Barely into his first year of high school, Conor Oberst had other things on his mind than the pressures of finding a homecoming date, evading aggressive jocks, and attending weekly football games. Along with the slightly older Ben Armstrong (drums), Robb Nansel (guitar), and Todd Baechle (bass), the 14-year-old Oberst formed Commander Venus in 1994 with himself on guitar and vocals. Cutting class and pep rallies in order to play shows in Omaha, NE, Oberst and company got together some money, formed the influential label Saddle Creek, and issued their first album with 1995's Do You Feel at Home? Comparisons to Sunny Day Real Estate, Pavement, Pixies, and Superchunk followed, and Commander Venus' second album Uneventful Vacation was issued two years later courtesy of Grass Recordings. Commander Venus disbanded before the decade ended, however, and Oberst went on to achieve both underground and mainstream acclaim with Bright Eyes. ~ Mike DaRonco