Seeing Bright Eyes and Cursive on a double bill in 2026 felt like a fever dream.  As a fan since *only* 2004, I’ve never gotten the chance to see both Omaha, NE acts perform on the same night, and Saturday’s show at the Salt Shed did not disappoint.  Highlights from Cursive’s set included The Ugly Organ classic “Art Is Hard”, and “The Martyr”, a classic from Cursive’s Domestica.  Their set ended with a fervent performance of ‘From the Hips,’ the crescendo-driven closer from 2009’s Mama, I’m Swollen.  

Bright Eyes put on an exceptional performance, with the setlist spanning across multiple albums.  Standout songs included Lifted’s “Method Acting”, and “Loose Leaves”, a rarity from 2002’s There Is No Beginning To the Story EP that hadn’t been performed since 2005’s I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning tour.  Hurray For the Riff Raff’s Alynda Segarra joined the band for an eerily beautiful performance of “Lua”, from I’m Wide Awake, Its Morning, and “Clairaudients (Kill or Be Killed)” from 2007’s Cassadaga.  The show ended with an insane performance of “Let’s Not Kill Ourselves (To Love and To Be Loved)”, closing out an amazing show at the Salt Shed.