CONCERT: The Decemberists at The Murat Theatre

So our server is still down and out, and we're really sorry about that. It couldn't have happened at a worse time for Logan and I, with both of us moving/starting grad school/etc. - and we regret that we haven't been able to figure out a solution yet. There's so many great things I've wanted to post recently but haven't because of our server-limitations. Just know that we are going to figure it out. And we really will try to do it soon.

Saturday my wife took me to see The Decemberists at The Murat Theatre here in Indy (it was a late birthday present - one of the many reasons I'm in love with this woman), and I wish I had the time and/or words to describe it. I'd been excited to see them, but after the show I felt like my anticipation wasn't even near what it should have been. I knew they were performing their recent rock-opera-opus-magnum-whatever The Hazards of Love in its entirety, and I knew they had Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond and Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond on the tour to complete the albums amazing vocal trio. But I didn't really understand just what that meant until the night was over. I'll try to explain it - but if I fail, just know this: if you can, see them on this tour!

The actual Hazards of Love part of the show was fun, full of animal-morphing mischief, slashing guitar riffs, Colin Meloy sticking rigidly in character and Shara Worden conjuring up something unimaginable. This is why we'd come, and it certainly didn't disappoint. But the second half of the night is what completely won me over. After a brief intermission they re-took the stage, bantering and laughing and leading audience-sing-alongs as they tackled selections from every one of their previous albums, plus a new song called "Down By The Water" (which was, by the way, fantastic). Shara came back out to sing the female lead in "Yankee Bayonet" before the band played the worst song Colin's ever written (apparently), about Dracula's offspring. Honestly, who knew that Colin Meloy was so endearing? I sure didn't. And neither did my wife, who now has a crush on him and his quill-written word-playing.

But the best wasn't until the end of the night. Both of the Diamond girls came out to finish the set with a show-stealing cover of Heart's "Crazy On You". (I've included a video below, which is required listening.) Finally, to close out the night they wrapped up with "Sons and Daughters", complete with Chris Funk on hurdy gurdy and the entire theatre chanting "Hear all the bombs, they fade away" into the night. I think that may have been one of the best show-closing numbers I've ever seen. At least right now I can't think of any that can top it. It was that good.

So like I said. If you can, see them on this tour. And if you can't, just see them sometime. Deal? Deal.

Anyway, here's the setlist:

Set 1: The Hazards of Love (straight through)

Set 2: July July! / Billy Liar / The Sporting Life - This Charming Life (The Smiths cover) / Down By The Water (new) / The Crane Wife 3 / Yankee Bayonet (I'll Be Home Then) / Dracula's Daughter / O Valencia / Crazy On You (Heart cover)

Encore: Raincoat Song / Sons & Daughters

And the video:

CONCERT: Sasquatch '09

I don't even know where to begin. (And by the length of this post, I don't know when to stop either.)
Except maybe to say, "Never forget your camera."
Followed by, "Don't stand too close to the guy with no pants."

Two adages I learned the hard way this year at the Sasquatch Music Festival.

Right now I'm in some pretty dire financial straits and in the weeks leading up to Sasquatch the $60 some odd dollars I spent on my one-day Saturday ticket months before seemed ill-advised. ($60 can purchase a fair number of Hot and Ready pizzas. 12 before taxes.)

Then the prospect of driving from Provo to the Gorge was pretty daunting. We've had a lot of good memories Idaho, but driving through your southern portion...not one of them. I only stopped to go to the bathroom there. Seemed like a fitting tribute...

At the Gorge I started thinking of the full day I was about to endure in the hot sun, craning my neck for a better view, all the while avoiding having the drunk co-eds who sneaked alcohol in plastic baggies stuffed into their bikini tops (point for creativity) from vomiting on me. I became prematurely exhausted and muttered to myself, "Maybe I'm getting too old for this stuff." (For the record, I'm 25)

So that was my attitude going into this. Pretty crappy. (And $10 for a personal pizza didn't help my already cash-strapped self)

Then the music started and 800 miles suddenly seemed like nothing. A paltry distance to travel for what I was suddenly seeing and hearing.

I forgot about the sun, I forgot about the heat, and I forgot that I really didn't have the money to be there, but I was reminded why I love music.
I was entranced. I simply could not believe that there were people not fixed 100% on the stage. Were they not hearing what I was hearing or did they simply want pleasant background music to enjoy their $9 beer?

Why I love music and who reminded me of that love...playlist style.

