The Decemberists

The Roxy and the Decemberists were both amazing! Fun night!

The Decemberists as always put on an amazing show fit with a confetti canon and 15 foot inflatable tethered whale! Colin is a the consummate host. The venue is very cool looking and has a great set up.

If you have any doubts that you need to see the Decemberists live, set them aside. This is a bucket list performance.

I have seen the Decemberists 4 times, and this was one of their best shows. I was unsure of the new cd until I heard it live. It was a great show!

This was the second time we have seen The Decemberists live. On both occasions, we have been blown away by the amazing stage presence, fabulous music and imaginative song themes of this band. Colin Meloy and his crew have evolved and metamorphosed into a truly talented, professional and yet fun band, with the ability to move from folk-oriented sea shanties to jazz-funk fusion (Chris Funk's forte?) to hard-rock attacks with the fluidity of a Transformer. I give them and this show five stars!!!!!

Awesome show. The Decemberists really know how to utilize a variety of interests and tell a story with their music. The female singers really stole the show.

I've been a fan of The Decemberists since my friend Dave turned me onto them a few years back. Their previous album "The Crane Wife" was incredible, and included their breakthrough hit "O, Valencia." My wife and I got tickets to the show as it happened to be on the Wednesday night of our wedding anniversary. As big into music as I am, I completely missed that they released a new album, "The Hazards of Love" a few months back. Hannah mentioned this to me while we were waiting for them to change the stage after the opener, Blind Pilot was done. (Blind Pilot is also worth checking out.) This did not bode well for the evening. Since "The Hazards of Love" is a concept album, not hearing it prior to the show is usually a bad thing. Concept albums are typically obtuse, challenging pieces and almost always require a few listens in their entirety to get into. Case in point, the last Peter Gabriel-era Genesis album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Their US tour in 1974 consisted entirely of the full double-album played in front of crowds in a country where the album was not yet available for purchase. The show bombed, but the album is really good - once you get there. The show started with a long organ piece, "Prelude." It was cool because they played it in the dark and each member of the band came out individually to applause. They went into the first song, with the main theme being introduced. ("The Hazards of Love" appears four times in different incarnations on the album). I was blown away. Every song was catchy and interesting. The instrumentation had variety. For one of the songs ("The Rake's Song"), all but two of the seven musicians were playing drums. Two of the characters in the concept album, Margaret and The Queen were voiced by guest vocalists Becky Stark and Shara Worden respectively. Having the female vocalists added a nice counterpoint to Colin Meloy's voice and kept it from being tedious, as several songs were essentially solos by the women. Shara Worden's incredible voice and sultry stage presence as The Queen stole the show. Every time she sang, she blew the roof off. After the entire 17-song "Hazards of Love," played nonstop was completed, the band returned after a 10 minute intermission and played through their older material, finishing up with "O, Valencia." Or so we thought. Colin started kind of picking at his guitar. I thought he was just goofing around, but that was because I didn't recognize what he was playing. The two female vocalists came out and sang on a cover of "Crazy on You" by Heart. Shara's voice was perfectly suited to the incomparable Ann Wilson. It was such a shock and such an amazing performance. "O, Valencia" was great to hear live, but "Crazy on You" was a force of nature.

Very good show and very diverse group of fans. Saw everything from teenagers to senior citizens at this show. The Decemberist full preformance of the hazards of love was flawless and true to the album. Great great mellow show.

I LOVE this band, and I love seeing them at the Uptown Theater. The venue is absolutely perfect, with incredible acoustics, and a certain character of antiquity that amplifies the style of the musicians themselves. On this tour, they were accompanied by an incredible vocalist, Shara Worden, who is able to rock it like I see VERY few female vocalists pull off. She could easily have stolen the stage - and arguably did steal the stage during their cover of Heart's Crazy On You. In all the times I've seen the Decemberists perform, they have never disappointed my high expectations. I would - and will - see them again at my next opportunity.

This performance at the Pageant was just as incredible as every Decemberists concert I have ever attended. They are endlessly entertaining, incredible musicians, and never fail to put on an amazing show. The only drawback was the Pageant's $2 charge for minors... being from Chicago, I have never seen such a thing before. Totally ridiculous in my opinion, and definitely off-putting.

The show was amazing- the opener wasn't so great but once Colin Meloy hit the stage it hardly mattered. I loved the encore when they came out into the crowd and became the Donnor Party. Great show.

Saw them live at the gorgeous Fox Theater in Oakland. Great show. Live, The Hazards of Love definitely played best during the harder, crunchier moments -- Meloy's voice wasn't quite at his peak tonight during the first set, which diminished some of the early quieter songs. In the second set, the band was much looser, and Meloy doubled-down on his audience banter, often to funny (and always to charming) effect. Mainly stuff from The Crane Wife, but a few older favorites and a couple of covers as well. And silliness ... a "Decemberists Family Players" brief morality play about the Donner Party performed in the midst of the audience. But let me now speak of the two guest ladies and their performances. Becky Stark took the stage in Lola Granola mode, her inner crystal clearly in full resonance. My wife compared her appearance to Rhonda Volmer from Big Love, complete with UEB-sanctioned pastel dress and that vacant 5,000-yard stare. She seemed to exist in a bubble of time-dilation, her every movement and chime glissando just barely slower than the speed of our continuum. And, vocally, she delivered. Then came Shara Worden. An angry hurricane in a black leather miniskirt and silver tights, with a voice of command that shatters ancient rock. The energy she brought to "Repaid" and "The Queen's Rebuke" was instant and galvanizing -- the crowd could not get enough of her. When she wasn't busy blasting you with her earthly roar, she was punching and stomping her way across the stage. She was an absolute highlight. If you love the album, you'll love the show.

