flashed notice that the rest of the evening was cancelled “due to approaching lightening and high winds”. Just like that, the evening was over. Disappointment intertwined with understanding, as heavy winds and rains greeted concert goers into the streets minutes following the cancellation.
See the remainder of the 2026 Forest Hills concert schedule here.
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