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April 2, 2005
Decemberists - March 31st (4)
So I finally got to see a Decemberists show. This is probably the band I have listened to most in the previous year. The last time they came to town I missed the show because I was too ill to make it out the door of my house. (Although I got dressed and tried...) I went to a good Dallas venue in Deep Ellum-- Trees, with my friends D.D. and Jeremy.
The great thing about the show was its early start. They went on at 10pm, played for 2 solid hours, and then I walked out the door at midnight... not bad for a "school night" concert. They didn't play my favorite song (Grace Cathedral Hill), but they played tons of great music, a good mix of old and new.
This was an Over 17 show, so the underage crowd came out in full force. The crowd itself was around 800-1000 strong. But strong is a misleading word for this group. We started drinking in the balcony area before the show started. Before the band went on, we surveyed the situation below us. Where were we going to watch this thing from? Jeremy turned to me and said, "Lets just go to the front." After questioning him about how crowded it was near the stage, he replied, "These are Decemberists fans. They're pussies. You're probably one of the tougher guys here."
Jeremy was right about one thing, like me, Decemberist fans ARE pussies. We easily moved to the front, only a few feet from the stage. That is where we saw the show AND the ultimate Decemberists fan-boy. He had x's on both hands to indicate his age, and those hands were thrust in the air, to the beat of course, throughout the performance. The gaping smile on his face could barely allow him to belt out each set of lyrics. His over-the-top love of all things Decemberist actually made the violinist/vocalist Petra Haden bust into laughter during one song (as he was stationed directly in front of her). She was forced to avoid looking down at all costs, and yet even seeing fan-boy from her periphery allowed a suppressed grin to creep up her face.
Near the end of the show, as the band was tuning an instrument or two, fan-boy turned to his friends and wiped the sweat from his brow, telling them how hot and exhausted he was...as though he was one of the performers.
Anyway, I had a great time and can't wait for them to come back through town. Below are some pictures taken with the world's worst low-light camera...my phone.
Trees
Colin Sings (and Frodo Lives!)
And a Set List for JD (sorry no Colin EP...he didn't do the in-store, I was told, because of the trailer theft in Eugene)
the infanta
july, july
we both go down together
leslie anne levine
the gymnast high above the ground
the bagman's gambit
the soldiering life
the sporting life
from my own true love (lost at sea)
16 military wives
engine driver
on the bus mall
wuthering heights
los angeles, i'm yours
billy liar
mariner's revenge song
------
red right ankle
the tain
Posted by Rich at April 2, 2005 8:57 AM
Comments
What does the "Frodo Lives" comment refer to? : )
Posted by: jeremy at April 3, 2005 9:25 PM
Just thought you might like that bit!
Posted by: Rich at April 4, 2005 10:56 AM
Glad you enjoyed the show! My favorite song was the Mariner's Revenge Song. Very very fun. And, of course, I always love Red Right Ankle. That song is charming.
Jeremy's got me listening to more music that I think came from you. John Wayne's "Texas Funeral", etc. It's, well, odd.
Posted by: J.D. at April 5, 2005 9:29 AM
The show was great and got a good review in the local rag. As for Jon Wayne, I'm still considering picking up www.no-go-diggy-die.com...
"I like shootin' rabbits. I like shootin' pool. I like shootin' whiskey. I like shoo-in' mules. (shoo, shoo)"
"Mr. Engineer...Faders up!"
Posted by: Rich at April 5, 2005 10:51 AM
