The Decemberists- Riverside Theater 3/25/15

photo courtesy of Gigshots by Stephen Bloch

The Decemberists are true pros in the music industry, producing quality music and performing engaging shows for the past decade.  While their days of penning ten minute songs about nautical topics may be behind them, the Portland quintet proved once again at the Riverside Theater why they are one of the best live acts out there today.  If I were to sum up their performance in one word, it would be "fun."

photo courtesy of Gigshots by Stephen Bloch

Colin Meloy has fun on stage and is a master of ensuring that the audience is enjoying themselves as well. Whether that fun come in the form of sharing that "Calamity Song" started as a song to encourage his son Hank to eat his oatmeal, or jamming out with his bandmates on pulsing drums during "The Rake's Song," the act never ceased to amaze and engage the audience.  And what other band could have a full-to-the-gills theater of mostly people in their 30's-40's making their hands into fake jaws while a prop whale invaded the stage during the final encore of "The Mariners Revenge Song?"  If that's not a band having fun, I'm not sure what is? 

Touring in support of their latest LP, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World, the Decembetrists focused their set predominately on the newer material, which was very well-received. Meloy and company are now mothers and fathers, and their songs are more reflective in nature these days.  In fact, the crowd was treated to a live debut of "Till The Water is All Long Gone," a tune that featured hypnotic guitar playing by Chris Funk.  Other new tunes that stood out were the anthem sing along, "Make You Better," beautiful set closing "Beginning Song," and lamenting first encore "12-17-12."

photo courtesy of Gigshots by Stephen Bloch

Older tunes brought the crowd to its feet as well.  The Decemberists played a lot of their poppier numbers from past records including "Crane Wife 3," "16 Military Wives," and "Down by the Water."  They did do a longer jam on "The Island," but for the most part the band stuck to their "short of it" material than their longer numbers.

As is typical now of a Decemberists show, the only complaint that I had was that I didn't get to hear all the songs I wanted to hear, and that's because their catalog is just so good.  I guess that's what happens when a band continues to grow and have fun together... you just keep coming back and wanting more. 

Set list:
The Singer Addresses His Audience
Calvary Captain
Down By the Water
Calamity Song
Till the Water's All Long Gone
The Wrong Year
Make You Better
The Crane Wife 3
Los Angeles, I'm Yours
Carolina Low
The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid
The Rake's Song
16 Military Wives
A Beginning Song

Encore:
12-17-12
The Mariner's Revenge Song

The Whale!