I have to admit, when I found out a couple days before the show that they would playing through their entire new album, I was a little disappointed. But then again I hadn't listened to the album. The show turned out to be awesome! Plus, it was our first time at the Fox Theater, which is an amazing venue. The songs and arrangements were never dull and took you through a journey of highs and lows. The two guest singers (women) were also amazing. Nearly opposites of one another, but complemented each other and the entire show beautifully. I would highly recommend seeing this show.

The Decemberists provided those in attendance with a tightly structured show that consisted of The Hazards of Love set, a random set, and a riotous audience participation one act play. The opening band was also good. And the Fox is a fabulous place to see music.

Didn't care for the second set so much. Nice venue.

The first set was the entire The Hazards of Love CD, without a break or pause between songs. I liked it before show, but loved it after seeing/hearing it played straight through. Truly outstanding. The second set covered a cross section from past CDs, also excellent. My first time at the Fox Theater, and it's now my favorite indoor venue in the Bay Area.

The Decemberists have long been considered a "niche" band- they have a distinct sound that separates them from other popular bands. Their latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is more of a rock opera then anything; a folksy, power-ballady rock opera that defies all expectations. Live, it was even better than anticipated. They played the entire album, took a twenty minute break, then came back for a second, shorter set.

The Decemberists concert was more than them just playing some songs and making some cute audience interactions. It was two hours of captivating entertainment, the first hour of which they played their entire new album with no breaks. It was by far the most incredible concert I have been to.

This was such a stellar show. The songs just flowed one into another, seamlessly, and all of the musicians got their chance to "shine". I loved the fact that they appeal to many ages. In the audience there were teenagers up to senior citizens(myself included). It was an absolutely delightful evening.

Third time to one of their shows, easily the most amazing of them all! Two full sets, great energy, awesome venue. What a blast!

Great show - really enjoyed the performance of the their new Rock Opera and the more relaxed second set as well.

I saw the Decemberists at the \\Warfield last year. They were amazing. They seemed genuinely engaged with their audience and played a wide variety of their songs. The Fox show simply sucked. They played their new album from beginning to end. There are a couple of decent songs but it's ridiculously repetitive. They skipped some of their best live tracks including "Mariner's Revenge". I was disappointed by the show bu the Fox Theater in Oakland is a great venue.

The Decemberists are a diverse lineup of performers, and this live performance at the Fox Theater in Oakland took full advantage of the band's multi-member versatility. With lead vocalist Colin Meloy applying his trademark reedy vocals to each song's subject matter of love, death, history, and natural beauty, the music is designed to grab and hold interest, but of far more interest than what each song was "about" were the complex interlocking musical structures that comprised the band's sonic backbone. Instruments on display included harpsichord, mandolin, glockenspiel, accordian, and zither, and with such a broad range of sources the sounds produced were as intricate as one would imagine. For the entire first set, the songs were blended one to another without break or pause (despite the fact that Meloy, as he revealed later, had cut his hand and was bleeding through most of the set), and the effect was of being entirely enveloped in a seamless fabric of sonic phenomena. In short, breathtaking and flawless.

The band launched into "The Hazardsof Love" song/story progression and played with intensity. Colin did not speak between songs (which is very unusual) until they had finished with all the songs from "hazards of Love". This music was very "heavy" - More than other Decemberists music - They pulled it off very naturally. The rest of the set was a mix of older songs which were great - This show absolutely rocked!

One of the best concerts I have been to! Great performance!! I wish I had gone to see them in Orlando the next day. Hopefully they will come to Miami someday.

Well,their the friggin Decemberists so I knew the show was gonna kick serious tail! And they did! Yes they sure did! From the opening to the close they put all they had into the show! And Colin was really cool the crowd! Not only does the man have the greatest voice in music today. But he's also got charm and a gentleman's way. He spoke to us Floridians as if we were an undiscovered colony on a new found planet. We all felt special! It's a real joy to have a vocalist interact with the crowd and Colin did a grand job! All in all it was an AMAZING experience! You would have never known we were in such a small venue. The Decemberists played as if they were playing for hundreds of thousands of fans. I still have goosebumps and the show was 15 hours ago! I'm quite tempted to bail and go catch them down in Orlando this evening!

To see "The Hazards of Love" preformed live was absolutely amazing!! I would recommend the show to anyone, a fan of The Decemberists or not. So much fun I'm going again tonight in Orlando!!!

Brilliant performance. The band has an admirable amount of energy and a playful stage presence. Colin's banter with the audience earns good laughs every time. They really give it their full every show.

He was, indeed, born for the stage. Top notch show!

I've been to quite a few shows but this was my first at the NorVA or seeing the Decemberist. The first half of their show was very much a show in itself with the Decemberist switching up singers,instruments and positions on stage with no words and brief breaks. When they came back they became very interactive and put on a whole other sort of show. They looked like they were having a great time up on stage and gave the audience plenty of laughs to go with their music. I think all in all it was the synergy of great performers and a great venue. I would recommend even if you aren't a diehard fan going out to see them as I would not underestimate their showmanship. Seeing them is a unique experience.

love the music. took my wife as a reluctant date. felt like we were teenagers running up & down stairs snickering while those we didn't understand stood rapt at crap. no one moved they were into the lottery of songs. the rap of someone. so where was the music? where was the movement of bodies? where was the enjoyment of cascading sounds, songs, rhythm? where was the fire that usually ignites in a live music event? god, i couldn't drink enough to bear this event. thank god there wasn't free kool aid. i love the music. but am i part of a cult? and besides my date with my wife was like being a teenager again and if you are beyond those years you may know how much that sucked or actually didn't suck.

I heard about this show only a few days before and I'm so glad I caught it. Cheap tickets, convenient, spacious, alcohol-filled and air conditioned venue, and some extremely talented and generous musicians! I couldn't believe the multitude of music I was presented with. After a few drinks, and a long set I was a little desperate for the restroom but it was completely worth the discomfort. The master of ceremonies was a slave-driver on behalf of the audience and we really got a magnificent performance.

As always, The Decemberists put on an amazing show. They created their setlist on the spot by randomly selecting song titles written on plastic balls that were shuffled around in a cylinder thing with a crank...kinda like bingo. A lot of great songs were chosen and it was really fun and exciting. The only negative thing to say is that Chris Funk's guitar amp was turned up too loud and it kind of overpowered the vocals. Don't know exactly whose fault it was, but it was a bit disappointing... But I still gave the show 5 stars because The Decemberists themselves did an absolutely amazing job, no doubt about it.

The Decemberists were amazing! the Lottery concept panned out beautifully. :)

This is the second Decemberists concert I've seen in three months and I'm pleased to say I am not disappointed. They are a band that knows their crowd and are not only brilliant musicians, but entertainers as well. This lottery show was a great idea and each band member was a great sport playing every song that was drawn. Even one song which was 20 minutes long! With two encores, two crowd surfing techies, two band members forced to make out, a british mc, and one impromptu song written by Colin Meloy himself. This concert will be one to remember. One band member from the headliner even grabbed a tennis racket and hit the giant balls from the lottery into the crowd (I even received a ball!). I love this band and I love going to their shows and if no one should ever miss an apportunity to see the shows that they can put on.

Mon 1 Jun The Decemberists, Blind Pilot I was having a tough time explaining to my lovely wife, who joined me to see this concert, why I felt like a giddy 15-year-old boy at the show. The Hazards of Love is an amazing rock-opera concept album. And from the first listen, it was my favorite among favorites: I grew up on prog rock, and most of my favorite albums tell twisted incomprehensible stories and there's no breaks between the songs. So to see The Hazards of Love performed in its enirety, with no breaks between songs, no introductions or banter, no breaks to tune a bouzouki or to get a bottle of water - well, it was something I'd missed out on by being just a bit too young with the concept albums of yore. I never saw Pink Floyd perform "The Wall" or Genesis do "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway." And The Decemberists, much like Genesis with their "Lamb" tour, seem poised on the precipice of something much bigger. We saw them at the moderately sized Lifestyles Community Pavilion, but I have a suspicion that their next tour will be played to arenas. As for the music, The Hazards of Love was performed note-for-note perfect. Only on the high notes on PlayThe Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All) did Colin's voice falter. He reached the notes, but didn't hold them as long. But what a treat is was to see their guest vocalists. Becky Stark as Margaret looked every bit like the Princess Buttercup that her voice sounds like. She was lovely and ethereal, and wore a white dress that drew all eyes to her on the dark and gloomy stage. Shara Worden was a shock. Her soulful vocals as the Queen are an amazing bit of rock and roll, but on stage she brings a sexual energy to the performance that I wasn't expecting. She has this amazingly sultry alto voice, full of vim and soul, yet looks like Columbia from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I'm going to have to check out some My Brightest Diamond now (her band). Jenny Conlee rocked on the organ and accordion. My wife accused me of having a crush on her. I told Shannon that my crush extended to the rest of the band. Nate Query is the band's bassist. He looks like he should be a CEO for a small upstart green-friendly corporation. Perhaps it was the fact that he looked the most comforatble in a tie, and had the most respectable haircut. Query is the unsung hero in this band. His bass parts are fun and full of melody, and are every bit as interesting as Chris Funk's guitar work. Funk, the unlikely rock god that he is, seems to have taken a class out of the Robert Fripp School of Rock Stars, by hiding in the shadows for much of the show, often facing away from the stage. Not exactly a showboating ham, but his musicianship is first class. John Moen, the drummer, reminded me of Max Weinberg in the sense that he could play these incredible beats and polyrhythms and not look like he's exerting much energy at all. His backing vocals seemed to be spot-on, although slightly too low in the mix for most of the night. Colin Meloy needed a haircut. Shannon thought he was wearing a hat, since his bangs had gotten to "Shaggiest Sheepdog" length. But as I mentioned before, he's incredible as a singer. The guy must be a dream to work with in the studio, since he seems able to nail the vocals 99.9% of the time, in pitch with the right inflection and emotion. The rest of the band, too, were much like that: Its as if last night was proof that they recorded "Hazards of Love" in the studio in one take (they didn't). Very few flubbed notes, missed beats, etc. This does mean that the band live is more like Rush or Yes than say, Phish: There wasn't much room for improv in the songs. A few songs in the second set were a bit less structured and allowed the band to breathe a bit, but for the most part, the songs were played with a laser-like precision. Highlights from set one: The Rake Song, where all but Query and Meloy got to bang on tomtom drums in unison, reminding me of a cross between Donnie Iris' "Love is Like a Rock" and Spinal Tap's "PlayBig Bottom" Jenny Conlee's amazing hard-rock organ solo on The Queen's Rebuke/The crossing, along with the ghostly background vocals by Jenny and Becky behind the voluptuous lead vocals by Shara Worden. Set Two opened with Leslie Ann Levine, and then got a bit casual. After Leslie, Colin said, "Hi. We're The Decemberists. In case you weren't already of aware of that, you've now seen quite a good deal of us." He then went on to explain how easily they could be confused with the Kings of Leon, who were "back stage" Set two included "Dracula's Daughter" - which Colin said was the worst song he'd ever written. It included a line something like "And you think you've got it bad/She's got Dracula for a dad" Shara Worden came back out for Yankee Bayonet and did her best Laura Veirs imitiation. Sixteen Military Wives became a massive sing along, with the left half of the crowd singing the melody; the right half singing the harmony. Colin then asked the balcony to sing the incredibly low bass line, and then chastised them after they attempted to sing it. Set two ended with a cover of Heart's "Crazy on You" sung by Shara Worden and Becky Stark. Becky Stark wailed on the high notes, proving she could rock harder than Meloy allowed her to do on "Hazards." Chris Funk seemed to really enjoy himself on the tasty Nancy Wilson guitar parts. Eli the Barrow Boy was the first encore, and the show ended with "Sons and Daughters" - another one that allowed the crowd to sing along to the line "Hear all the bombs fade away" over and over. Many of which were still singing it as the lights came on and the crowd faded away. A fabulous show. I can't imagine that many songs from "Hazards" will be played on future tours, so I feel honored to have been able to witness it performed in its entirety.

