The Decemberists light up Columbus (6/1)
The first time I attempted to see The Decemberists live, I really didn’t make enough of an effort. After all, by the time anyone reaches Sunday during a Bonnaroo weekend, they’re usually about five minutes from death. Two years ago, that’s about where I was, and considering the high profile acts later in the evening, I wanted to sit down and conserve my strength. So alas, I did just that, only with a crummy burrito and about two hundred feet between me and The Decemberists’ unfolding set. It didn’t take long, maybe 10 minutes, until I scrambled up some adrenaline and attempted to find good seats for Wilco. Given the hindsight today, I’m kind of glad I didn’t stick around for Colin Meloy and his rag-tag gang, as they’re a show that requires plenty of energy and attentiveness. Last night at Columbus, OH’s LC Pavilion, I had those very things.
After opener Blind Pilot, we moved our way into the crowd and pointed our heads and ears toward the stage. The low humming bass of Hazards of Love had started and the crowd turned to a roar at first sight of the band. Within seconds, the now seven-piece act kicked off the new album with record precision. Every piece was in its place, the lighting was spot on, and the mix was perfect. Contributions by Becky Stark (of Lavender Diamond, as Margaret) were great, but Shara Worden blew me away. The My Brightest Diamond singer consumed my attention every time she opened her mouth (I think I love her, seriously).
There was no crowd interaction; instead, Meloy looked engaged and stoic, and his personality didn’t surface until act two. Despite these “shortcomings,” the band sold just about everyone on the new record. Having been told they’d play the record in its entirety, I was just as skeptical before arrival, but in all honesty, Hazards plays out beautifully.
After a ten minute intermission, The Decemberists returned, only without the two aforementioned female vocalists. My heart wasn’t too broken, however, as they began with an old favorite of mine, “Leslie Anne Levine”. Shortly after, Meloy broke character and turned the crowd back on with a bouncing version of Billy Liar’s “We Both Go Down Together”. Following some less than stellar 
audience participation, Meloy poked some fun at the crowds’ inability to work together saying, “We’ll work on it.”
The true highlight of the second set was “Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)”, which again featured the lovely Ms. Worden. Obsessions aside, she radiates in every song, and the crowd was just as enamored as I was the whole time. After a teaser from Meloy (”This is the worst song I’ve ever written”), he led the band into “Dracula’s Daughter”, which eventually segued into the very popular “O Valencia”, a true crowd killer and hardly the “worst” song of the man’s career. By the time the encore came (”Eli”) and saw (”The Barrow Boy”) and conquered (”Suns and Daughters”), two hours and fifteen minutes had passed.
People looked bat-shit happy while the band exited stage left. Despite our preferences and wishes (we had hoped for “The Island” to close out the show), we were nevertheless incredibly pleased. To me, Colin Meloy never sounded like a performer, he sounded like a musician. The former gets on stage and directs the crowd with diligence and force, the latter knows how to put together a studio album. The two don’t always mix, but Meloy and his band proved they can juggle both jobs with ease. As long as the songwriter directs the crowd with as much enthusiasm and direction as last night, The Decemberists will continue to rise in the indie community as not only great songwriters, but a great live act, as well.
Setlist:
The Hazards of Love
Prelude
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 Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All)
The Queen’s Approach
Isn’t it a Lovely Night?
The Wanting Comes in Waves / Repaid
An Interlude
The Rake’s Song
The Abduction of Margaret
The Queen’s Rebuke / The Crossing
Annan Water
Margaret in Captivity
The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge!)
The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise)
The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)
Set One:
Leslie Anne Levine
We Both Go Down Together
Billy Liar
Sleepless
Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)
Dracula’s Daughter
O Valencia
16 Military Wives
Crazy on You (Heart Cover)
Encore:
Eli, The Barrow Boy
Sons and Daughters
———
I caught them in Milwaukee on the 29th. This was my 4th time seeing them and I was skeptical. It took a lot to convince my wife that a “rock opera” by one of our favorite bands was going to be good. They were unreal. Professional, tight, intense. Sara blew me away. I teared up with emotion at various times. It was almost too intense for me
Can’t wait to see them again in Madison, at Lolla, and at ACL. They are easily among the top five live bands around!
I assume you mean, “It’s all good”, Jon? Just kidding
I’m greatly looking forward to the Decemberists show this Saturday night.
its all good its all good.
solid review. perfectly captures the emotions i experience every time after i leave a decemberists gig. i’m just a nit-picker is all :-p
Jon, to be honest, I figured that was a Decemberists tune.
hey check this out!
“and conquered (”Suns and Daughters”), two hours and fifteen minutes had passed.”
its “sons and daughters”, mate.
haha wow, thanks for the comments, and for the editing, nobody’s perfect.
Michael got you there, Jon!
0 spelling errors.
Take that.
As for the other issues, Michael?
I’ve yet to find any spelling errors, pal. But thanks for the fair warning!
someone should REALLY be doing spell and grammar checks on these.
glad you enjoyed the gig though
Also, the dialogue of “worst song I’ve ever written” was to introduce “Dracula’s Daughter,” which later turned into “O Valencia!” He didn’t mean to imply that “Valencia” was the worst song he’s ever written. Durr.
I’d hardly call it a shortcoming to see the Decemberists play a show without Meloy’s annoying banter.
So many commas.
You can’t make a “concerted” effort by yourself. To work “in concert” means to work with others. You mean make a “concentrated” effort - in which case there would be no pun (which was your original intent).