Fuck Yeah Decemberists

millhouse32:

Brand new video for the Decemberists’ “Calamity Song”

insomniation:

Completely revived my slowly becoming dormant love for them. 

52exhibits:

Exhibit 4. The Decemberists

Location: Beacon Theater (subway: 1, 2, 3 to 72nd)
Link: http://www.beacontheatre.com/events/the-decemberists-2011.html
Price: $52.90, inc. taxes & fees
Hours: Monday, 1/24 8pm; Tuesday, 1/25 8pm; Wednesday 1/26 8pm

Background: The Decemberists are touring to promote their latest album, The King is Dead.  Which I have decided is my favorite album of theirs yet. It seems more cohesive than the others, with more of a folk-y sound than usual. At first listen, you’d expect Tom Petty to start singing instead of Colin Meloy. They are about to celebrate their 10th anniversary as a band. And It’s about time I finally made it to one of their shows. The past few times they were in NY, I just never bought tickets. But I have a confession to make. I was originally going to buy 2 tickets or ask around to see if anyone else wanted to go. They’re fairly popular, so I figured I could definitely find someone to go to this one. But selfishly, I chose to buy 1 ticket, because when purchasing 1, as opposed to 2 together, the seat was way better.

Thoughts: …And by “way better,” I meant 4th row orchestra. I was about 20 feet from the stage. But it’s inevitable that when you’re 5’2”, there will be someone in front of you who is seven feet tall. This happens to me all the time. Apparently, I share musical taste with lots of tall people.
They opened with 2 songs off the new album. About a third of the concert was from the new album, which seemed to be a perfect amount. Full set list below:
Down by the Water
Rox in the Box
Calamity Song
…We Both Go Down Together
The Engine Driver
The Bagman’s Gambit
The Soldiering Life
Los Angeles, I’m Yours
Rise to Me
January Hymn (video shown above)
July, July!
Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)
The Rake’s Song
O Valencia!
This is Why We Fight
—
The Island
June Hymn

Random Observations and Comments:
- Is it just me or are all my favorite bands making their best music right now? And I almost hate being so praiseworthy of everything. Like I said, I think The King is Dead is the Decemberists’ best.
- The iPhone 4 > Canon Powershot when it comes to concert photos and video.
- I love the Beacon Theater and its proximity to my apartment. Not to mention how easy it is to get a cab after a concert there, which I can’t say about any other venue I’ve ever been to.
- Posting music as art is not at all cheating, although I promise next one will not be music related.

Rating: 7/10

Additional Photos: