Spreadin' the love for The Decemberists

If you missed the Decemberists show last Saturday at Emo’s, you missed one hell of a show. We’ve seen them live a few times, and they never disappoint. The sold-out show opened with Okkervil River, who gave a fantastic, energetic performance. But really, we came for Decemberists' frontman Colin Meloy and his band of suit-wearing musical misfits.

They began with the first track from their new album, Picaresque. Pounding drums, guitars, and a thrilling piano assaulted our ears and captivated the audience. We were hooked. Most of the show was comprised of songs from Picaresque, but they slipped in a few old favorites like July, July! (Castaways and Cutouts, 2003). Petra Haden, a talented vocalist/violinist who has worked with numerous artists over the years (including Beck, Luscious Jackson, and - an Austinist favorite - Ben Lee), made a welcome addition to the group with her honeyed voice and crazy violin skills. Meloy’s bashful banter filled the spaces between songs, and towards the end of the set he requested some audience participation. We were stomping, clapping, and imitating the screams one might make while being swallowed by a large whale. Typical stuff for the Decemberists, if you ask us. They closed the show after a rather long and dramatic encore, and we left the venue feeling exhilarated and even more in love with this beautiful band from Portland.

If you haven’t picked up a copy of Picaresque, we suggest doing so posthaste at your local Waterloo Records. This album is filled with bittersweet, narrative melodies that take you back to another time and place. One of the most remarkable aspects about Meloy’s songwriting is his ability to tell enchanting stories that one wouldn’t expect to hear in modern music (and he uses those SAT words you thought you’d forgotten the meanings of). It will be difficult to choose your favorite among the collection, but it’s certainly worth a try.