Decemberists were amazing! Even better then the Toronto show! How often do you get to hear a band play a full album all the way through? Thoroughly enjoyed the whole show.

This is hands down one of the best shows I've ever been to. Seriously. As an opening band, the Heartless Bastards did a pretty decent job, but it was clear that the headliners truly stole the show. The entire band gave a nearly flawless performance, which is harder to come by in this genre of music than one would expect. Having been to a handful of alternative shows myself, I expected a great show, but only half-decent vocals/instrumentals at best. But boy was I surprised! Frontman Colin Meloy had spot-on vocals throughout the ENTIRE show, which is quite a feat considering the amount of energy needed to put on such a performance. All said, this show is definitely near the top of my list.

This show was so good that I actually decided to review it which I haven't done so far on Ticketmaster. I was in Portland for the weekend visiting a friend and this concert just made the trip that much better. First off the venue is great...outdoors and hangin out in the grass,drinkin beer,chill crowd,pretty perfect. Then...you get two amazing opening acts in Blind Pilot and Andrew Bird,who was so damn good that we almost wondered if The Decemberists were going to be able to match his energy. Not to worry,they matched it and blew the place away,played the entire new album front to back and sounded better than the CD! They completely rocked it and left the stage only to come back out for an Encore of older songs and continued to play till the venue's closing time. Great time was had by all in our group,would def see them again and would love to go back to Portland and see another show at Edgefield. Great venue,great beer,great show! Nuff said. -Unequiv

Such a great night for music in Oregon! The line-up was fantastic and kudos to Blind Pilot & Andrew Bird for playing such beautiful sets on what must have been a broiling hot stage! (luckily for hometown heroes, The Decemberists, shade had hit the stage in time for their set) One might think after playing the full Hazards of Love album for the umpteenth time on this tour that The Decemberists would be over it all and just offer a show of going through the motions, but last night all doubts were laid to rest and Colin Meloy & Co. were most certainly FULLY invested in their performance...and what a performance!! Becky Starks' Margaret was beautiful, but Shara Worden's queen was phenomenal!! Colin Meloy gave the crowd what they'd come all the way to Troutdale to see and was chatty between songs during the last set of old favorite tunes, as well as hilariously self-deprecating while introducing his "worst song ever written." ...but why different voalists for the different female characters and only Colin for all the dude characters? In all: A night of great performances from a great line-up, the only downside being the limited set times for BP and AB and the strict adherance to Edgefield's 10:00pm curfew (...come on Troudale, learn to live a little!).

As usual, they did an amazing show. They played through the entire new album, then came back with some old stuff. Plus, the lead singers of Lavender Diamond and My Brightest Diamond showed up to sing their parts of The Hazards of Love and did a killer cover of Crazy On You. .

The theatrical presentation of The Hazards of Love, presented by the Decemberists @ Edgefield is NOT TO BE MISSED!

These folks are always unforgettable. Full Hazards of Love set... then a set of older songs... Heart cover song... just great

Great show! Played The Hazards of Love front to back. Followed up with a set of old songs and an unexpected Heart cover. Very talented group.

The show was fantastic - Hazards of Love totally rocked, the Heart cover was wonderful, and everything else was perfect! My daughter got to go up on stage and play Colin's guitar during A Cautionary Tale - that has to be the coolest thing that has ever happened to us at any concert!!!

