Spring is here; send in the Decemberists
A few entries are needed just to catch up on events of the last week. Stupid NCAA Tournament! I’m doing miserably in my own pool. Oh, the ignominy!
First and best, I went to see The Decemberists at Bimbo’s on Wednesday night. I’m only recently on The Decemberists’ bandwagon and I’ve very impressed by what I’ve heard; they’ve raced up my personal hot list to pretty darn near daily play. I had no idea how popular they’d become, though I guess two sold out nights should have been a tip-off.
As jaunty and confident as their records are, that’s nothing versus how they are on stage. When faced with a band that’s sporting a line-up of accordion, violin, 12-string, pedal steel, stand-up bass and tympani, ordinarily you’re looking at a lot of pretense and seriousness. Well, yes, The Decemberists have that as well, but they pull it off with such aplomb and joy. And the songs are vibrant with story, meaning and empathy for the characters that inhabit them. (Unlike, say, an Evelyn Waugh novel.) Ray Davies got nothin’ on Colin Meloy.
Another surprise at the show was how many people were singing along to their new album, Picaresque, which was only officially out a day at that point, which means that a hefty percentage of the audience had downloaded the album and memorized it already. I guess the band should be pleased that these folks (DISCLOSURE: of which I am one) attend the show and support the band. But we are really into a whole other financial model for bands’ livelihoods when they can’t count on their most passionate fans to buy their music. Don’t forget to see a show or buy a T-shirt! (Or in the Decemberists’ case, donate to their equipment fund.)
In the spirit of the above — and since you may have Picaresque already anyway — here is a link to the fun low-budget video for the new single, a fantasia on the US empire and the people you used to avoid in high school.
[Soundtrack]
the decemberists :: 16 military wives
