Show #115: The Decemberists
The Decemberists are a band that I've heard good things about over the past couple years but, for some reason, I've never quite gotten around to checking them out properly. And I still haven't. The band will be playing here in Madison tomorrow at the Orpheum Theatre so I thought I post something by them and give their music a peek.
(Photo by James Coglan.)
The Wikipedia entry on the band notes that they eschew introspective lyrics and favor a storytelling approach. This is certainly borne out by the following bio which used to be at the band's webpage:
"I'm a poor, drunken orphan with nowhere to go but the grave," wailed a waifish and non-plussed Mr. Chris Funk as he lay supine by the railroad tracks. The crate of records he had been cradling in his nubile appendages now lay in pieces on the ashen ground, his complete collected recordings of sixties psychedelic luminary Rick "Paisley Dave" Rigmore scattered hit her and yon like so many dead leaves beneath a diseased elm. Noting his neglect to accredit this phrase to its rightful owner, chief engineer Jenny Conlee, her accordion neatly strapped to her back, stepped lightly from the caboose and corrected his negligence with the aplomb only an immigrant Hungarian could muster: "Dylan Thomas, sir! Please move along!" But it was too late: an indelible bond had been soldered in that moment of recognition. A few hours later, in a Turkish bath, they revealed their stories to one another between sips of a strange, tangerine liqueur. Not far from that spot, however, two young military dignitaries (Rachel Blumberg, Nate Query), appropriately lathered, overheard our two heroes' stories. Was it chance, then, that lead the four unsuspecting bathers to seek to return their soiled undergarments at the same kiosk where worked the poor, bespectacled Colin Meloy? One can surmise all one wants, but the truth should be known that, after adopting the moniker The Decemberists, these five wan vagabonds began playing their peculiarly styled pop music in various venues all across the greater northwest, even going so far as to release a full length record in June of 2002, entitled Castaways and Cutouts, on Portland's own Hush Records, a record which will see its second release on Kill Rock Stars on May 6th, 2003.
Right now, I'm still getting acclimated to Colin Meloy's voice but I really like the organ work and always enjoy accordion. One might be tempted to describe their sound as quirky then breezy folk pop but then there's a bit of Motown followed by (gasp!) something more at home on a progressive rock song. A good mix.
Perhaps once I sit down and listen to their music and follow the lyrics, the above tale will make more sense.
What we've got here is about an hour of the band's performance at Luther's Blues here in Madison, Wisconsin. It took place on 21 September 2004. Thanks to the taper, Chris.
Setlist:
The Soldiering Life
Infanta
The Sporting Life
Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect
Billy Liar
Clementine
Leslie Anne Levine
The Bachelor And The Bride
Odalisque
Grace Cathedral Hill
The Chimbley Sweep
Los Angeles, I'm Yours
Download show
The Decemberists
Although this footage is of a slightly more recent vintage, the song "Red Right Ankle" was played in Madison back in 2004.
(Photo by James Coglan.)
The Wikipedia entry on the band notes that they eschew introspective lyrics and favor a storytelling approach. This is certainly borne out by the following bio which used to be at the band's webpage:
"I'm a poor, drunken orphan with nowhere to go but the grave," wailed a waifish and non-plussed Mr. Chris Funk as he lay supine by the railroad tracks. The crate of records he had been cradling in his nubile appendages now lay in pieces on the ashen ground, his complete collected recordings of sixties psychedelic luminary Rick "Paisley Dave" Rigmore scattered hit her and yon like so many dead leaves beneath a diseased elm. Noting his neglect to accredit this phrase to its rightful owner, chief engineer Jenny Conlee, her accordion neatly strapped to her back, stepped lightly from the caboose and corrected his negligence with the aplomb only an immigrant Hungarian could muster: "Dylan Thomas, sir! Please move along!" But it was too late: an indelible bond had been soldered in that moment of recognition. A few hours later, in a Turkish bath, they revealed their stories to one another between sips of a strange, tangerine liqueur. Not far from that spot, however, two young military dignitaries (Rachel Blumberg, Nate Query), appropriately lathered, overheard our two heroes' stories. Was it chance, then, that lead the four unsuspecting bathers to seek to return their soiled undergarments at the same kiosk where worked the poor, bespectacled Colin Meloy? One can surmise all one wants, but the truth should be known that, after adopting the moniker The Decemberists, these five wan vagabonds began playing their peculiarly styled pop music in various venues all across the greater northwest, even going so far as to release a full length record in June of 2002, entitled Castaways and Cutouts, on Portland's own Hush Records, a record which will see its second release on Kill Rock Stars on May 6th, 2003.
Right now, I'm still getting acclimated to Colin Meloy's voice but I really like the organ work and always enjoy accordion. One might be tempted to describe their sound as quirky then breezy folk pop but then there's a bit of Motown followed by (gasp!) something more at home on a progressive rock song. A good mix.
Perhaps once I sit down and listen to their music and follow the lyrics, the above tale will make more sense.
What we've got here is about an hour of the band's performance at Luther's Blues here in Madison, Wisconsin. It took place on 21 September 2004. Thanks to the taper, Chris.
Setlist:
The Soldiering Life
Infanta
The Sporting Life
Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect
Billy Liar
Clementine
Leslie Anne Levine
The Bachelor And The Bride
Odalisque
Grace Cathedral Hill
The Chimbley Sweep
Los Angeles, I'm Yours
Download show
The Decemberists
Although this footage is of a slightly more recent vintage, the song "Red Right Ankle" was played in Madison back in 2004.
posted by Palmer at 8:30 AM
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