I think the title speaks for itself. The show was awesome, they performed at the progress energy center, which is more like a recital or classical concert hall. The first half of the concert was a full blown show going through their latest album the hazards of love. The second half, after the intermission took things into concert mode. There really arent words to describe how great it was, if you like the decemberists at all, you must see them live.

The Decemberists, of course, put on an absolutely fantastic show. If you can, I absolutely urge you to see them. You will never forget or regret this experience. This venue was nice, as well. I would also definitely recommend it.

This show is tied for my number one concert. Roger Waters of Pink Floyd was #1 too. Anyway, They had two openers; a surprise from Robyn Hitchcock, who I didn't know but was a lot of fun and good for the concert spirit, and then the billed opener Andrew Bird. This guy alone was incredible. He loves music like no other. So, that was the first hour and a half or two hours. Then came THE DECEMBERISTS!! Wow. They played the new album The Hazards of Love straight through, seamlessly. It was an incredible concert/rock/folk/story telling experience. Then they acted like they were done. Oh no. Time for another five songs from their earlier hits, including the sea shanty "A Cautionary Song," wherein Hamlet was briefly reanacted in the midst of the song by the Decemberists Family Players in the middle of the audience. Chris Funk played the tragic prince, Shara the troubled queen, etc. etc. Anyway, they finished off THAT with a brilliant surprise out-of-nowhere cover, and acted like they were done. Oh no. Time for one more song to unite us all in the glory and harmony that is Colin Meloy's songwriting. Then we left, having throughly soiled ourselves from excitement. Wow.

To start out this would not be your typical show given that "The Hazards of Love" album was played in its entirety in addition to many more songs. This was a show were you remained seated through out the albums rendition. Colin has to be one of the most talented indivuduals I have ever come across, his lyrics and music style are truly one of a kind. After the completition of the Hazards of Love album the band proceeded to play some of the fans favorites such as Yankee Bayonet, Chimbley Sweep, Dracula's Daughter, and a personal fav off Dark Was the Night album, Sleepless. Not to mention that Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond and Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond were incredible! Shara in particular was amazing. I would absolutely without a doubt recommend seeing The Decembersist live!

One of the best concerts I've ever been to. Colin and the band did an amazing job I knew it would be good but I didn't realize how great it would be. I could see them over and over again.

The Decemberists concert at Uptown Theater in Kansas City, MO was absolutely the most incredible, fantastic show I have ever seen! EVER! I doubt I will ever see its equal, unless I go to another Decemberists concert I suppose :P It was beyond my wildest expectations :)

this concert rivaled anything from genesis, yes, the strawbs, and even pink floyd. I had never heard any of their old songs until this concert & bought the crane wife on the way out after the concert. I saw them again in Richmond VA ( again blind pilot opened) and may see them in August in Louisville (with blind pilot again)

This was the second time we have gone to see this band and we were not disappointed, The first band M. Ward was not much to my liking having never heard of them before. But when the Decemberist came on it was great they are so low key and accommodating they make you feel like they are here to play just for you. We got the VIP tickets and got the pre show meet and greet when Q&A and a two song mini concert and that's always nice. They played a nice mix of new and old songs but my favorite was their take on the words from Lin-Manuel Miranda for the Benjamin Franklin song. Great show great band and I look forward to seeing them again.

Husband said it was the best show I've taken him to. Definitely one of my top five concerts. The Paramount is beautiful and The Decemberists are a perfect fit. The opener, I forget their name, were not amazing, but it just made the headliner that much better. All in all, great show. Slight regret over not bringing my STG sippy cup so I could take my booze inside, but their show didn't need the booze anyway. :)

My girlfriend was very thrilled of seeing them! I truly enjoy their music but the live performance truly showed their talents and down to Earth appreciation towards their fans. Totally worth seeing again and again!

The Decemberists continue to be my favorite band of the 21st century. This concert might even crack my top 5 concerts of all time. The sound was excellent, and Colin Meloy is still at the top of his game. Finally a concert where the sound guys didn't drown out the lead singer. A good mix of the new album and old favorites such as "O Valencia," "Down by the Water," and "Leslie Anne Levine." The band appeared to be loving every minute of the performance. The Decemberists continue to create new and exciting songs year after year. Just an outstanding concert. The auditorium at the Peoria Civic Center, where this was held, was really a good venue also.

As always- stupendous show. And love seeing Carson s art throughout- the giant whale! (Scream!)

This was a fantastic show! I have wanted to see this band for years. We missed the free Fourth of July concert in Grant Park a few years ago, so we were really looking forward to seeing The Decemberists. The Chicago Theatre is one of my favorite venues and this show did not disappoint. The sound was pristine, it was a relatively mild night in downtown Chicago and I love the loge seats in the theatre; I think the sound quality is best there. While I did not recognize most of the songs as they were from the new record, the musicianship of the band members, along with Colin Meloy's vocals made it such a good show. I only wish they would have played more of their older material.

People either don t know The Decemberists or are obsessed with them. Thankfully I m in the latter group. Their music is beautiful, their show was a blast, and they as performers enjoy what they do and it shows on stage. I took my 13 yr old and my 10 yr old who also love them, and we had an absolute blast.

