Mutual of Omaha
Nebraska-based synth troupe the Faint certainly lived up to their name at a sold-out Stubb’s last Saturday, where it seemed like security had to carry out another gasping young Saddle Creek fan every other song. While conducting their séance with the ghosts of Depeche Mode and Skinny Puppy, singer Todd Baechle (pictured) et al. managed to steal the show out from under nominal headliner Bright Eyes. While Conor Oberst‘s crushingly romantic songs were sprawling, elaborate, and often overwrought, at least he didn’t say anything stupid about Texas this time.This article appears in June 10 • 2005.