Conor Oberst and his band Bright Eyes are by far one of the best acts out there. I would suggest seeing them live to anyone, and the great thing about them being 'still kinda underground' is the intimate settings of the concert. I recommend their cd "Lifted or the Story Is In the Soil, Keep Your Ear Close To the Ground" it is beautifully crafted. And the genre that they fall into if you must label your music is indie or even possibly emo, but overall, it is glory. Here's a link to a great story/interview on Conor: The Onion
Enjoy!