ACL Aftershow: Conor Oberst, Jenny Lewis & M. Ward @ La Zona Rosa

Approaching La Zona Rosa around eight o'clock last night, the line was already wrapped around the block. By the time doors opened at nine, the crowd began to swiftly move towards the stage.

By 10, the one-man-wonder, M. Ward, took the stage to deliver soulful tunes backed up by his minimal acoustic guitar. Ward was clearly popular with the majority of the crowd, but some groups tended to talk over his slow songs, perhaps still energized from an ACL high. Ward ended the set by bringing up musicians Gillian Welch and David Rawlings for a folksy collaboration.

Next, Jenny Lewis performed songs off her new solo album, Acid Tongue. Opening on the piano, and eventually moving up to the microphone for the rest of the set, Lewis, accompanied by her band, gave a dynamic performance. During the set, actor Bill Murray could be spotted beside the stage. Lewis' performance was impressive to say the least. Even though her album had been out for less than a week, the crowd excitedly sang and danced along like each song was an old classic.

Shortly before Conor Oberst came on stage, Bill Murray was spotted by a large portion of the crowd, who began to scream out his name, and various other comments like "What About Bob!" Murray faded into the crowd on the side of the stage a bit, and the comments stopped when Oberst appeared. Murray could still be seen swaying--eventually dancing, during the remainder of the show. Oberst and his Mystic Valley Band performed songs off their new record, and various other tunes.

After an electrifying set with his band (including a song dedication to Oberst's friend "Bill" coincidence, I think not), Oberst returned for a strictly acoustic encore with M. Ward. As they began, Oberst informed the crowd that it was getting late, and he wouldn't be offended if anyone went home to sleep. Together the pair performed several songs, among them "Lenders in the Temple," the Bright Eyes tune "Smoke Without Fire" and a Lucinda Williams cover with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.