The question "Who's in the band Bright Eyes?" might be a difficult question to answer, considering the band's revolving line-up and guest musicians. While regular band members Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott are permanently fixed and acclaimed members of Bright Eyes, it's the somber creativity and stark realism of Connor Oberst that has made the band what it is today. This is all the more relevant considering Bright Eyes might not be any more tour dates or new records. In a 2009 interview, Connor Oberst declared that Bright Eyes' newest album, The People's Key, would be the band's last record. As Oberst might be quitting in favor of side projects, upcoming concert dates could be fans' last chance to see the band live. Since their debut album Letting Off Happiness in 1998, Bright Eyes has remained with Saddle Creek Records, a record label that grew from a class project by Connor's brother Justin. Because of this, Bright Eyes first album was recorded on a reel to reel in Justin and Connor's basement and didn't garner much recognition. The group was known for years as "new artists" until their album Lifted in 2002 when the world began to take notice of Oberst's edgy style and new brand of indie rock. While some saw their music as sad and depressing, Bright Eyes expressed a beauty through their sadness, with Oberst citing one of his idols: "Sometimes when you're not feeling good, you have to listen to really sad music like Elliott Smith's." This somber attitude didn't change the crowds full of fans at Bright Eyes' burgeoning concert dates. Next up for Bright Eyes were concert dates with Bruce Springsteen and R.E.M on the Vote For Change tour, which was a subtle cry against the re-election of George W. Bush. If heads were turned by this point, they certainly twisted around in 2004 when Bright Eyes singles "Lua" and "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)" grabbed the two top spots on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles, a feat that hadn't been seen in several years. A year later, on a concert date at the Tonight Show, they debuted a previously unreleased protest song called "When the President Talks to God" that not only provoked political speculation, but also garnished them a slew of independent music honors. Whether Connor Oberst will be disbanding Bright Eyes in the near future or not, Bright Eyes has tour dates beginning in April 2011. Concert dates will begin on the East Coast, slowly moving west for Coachella 2011 on April 16 and moving up the West Coast to Canada, with Death Cab For Cutie joining them on tour dates in Edmund, Calgary, and Bend, OR in May. In early June, Bright Eyes will be headed to Europe to finish their tour dates, but fans can enjoy opening bands like Jenny and Johnny, Titus Andronicus, and Farmer Dave Sher during US concert dates.

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