CALGARY -- Conor Oberst is not exactly a bushy tailed, glass-half-full entertainer.

When Oberst (aka Bright Eyes) hits a stage his usual modus operandi is to keep things as morose as possible while he warms up to the audience.

But last night's Halloween performance at the University of Calgary's MacEwan Hall was a little out of character for the usually sullen folk singer.

Oberst hit the stage as his familiar shy and introspective self, playing a few songs off his 2005 hit album I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, before segueing into his recent endeavour, Cassadaga.

But, then he did something out of character and made an attempt to be festive -- Oberst had his band decked out in bright orange t-shirts.

"We're dressed as jack o' lanterns," he explained to the crowd of about 1,400 fans.

That was about as lively as Oberst got -- that, and a voice modifier which made him sound like the bad guy from the Scream movies when he spoke between songs. It was a valid attempt, and we certainly didn't expect him to jump on stage dressed up as Bozo the Clown or Captain Hook, but gee whiz, Conor, let loose and drop the grumpy-pants act already -- you go as that sad emo-guy every single year.

Last night was solid, but the sound was muddy and Oberst wasn't as dynamic as when he graced the same stage in 2006.

He's been called the Bob Dylan of this generation -- his brand of earnest, indie folk tunes have attracted collaborations from Emmylou Harris and Gillian Welch to Neil Young and Lou Reed.

While the 27-year-old's music has been catagorized as emo, this underestimates of what Oberst is all about.

Oberst is much more than a mere introspective folkie.

The politically outspoken, anti- George Bush, anti-war, anti-anything remotely Republican, songwriter is full of artsie-angst and has a beautiful ability to tell stories with music.