By: Claire Finger

I can’t remember when I first heard the iconic opening notes of “First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes.
All I know is that the song found me—and for that, I am forever grateful.
Yes, it may sound cheesy, but my love for Bright Eyes’ signature acoustic melodies has spanned at least a decade.
I write this with complete sincerity:
Bright Eyes has provided the soundtrack to some of my life’s most significant moments.
Their song “Lua” was one of the first songs I learned while teaching myself guitar and ukulele, and “First Day of My Life” became a staple as I played open mic nights throughout my high school years.
I remember walking through the halls on one of my last days of high school (of course, COVID-19 cutting my high school experience short meant my last day of high school was on an arbitrary Friday in March) watching snow gently tap on the window frames, listening to their songs.
Bright Eyes carried me through moving into college, heartbreak, joy, and laughter.
And, funnily enough, I have yet to see them in concert.
I couldn’t be more excited to finally see them this spring, as they come to play The Sylvee on April 3rd, 2025.