Veteran indie-rock crooner Conor Oberst has emerged as the latest musical icon to be the spotlight of a whimsical lookalike contest, with an unexpected twist: the Bright Eyes leader himself graced the occasion. The festive gathering unfolded on Friday, August 1st, at Omaha's communal hub, Floors, Floors, Floors, and was initially heralded in early July as a charity drive for the youth-oriented music organization, Omaha Girls Rock.
What began as a lighthearted joke soon snowballed into an invitation for attendees to don their best Oberst-inspired attire for the lookalike showdown. Adding to the indie-rock flair, the first forty arrivals were treated to a single American Spirit cigarette, a nod to the genre's unpolished charm.
Amidst the social media buzz surrounding the event, one inquisitive commentator wondered aloud about the protocol should the genuine article, Conor Oberst, decide to crash the party. The organizers humorously reassured that while he was welcome to participate, victory would remain out of his grasp.
In a recap of the evening's festivities, it transpired that not only did a modest crowd of impersonators turn up, but Oberst and his Bright Eyes bandmate Mike Nogis made surprise appearances as well. To the delight of the winner, Oberst bestowed upon them a "giant trash bag" brimming with his cast-off wardrobe. "I was spring-cleaning my closet, so you get a colossal bag filled with my duds," Oberst can be heard quipping in a video from the night.
This quirky competition transpired shortly after Bright Eyes concluded their European tour in support of their 2024 album, Five Dice, All Threes, and mere days following the release of their latest single, "1st World Blues." The band is poised to embark on a North American tour later this month, with additional dates lined up in Asia for November and December.
The notion of celebrities acknowledging and even participating in their own lookalike contests is hardly novel. In October, actor Timothée Chalamet made a guest appearance at a Manhattan lookalike contest bearing his likeness, while Drake generously donated $10,000 to a contest dedicated to him in December.
Remarkably, Dolly Parton herself once graced a lookalike contest held in her honor, albeit with an unexpected twist: she daringly decided to participate as a contestant. Sadly, the country music legend did not secure the coveted top prize.
Reflecting on the experience during an interview with ABC's Nightline in 2012, Parton reminisced, "All those breathtaking drag queens had meticulously prepared for months, crafting their attire to impeccable perfection, embodying every essence of me. So, I joined their ranks, sauntered across the stage, only to be mistaken for some diminutive, gay enthusiast. I garnered the least amount of applause, but inwardly, I was bursting with laughter. Perhaps it's fortunate that I'm a woman; otherwise, I'd be a drag queen myself, stealing the spotlight!"
