Commander Venus

While still early in his high school years, Conor Oberst directed his attention away from typical teenage concerns such as securing a homecoming date, steering clear of confrontational athletes, or sitting through regular football matches. In 1994 the 14-year-old joined forces with Ben Armstrong on drums, Robb Nansel on guitar, and Todd Baechle on bass to launch Commander Venus, where Oberst himself handled guitar and vocals. Skipping classes and pep rallies to perform around Omaha, NE, the musicians pooled resources to establish the influential Saddle Creek label and released their debut album, Do You Feel at Home?, in 1995. The record prompted comparisons to Sunny Day Real Estate, Pavement, Pixies, and Superchunk, leading Grass Recordings to issue the follow-up Uneventful Vacation two years later. Commander Venus nevertheless dissolved before the decade closed, after which Oberst earned both underground and mainstream recognition through Bright Eyes.