The band sounded great and a night at the Fox Theater is always a goid time. I've seen them a few times now and they are energetic and tight. They tend to stay true to the songs and for this band that's not a negative thing. Colin Meloy has a great voice and the song structures don't leave too much room to improvise, so why not play them true and let the fans sing along!! I wasn't a huge fan of the opening act. She was a bit too mellow for live music in my opinion and when she came back with the Decemberists for a few tunes it really slowed the energy down. But left to themselves the band was hugely entertaining!!! Would definitely recommend seeing them. And I always recommend a night at the Fox! Sound is always clean and the floor let's you get right into the action

Thoroughly enjoyed this performance and venue. The sound was perfect. The band engaging and was having fun. My 18yr old daughter was impressed as well.

I bought 2 tickets to see The Decemberists. Then ended up winning 2 tickets from Live Nation so I could take my friend and her husband for her birthday to the show also. We had an amazing time! Thanks!

It was so great to finally see them live. They have such a great stage presence. And nice stage decoration. They involved the audience. They played a few new ones as well as some classics. Super fun!

They are simply a wonderfully talented group of musicians and entertainers. Period.

Seeing the Decemberists's live is what drew me to their music! This was the third and best performance of theirs I have seen. Always entertaining and involve the audience. They always try to bridge the distance between audience and performer with human interaction!

The crowd at the Greek deserve a great deal of credit for what was a wonderful evening that show cased The Decemberists talent and range while at the same time being warm and funny on stage. It was a show that left a smile on your face.

this band if fab-tab-ulous. the lyrics, the melody, the whole experience is great. I have now seen them twice and they have been wonderful each time.

Amazing show. I've been to many many shows but this show's music was so good it was so well balanced and was full and loud and just amazing. see this band live its An incredible experience

I just learned about the Decemberists three or four years ago and fell in love with their music. When I got serious about seeing them, I discovered that they were not touring at the time. So, when the new tour was announced, I was quite pumped. The Decemberists have become my favorite band of the twenty-first century. It's nice to have something to listen to besides my seventies music. So, I paid a little extra to sit up close, (well maybe not a little). My previous experiences at the Chicago Theater were not too good. I didn't think the sound was good there. And then, the opening act for the Decemberists came on, and the sound was DREADFUL, and I was worried. But, not to worry. An hour later, there was my man, Colin Meloy standing right in front of us singing, "The Singer Addresses his Audience." And it was outstanding. The sound did not suck like at my other Chicago Theatre experiences. Calvary Captain, Down by the Water,...oh how excellent they were!!1 Calamity, Til the Water's Gone.. I LOVED those songs. Wonderful performances!! The band was great and so were the backup singers. Philomena...nah.. don't care much for that one. And soon we were treated to some of the older material and oooohhh.... it was tasty! The pounding on the drums... Alright, Alright. Allllright! I would say that they should have turned up the mike for the female part on "The Wanting Comes in Waves," and put her out front, but the song was still wonderful. 16 Military Wives was awesome with all the audience participation and everyone screaming the intellectual phrase, "La de dah, de dah de dah de dah de dah!" The place was rockin' and the music was just extraordinary. 12/17/12 was not a strong song for the encore. It probably should have fit in earlier, in my opinion, but everyone was predictably up and rockin for The Mariner's Revenge finale. I only regret that I wasn't able to go to the previous tour with The King is Dead. Now, the hard part about going to the Decemberists concert was that there were about 40 different songs that I absolutely HAD to hear, and I had to face the fact that I just wasn't going to get to hear them all that night. So, I did quite a bit of YouTube watching afterward to get my fix of the songs that were not included. Finally, to conclude.. Oh my goodness! This concert was one of my TOP FIVE! ((and I'm getting old.) Next time I want a segment where we get to shout out titles and they play just a bit of each so that we can hear them all. After all, "They belong to us." Outstanding job! This lived up to my very high expectations. What a thrill!!!!!

As an avid fan, encouraged by YouTube videos of previous concerts, I braved a lightly raining night in Marymoor park to experience the live phenomenon of the Decemberists. I had a good place to sit near the edge of the 'standing area", but went to stand near the stage when the opening band was playing. This provided me an intimate view of the band. The sound was surprisingly good at that range. It was loud, but not overwhelming, and my ears were not ringing at the end. Though it began feeling like I was standing in a crowd of strangers, when the band began to play, the love of the music and musicians was palpable. Everyone was smiling and singing along. Colin Meloy spoke frequently as if we were old friends. He guided the crowd in a sing along like an eccentric choir director. The band works hard for the money. This was the end of a long tour, a long decade and they played with a love and familiarity for the music and technical expertise. I wanted more. Time flew by and Colin mentioned they could not play past 10 pm because of the curfew. I was really hoping to hear "June Hymn" and notice they have played it as the second encore at many other concerts on this tour, but there was only one encore at this venue. I think that lessened the spontaneity of the performance since there was a time limit. It was great to be close enough to see the subtle interactions a s the band delivered their finely honed performance. They were playful and put on a great show. Fabulous to see Jenny Conlee back on the stage despite her illness. Sarah Watkins delivered fine harmonies and a lovely rendition of "Won t Want for Love (Margaret in the Taiga)". Everyone in the band finished up front with a flourish on "Mariner's Revenge" risking their instruments and their limbs to deliver a dramatic ending to an ecstatic adventure with the Decemberists. I want to thank them for the joy they brought to all of us in the audience.

