Cassadaga, a record named after a Florida spiritualist community, will very likely be regarded as one of the best albums of 2007. But it nearly got the better of Conor Oberst at the first of two sell-out Shepherds Bush gigs.

With his mane of hair and white suit, the Bright Eyes frontman resembled the dandyish half of some Las Vegas magic act rather than a burgeoning indie-rock superstar.

He has been anointed by various music legends including Lou Reed, who recently duetted with him in New York. Yet the 27-year-old from Nebraska didn't quite live up to his formidable reputation at first. It wasn't for lack of ambition: there were 12 musicians, including two female drummers and a string section. But they couldn't consistently carry off the new record's lush, orchestrated folk-rock.

Fortunately, Bright Eyes have an astonishing 10 albums to draw from, and this show came to life with 2000's The Calendar Hung Itself, a rambunctious tune featuring a shrill saxophone.

Suddenly, it was as if Oberst had broken free from some musical straitjacket, and the band rolled out a barnstorming rendition of Soul Singer in a Session Band.

With the sublime rhythms of Gold Mine Gutted during the encore, Oberst's cheering fans were clearly in no doubt about his genius. After another 10 albums, the rest of the world will probably agree.