The Decemberists @ Loew's Jersey Theater: Spill the Wine

Hey, gang. Remember the Decemberists? Those mischief musical makers with well-honed lyrics and savvy literary fair? Well, they are in town, just not your town. Many New Yorkers braved that 20 minute subway ride and $1.50 fare to Journal Square to see one of best live acts around. This is my third time around with Colin Meloy and crew and I've never been disappointed. You are guaranteed a wild, fun journey through their musical minds.

Let's get some business out of the way. My Brightest Diamond went on a 8, Decemberists on the stage at 9, show was over at 10:40. You're welcome.

Tonight's setlist:

• Crane Wife 3
• July, July!
• The Soldiering Life
• The Infanta
• The Bachelor And The Bride
• Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then) (with Shara Worden)
• Culling Of The Fold
• On the Bus Mall
• The Legionnaire's Lament
• O, Valencia!
• The Island: Come & See / The Landlord's Daughter / You'll Not Feel The Drowning
• The Mariner's Revenge Song
• Encore: Everyday Is Like Sunday (Morrissey cover, duh!)
• Crane Wife 1 & 2

This is the first stop on their U.S. tour and as Colin explained, they were still working out the kinks. Could have fooled me. You get two things when you see The Decemberists: you get expert musicianship and some playful banter. Even Sufjan Stevens was in the crowd to behold.

As you know, the little indie band from Portland that was on Kill Rock Stars is now the big important band on Capitol Records -- until they get dropped for budget reasons. The result that comes with those big bucks is The Crane Wife, a quasi-concept album focused on an old Japanese tale (wikipedia entry). You have some familiar sounding Decemberists songs like O, Valencia! and then something that caught me and others off-guard, an 11-minute prog rock song that would make Pink Floyd and "The Court of the Crimson King" happy. I'm partial to "The Perfect Crime," which the melody reminds me of Springsteen's "Spirit in the Night."

Every time I've seen them, they've played "The Mariner's Revenge Song." I was not aware that they had stopped playing the song and was glad they brought it out for me. It's the audience participation portion of the evening.

Nothing much has changed now that they're a big, well-respected band able to sell-out the large venues. The band is down to five members, with Petra Hayden no longer involved. The set is decorated with little doo-dads with an ellaborate backdrop. Colin still likes to talk, joke and riff in tangents. Tonight, he spent a good time debating whether people should stand or sit down. I was in the 4th row, everyone around me sat but everyone behind me all stood. So I stood in the aisle, problem solved. Anyway, he comes off as completely comfortable on stage and in front of a big crowd. He did lament that he spilled wine on his new seersucker suit. In any event, Colin can still be the rock star and jump around and get off stage and walk into the crowd.

In all, awesome show. You got a Morrissey cover. Last time, it was E.L.O.

The gig was held at an old, warn down theater in Jersey City. This place was old school before there was even old school. The place was amazing and the little wear and tear made it all the more endearing. The inside looks like something out of someone's goth dream or a set from Interview With a Vampire. The acoustics were awesome, easy to get to. Free parking. It's not in the growing hipster area of Jersey City, so what can you do.

Comments

[Rod]

Whoa, Sufjan was there????? how come I didn't see him? i specifically kept looking around, just in case. I was in Row H, Orchestra 2.

What i dont get is why people didn't fully stand during the show till the last song? I was up quite a few times but I wanted to stand thru the whole show. At least Colin said it was okay for people to be sitting.

and i think i saw you, Orchestra 3, around row E or row F?

[drewo]

Thanks for the review and set times. Looking forward to tonight's show.

[MusicSnobbery]

Suf left left before the end of the show.

Seated venues just cause tension among concert goers. Bloc party should be interesting.

I was row D as in DIE-NO-MITE!

[dontneedanything]

minor detail -
her name is SHARA worden.

cant wait until i get to see em next month!

[andrew]

Did Chris Funk shred some crazy sounds, like on Colbert?