Decemberists have the ability to make a large venue intimate and entertaining from start to finish. I've been a long-time fan but this was the first time I was able to see them and it was awesome. My husband and I had South Terrace seats, and other than an annoying couple in front of us, we had a great time.

I flew from London to go to this show. Crazy? Maybe. Worth it? Definitely! The Decemberists were as impressive and engaging as always. Colin (Singer/guitarist) even left the stage, to play guitar from within the crowd at one point. The copious amount of rain seemed insignificant and did nothing to detract from my enjoyment of the show. As for the show being in a park, well, being outside is always nice. An evening show with The Decemberists, whilst aeroplanes fly overhead, is nothing less than atmospheric. I had a more than pleasureable time.

I only have three words to describe this show: BEST SHOW EVER. Maybe I should add a little more... I love the Decemberists. This was my first time seeing them live and they blew me away. They are incredible. Unexpectedly funny and such a great stage presence. They really know how to involve the audience, which I loved. They're just amazing, end of story.

I drove 7 hours to see the Atlanta show on May 2nd from Wilmington,NC and this concert was the best!!!! First of all the Cobb Energy Arts Center is the most gorgeous theater that I have ever been into- beautiful seating, everything is visible even from the top of the theater. The band members interacted with the audience and made me laugh! I was on the third floor and still able to see them and was totally into their amazing music! The only downfall: being that this was a real theater, you couldn't leave your seat to get next to the stage for a better experience. Basically only the first row can get close to the stage. The Decemberists are my favorite band in the world!!!

My partner, my two sons (aged 14 and 10) went to see The Decemberists at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland on the 19th February 2011. Not only did my partner and I have the time of our lives, wishing the night would just keep going on and on, but my sons both kept talking about how wonderful it all was, from the opening act Mountain Man, to The Decemberists themselves. We sang, danced, laughed and listened, and had a fantastic time. We left with a burstingly happy feeling, and smiling faces. It was by far, the absolute best concert I have ever been to in my 37 years.

The concert was so wonderful! I can't think of any place I'd rather be than at a Decemberists show on Valentine's day!!!! Thank you for the memories :)

The Decemberists' lead singer Colin Meloy's unforgettable voice did not waver and completely lived up to expectations set by their CDs. His commentary, especially with John, was hilarious. They played beautifully! The violinist guest star (I forgot her name) sang a wonderful song and fit right in with the band. We, and the rest of the crowd, were extremely enthusiastic, and the Decemberists came back for TWO encores! I went with some friends and my mother, who has been to a generous amount of concerts, and she said this was in her top 5. I've never been to enchanted and mesmerized.

This group is one of the BEST bands to see live! The opener, Mountain Man was great, then Colin and the gang hit the stage and ROCKED the Uptown theater, at one point, even from the balcony booth! If you see one group this year, make it the Decemberists!!!

The Decemberists blew away all my expectations.... I had seen them on Austin City Limits, so I knew it was going to be a good show. What I wasn't prepared for, was the added dimension that they bring to live shows: the energy, the joy of performing, and their excitement about sharing their music with their fans. The music was terrific and the performance or made the music that much better. Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful.

4th time seeing The Decemberists, the crowd gets bigger every time. Beautiful venue and great concert.

The shows were amazing! I got tickets last minute (and ended up with 1 front row ticket to the second and third night). The band were great and the crowd had a blast! Im glad I went even if there was a "wintery mix" coming down!!!

I went in expecting a great experience and left with my mind BLOWN. The performance was impeccable and the setlist was amazing... the way they interacted with the audience really made me feel special, it gave them a humble quality and it showed how much they truly appreciated us being there. They all had great energy which raised the energy of the entire venue. My seat was amazing and the fact that Colin told us we could stand made things even better because my hands were literally on the stage! Seeing the members' facial expressions while playing really personalized the show for me and I was the first out of very limited people to walk away with the incredible set list!

What I have heard from the amazing, Decemberists, is beyond beautiful. One might say that the lyrics are morose BUT the Band sings the songs as if it were an Opera. One great song blends right into the next terrific song. One could also say they are singing "ballads"! I say they are the very best of 2009. Their CD entitled, "The Hazards of Love" is the number 1 Album of 2009....no doubt what so ever....

