Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The Decemberists

Black clouds filled the sky Saturday night, and the weather radar screamed red from all the phones, but we were not to be deterred, so off we went to see the Decemberists at the Raleigh Amphitheater.

When we arrived, plastic still covered all the instruments, and the show's fate was uncertain. After about half an hour of delay, however, the roadies uncovered a few of the instrument clusters and the opening act, Best Coast, hit the stage. They didn't win me completely, but they were just good enough that I am going to give their music a try. Here's a video so you can do the same.



As their show proceeded, the rain began to fall, first small drops and then a steady drizzle. The drizzle continued long enough that I began to worry that the powers that be would cancel the show. Fortunately, the rain never turned into a full storm, and the showgivers kept it running.

The Decemberists hit the stage in a burst of indie energy and delivered over an hour and a half (counting the two encores) of excellent and highly varied music. I've really only known their Hazards of Love album, but now I clearly need to listen to their many other albums (and have ordered them all).

I loved a lot of what I heard. So you can sample their music, here are three I chose at random from YouTube that I enjoyed. I hope you do, too.





2 comments:

vampi said...

I adore the Decmberists. i've seen them live 3 times now, and it's always a wonderful show. Picaresque and Crane wife are 2 of my fav albums. I really dig their style. i typically describe them to others as literary sea shanties. so far everyone i have turned onto the decemberists has loved them as well.

of angels and angles and sons and daughters

as always you have excellent choice in music :)

Mark said...

Thanks for the kind words. This was my first show of theirs, but with any luck, it will not be my last.

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