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Bright Eyes Reflects on 21 Years of "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" at Hollywood Bowl Show

Conor Oberst and Bright Eyes performed "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" in its entirety at the Hollywood Bowl, reflecting on how the album's political themes remain relevant two decades later.

Variety Music·May 26, 2026·via Variety Music

Bright Eyes Reflects on 21 Years of "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" at Hollywood Bowl Show

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May 26, 2026 10:10am PT

Bright Eyes Revisits the Past With Politically-Charged Album Anniversary Show at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl: Concert Review

By Steven J. Horowitz

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Steven J. Horowitz

Senior Music Writer

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Conor Oberst was only on the third song of “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning” at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday evening when he came to reflect on how the world has — or, more pointedly, hasn’t — changed in the 21 years since the album’s release. “It’s this much later and we’re in a war in the Middle East for the sake of rich people getting richer,” he told the audience as he cued up “Old Soul Song (for the New World Order),” a tune about attending a rally or protest in the Bush era, possibly about the Iraq war.