How much crazy fun can music be? Whatever the answer is to that question Animal Collective is pushing that. They turned it up to '11'
mp3: Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes

The Hazards of Love from beginning to end. Simply astounding. The Rake Song blew me away. Heck, the whole thing blew me away. (And as though you need any other reason to see them, they're touring with Blind Pilot. Another festival fave.)
mp3: The Decemberists - The Rake Song
mp3: Blind Pilot - Oviedo

The Kings of Leon were always meant to play the Gorge. Their huge arena rock sound deserves to be played at such venues. This song has been played in the back of my mind since. ("...given the chance I'm gonna be somebody. If for one dance I'm gonna be somebody.")
mp3: Kings of Leon - Be Somebody

And at the top of everything. The King of Whisper Rock and the Queen of the Taiga. Breathtakingly beautiful.
mp3: Bon Iver - Flume



Thanks for reading.

VIDEO: Decemberists v. Colbert: Round 2

WARNING: When Shara Worden started singing Chris kind of died and felt weak at the knees. So take precaution.

I know there are a lot of you that are still on the fence about the Decemberists' latest The Hazards of Love. I think its fantastic.
And I hope this little performance they did for Stephen Colbert will convince a few of you of the majesty that is this album and the power that is the Decemberists.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Decemberists - The Wanting Comes in Waves
colbertnation.com
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ALBUM: The Hazards of Love

A little over a year and a half ago Chris and I realized we had attended one too many monster truck rallys/rodeos/demolition derbys and were perilously close to devolving into the detritus of society. So in order to retain a shred of culture in our lives, we got ourselves dates and attended a local presentation of the opera, Marriage of Figaro. (Usually we just take in a foreign film. Subtitles are a great resource for culture.)
Although when we found out the thing was three hours long and totally in Italian we almost didn't make it. (It was subtitled thank heavens.)
And if I'm being totally honest, I kind of enjoyed it.

And if I'm being totally honest about The Decemberist's The Hazards of Love, I'm more than enjoying it. I'm loving it.

Why the story about the opera? Just a fun little segue into this fun fact: The Hazards of Love is actually a rock-opera!
Congrats Decemberists at joining the illustrious ranks of The Who's Tommy and Pink Floyd's The Wall.

But with previous albums having multiple songs surpassing the ten-minute mark, who didn't see this coming?

The Decemberists have abandoned their past formula of albums composed of short-vignettes for one epic story played out through the entirety of the album. There is a cast of characters (voiced by a group of all-stars), recurring musical themes ranging anywhere from folky to heavy metal, and quite a bit of drama. (I won't spoil the ending for you.)

This album is nothing less than spectacular.

And as a special treat, The Decemberists debuted The Hazards of Love in its entireity at SXSW and you can stream it at NPRs website here.

UPDATE: Once again, a post has been taken down...this is getting out of hand. Go to Hype Machine or Elbo.ws and search for an mp3.

The Decemberists - The Rake's Song
from the album The Hazards of Love (Amazon/iTunes)

SONG: Happy December

Happy December!

What a lovely month! Icy roads, finals, the non-optional social obligation of gift giving , and the thought that you're once again entering the holiday season all alone.

Ok, so it's not all bad because now we can listen to The Decemberists non-stop in celebration of the month that bears their name. (Yes I meant to say it like that. I really love The Decemberists)

And on an even brighter note, we can all look forward to the release of the third and final volume of the band's Always the Bridesmaid series which is due to be released on December 2nd.

In all seriousness, this is a great season. Go sledding, drink some eggnog, and enjoy The Decemberists.

The Decemberists - Valerie Plame
from the EP Always the Bridesmaid: Volume 1 (Amazon/iTunes)

ALBUM: I'll burn this whole city down

I just love this whole album and I find myself loving people who love this album.
The Decemberists have crafted one of the finest with The Crane Wife. Musical styling that vary from chilling folk to pounding rock to a synthesizer driven beat and to top it off, a sea chanty.
And that's only one song.

Much of the album is made up of short vignettes like the Romeo-and-Juliet-esque O Valencia or the frightening Shankill Butchers. (Which I only found out who they were while writing this post. Why do people hate each other so much?)

But where the Decemberists really shine is their ballads.
The title track is an old Japanese folk tale and a whopping 15:38 (a gorgeous 15:38.) which is complimented by The Island, an amazing and unsettling retelling of Shakespeare's The Tempest (clocking in at 12:26.)

The Crane Wife is really one of those albums you need to fully experience. A casual listen in a buddy's car will never do this work justice.

The Decemberists - O Valencia
from the album The Crane Wife (Amazon/iTunes)