Desaparecidos Profile
The underground indie culture of the turn of the millennium is coming back to a loud applause, almost as if to say ‘I told you so’:
The return of 2003’s neurotic television series Arrested Development through a new season and movie, after casting emerging stars Michael Cera and a solid cast including Jeffery Tambour, Michael Cross, and Jason Bateman.
Freaks and Geeks, which barely hit 18 episodes, is getting retrospective acclaim (and a rumored movie deal) for launching the immensely popular careers of producer Judd Apatow, and actors Jason Segel, Seth Rogen, and James Franco.
Influential indie band Neutral Milk Hotel’s Jeff Mangum is breaking his touring hiatus to perform live acoustic sets, and perhaps bolster support for an upcoming recording or reunion.
[Editor's Note: The Postal Service, famous for 2003's Give Up, which was SubPop Record's best selling album since Nirvana's Bleach, are getting back together. Their album in 10 years, featuring new song "A Tattered Line of String", comes out later this year.]
And Conor Oberst, most famously known for being the lead singer of Bright Eyes and creator of Omaha’s Saddle Creek Records, is returning to his politically charged side project Desaparecidos, who released their debut album Read Music/SpeakSpanish in 2002.
All of these things are seemingly combining to make culture nostalgic for its fairly recent past.
Desaparecidos, formed of Saddle Creek alumni, are a post-hardcore band known for criticizing suburban development, the Bush Administration, as well as current issues within the music industry (“Backsell”) and the border dispute in Arizona (“Marikkkopa”). The band name is Spanish for “the disappeared ones”, referencing arrested citizens in South American military governments, whose citizenship was subsequently erased from major government documents. While the band received early attention by touring with Jimmy Eat World, Conor Oberst announced that he could not devote full attention to Desaparecidos. Subsequently in 2005, Bright Eyes made their mainstream debut with the releases of Digital Ash In a Digital Urn and I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning, including a huge tour to follow.
Desaparecidos’ did not reunite again until 2010’s Concert For Equality, protesting immigration laws in Nebraska.
The combination of the recent controversial immigration issues in Nebraska and Arizona along with Oberst’s current lapse between his many musical endeavors (Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, etc.), has allowed for the reunification and new recordings of Desaparecidos.
The band is coming to The Beacham in Orlando on February 19. You can find show and ticket information here.