This was my first experience seeing Decemberists live and I had really high hopes for it. They did not disappoint! They have an amazing stage presence, they have fantastic music and were there to perform their little hearts out. During their first set, The Hazards of Love in its entirety, they were very serious, energetic and hardcore, but after the break (an hour into the show), they came out to play older songs and were interactive, goofy, and really making the crowd move to the music and laugh at the Colin Meloy's jokes. Plus they also play an incredible array of instruments, from guitars, drums and keyboard to accordion, mandolins, autoharp and a weird stringed/keyed/turny-handle-thing instrument. This gives them a rich and diverse sound that's exciting if you care about that sort of thing, but isn't overwhelming if you don't. Their first set was their new album played straight through as it is on the CD, which makes sense because there aren't any breaks in the album - the whole thing flows from one song to the next. As artists I don't think they could have picked out individual songs to play since they're all tied together with musical and lyrical themes recurring but it feels fresh every time a part does repeat. They had the two women who sang on the album there: the alto, Shara Worden, and the soprano, guest Becky Stark.When they weren't doing their solos they were playing instruments in the back of the stage and dancing. By far one of the greatest moments of the evening was when Shara Worden sang her part in "The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid." She had been pretty unobtrusive in the back, but as soon as she started singing, I couldn't believe my ears. She alone was so powerful and intense, both in her voice and stage presence I was blown away. I just wanted her to keep singing! The other best moment of the night was their performance of The Rake's Song. Everyone except for the lead singer and the bass player had two drums in front of them and were pounding on them as hard as they could. I don't know what else to say about it - you probably just have to experience it. The rest of the set was still really exciting - several times when power chords/riffs/sequences come up, my head would bob unconsciously, and the rest of the crowd was doing the same thing. Everyone was engaged and it was a great performance of that entire album. At the end of that hour long song, they took a break and came back for a second set with some old favorites. There were several that I wish they would have played, but they have lots of great music and only so much time. They engaged the audience with a song I didn't know, breaking us up into 3 groups, each one singing their own part. They covered Heart's "Crazy on You" which was confusing at first because it was completely unexpected, but the female singers from earlier came back out and sang the lead here. Highly entertaining. Meloy came out and sang a new song by himself with just his guitar and a harmonica around his neck. (Please note that the set list is incomplete - there were 4 songs total in the 2nd half that I was unfamiliar with including the new song, the aforementioned audience choir song, and one that I think was "Billy Liar") Only downsides: the lead singer Colin had a bit of a rough start (in my opinion) which momentarily had me worried about the rest of the show, but that didn't last long. Also, the soprano (Becky Stark) sounded better in the recording than live, but still really good. During Sons and Daughters, Colin brought in politics which got a positive reaction from the crowd, but that irritates me - fortunately it didn't last too long. And finally inconsiderate TALL concertgoers shoved their way through the crowd and stepping on my toes only to stop right in front of me so I couldn't see (but that's not the band's fault). Basically, if they are coming to a city near you and it's not sold out yet, GO! It was one of the best shows I've ever been to.

I ve had the good fortune to see The Decemberist twice in the past. They ve always put on a great show and last week they did not dissapoint. Not only was the band in top form but seeing and hearing them in the ornate, mood provoking Chicago Theater was a perfect fit. A good mix of new and old topped off with their classic Mariner s Revenge. Fun night out!

Decemberists put on an amazing show and all staff were friendly and helpful.

What a great show. The venue was beautiful and the band sounded excellent!

This show was everything I had hoped for. My seats were in the second balcony, but still had great sight lines. In fact, I'm glad i wasn't on the floor because everyone there was standing. The band put on an amazing show. I have seen The Decemberists several times and have never been disappointed. They played most of there new cd and had an energy that had the audience participating from the beginning. I am still on a music high from that show and went out and bought the new cd the next day. There was a wait staff during the show which allowed me to not miss any of the show and still get served. definitely one of the best shows I've seen this year.

I ve now seen them 3 times live and they never fail to put on an absolutely amazing show! I highly recommend seeing them live!

The Decemberists put on the most unforgettable live shows, I was absolutely blown away.

The Decemberists are amazing performers, and I always enjoy their shows. Julien Baker was also fantastic opening the show.

The Decemberists played an AMAZING set. Never thought I'd get to hear the Tain live. The guitar/accordion duel they did between Jenny and the guy from the audience was awesome. They played a really great setlist (even though there was nothing from Hazards of Love :( ). The second "unplugged" encore was really cool and a nice way to end the night. Overall a great show at a great venue!

Once again, The Decemberists did not disappoint - and neither did The Fillmore.

This is the third time I've seen The Decemberists at the Ryman in Nashville, and they have never disappointed. Colin Meloy is a perfect frontman as he cracks puns and banters between songs with the audience. A good mix of their older stuff (including The Tain, which is epic, and The Island, which is another long, epic song) and their songs off their latest album. Since this was a short (8 city) tour, their light show and stage visuals were kept to a minimum, but that allows them to change up their set list from city to city without being tied to certain lighting cues and effects for the same songs. The sound at the Ryman is always perfect, even when Colin came out to sing without the PA, his voice carried through the back of the auditorium and sounded awesome.

The venue was amazing as was the performance! So glad I experienced this!

Awesome concert, per usual. Setlist was crafted to please the audience and the band. They looked like they were having as much fun as the crowd. Obvious that they love what they do. We drove from CLE and it was worth it

Colin and the crew never disappoint ! They are always so great live !

Great show filled with all the quirks, sidebars, harmonies and great lyrics that you would expect from the Decemberists. They played at a sold out show at the indoor stage at Stage AE. This was my first time seeing a show in the indoor stage. I am 6'4" and had a very difficult time seeing the act. Not a great venue for a sold out show.

I saw my first (and only other) Decemberists show in 2006, after my friend introduced me to them through "The Mariner's Revenge." I was hooked immediately. I greatly enjoy their story-telling. They put on a fantastic show with two encores, a lot of audience communication/participation, and a guitar vs. accordion battle. I'd love to see them the next time they're in town, particularly since I'm 0 for 2 on hearing "The Mariner's Revenge" live.

Coming off a few outdoor venues and a couple of days off, they played some new material. The next album is going to be great. They also played a lot of material from throughout their catalog. They sounded great and it was really fun.