The Decemberists have been one of those bands that keep coming to town, and something always comes up and I never get to see them. So on November 1st (wow, this entry is LATE) I finally went with my friend Brita to the McDonal Theatre to see the Decemberists. The tickets were pretty cheap and I figured it wouldn’t be too bad. At the time I went because I thought the music was okay, but mostly to go with Brita.
OH. EM. GEE. Both NW and ‘Cemberists put on a FABULOUS live show. There was so much energy and all of it positive. Colin, the front man for the ‘Cemberists, is an absolute HAM on stage, and it’s so much fun. It’s like watching your friend’s garage band playing around, but the music is better. Everybody seems like they’re friends, and they’re always smiling and laughing.
For example, Petra, who does violin, had a long solo in one of the songs. She was loving it and kept dragging it out, and suddenly, out of nowhere, she starts playing the Star Wars theme. Colin looks over at her and gives her this look like “What the HELL are you doing?!” When she did it again, Colin walked over to some of the other musicians and starts making gestures like “Can you believe this? WTF?”
Personally, I like what Neighborhoodies said about the Decemberists the best: “Somewhere in a hot-air balloon up above the ocean, Colin Meloy is planning the world’s first pirate-themed chamber-pop opera—of this, I am convinced.” And it’s so true…
