PopMatters writer Jordan Blum reviewed The Decemberists show in Philadelphia from earlier this week, where he wrote, “The Decemberists are known for their eccentric yet faithful live sets, and the group exceeded expectations on this night. The fact that they represented almost their entire discography, instead of focusing on only material from the new collection, was wise and appreciated, and Meloy’s antics between songs proved how unpretentious yet confident and tongue-in-cheek he is.” You should read the entire show review here.
We were able to capture pictures of the band’s performance with Alvvays at the Beacon Theatre in New York the night before, where lead-singer Colin Meloy had said to the crowd, “I’ll break you before the night is through”. And then sure enough, later on, when everyone was standing up and singing-along, he said “I know this is a city of meek and shy people who have a hard time expressing themselves. But I really feel you’ve come a long way… A bond of trust has grown from earlier in the night when you were sitting, and now you are standing.” Check out photos and tour dates below, as this was one of my favorite shows of the year (and the Decemberists new album What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World is their best since The Crane Wife, in my opinion).
Alvvays:
The Decemberists:
Decemberists setlist:
The Singer Addresses His Audience
Cavalry Captain
Down by the Water
Hank Eat Your Oatmeal / Calamity Song
Grace Cathedral Hill
Anti-Summersong
Make You Better
The Wrong Year
The Island
Los Angeles, I’m Yours
Carolina Low
The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won’t Wrestle the Thistles Undone)
A Bower Scene
Won’t Want for Love (Margaret in the Taiga)
The Rake’s Song
16 Military Wives
Dracula’s Daughter
O Valencia!
A Beginning Song
[encore break]
12/17/12
The Mariner’s Revenge Song
Alvvays tour dates:
04/10 – Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
04/11 – Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
04/13 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
05/25 – George, WA @ Sasquatch Music Festival
06/07 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Three Rivers Arts Festival
06/09 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
06/10 – Hamden, CT @ The Space
06/11 – Washington, DC @ Echo Stage
06/12 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
06/13 – Brooklyn, NY @ Northside Fest
07/17 – Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival
07/24 – Oro-Medonte, ON @ Way Home Music & Arts Festival
07/25 – Oro-Medonte, ON @ Way Home Music & Arts Festival
07/26 – Oro-Medonte, ON @ Way Home Music & Arts Festival
07/31 – Montreal, QC @ Osheaga Music Festival
08/01 – Montreal, QC @ Osheaga Music Festival
08/02 – Montreal, QC @ Osheaga Music Festival
08/07 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands
08/08 – Squamish, Canada @ Squamish Valley Music Festival
08/28 – Reading, UK @ Reading Festival
08/29 – Leeds, UK @ Leeds Festival
08/30 – York, UK @ The Duchess
08/31 – Sheffield, UK @ The Leadmill
09/01 – Cardiff, UK @ The Globe
09/02 – Bristol, UK @ The Fleece
09/03 – Notingham, UK @ Rescue Rooms
09/05 – Laois, Ireland @ Electric Picnic
09/06 – Gardenstown, UK @ End of the Road Festival
09/07 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
09/09 – Glasgow, UK @ Oran Mor 2
09/10 – Manchester, UK @ Academy
09/11 – London, UK @ Shepherds Bush Empire
Decemberists tour dates:
April 10 – The Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
April 11 – The Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
April 12 – Rhythm N’ Blooms Festival – Knoxville, TN
April 13 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
April 29 – Mesa Performing Arts Center – Mesa, AZ
April 30 – North Park Theatre – San Diego, CA
May 1 – Greek Theatre – Berkeley, CA
May 2 – Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
May 22 – Les Schwab Amphitheatre – Bend, OR
May 24 – Big Sky Brewing Company – Missoula, MT
May 27 – Red Rocks – Denver, CO **co-headlining with Spoon**
May 29 – Sumtur Amphitheatre – Papillion, NE
May 30 – Peabody Opera House – St. Louis, MO
May 31 – The LC Pavilion – Columbus, OH
June 1 – nTelos Wireless Pavilion – Charlottesville, VA
June 3 – Red Hat Amphitheatre – Raleigh, NC
June 4 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD
June 5-7 – Governors Ball – New York, NY
July 10 – Edgefield – Troutdale, OR