Yes, play this song now.
Play it while you imagine sitting in possibly the most, best, perfect theater to see a band perform the entire album from which that song is cut. Imagine that you have played that album over, and over, and over since it was released on March 24. And as you’ve digested every chord of this “concept album”, no… for the love of god, don’t call it an opera… you’ve imagined how it would be played: no goofy costumes, no characterizations, no props, just the music. That was exactly what I got on Saturday night in Milwaukee at the Riverside Theater. The Decemberists came onto the stage under the shroud of fog and to riotous applause and proceeded to take instrument in hand and simply play. No introduction, no banter between songs, there was no in between songs. It was all of a piece, and set against the grandeur of a tremendously large stage and before an audience of 2,500 Colin Meloy and company (the usual plus the wonderful Shara Worden and Becky Stark) seriously gave me chills.
No, strike that. There were small breaks between some songs, but only to change guitars or to give people enough time to get to appropriate microphones on stage. And we clapped until our hands were red and tired, and cheered ourselves hoarse. Colin’s voice was in great form, and the instrumentation was, …. well, what can I say? They played like it was the thing they loved to do the most in the whole wide world. I think that night that was exactly right.
These are photos, mostly of the show at the Hollywood Palladium on May 19, 2009, from flickr. I’m honestly at a loss for words on what else to really tell you. Buy the album. Listen to it all in one sitting. It’s all there, and it was all there that night in Milwaukee, and more. The energy poured off Colin Meloy. He was absolutely drenched in certainty. He knew he was bestowing this gift, live…. upon an audience that already knew the words, the chord changes, the concept. And when Becky Stark and Shara Worden sang their parts, the energy level rose to the very top of that great concert hall. 
I took M.Chutney, the little wife, with me. I thought that this would be one indie concert she would like. She’s into guitar-heavy rock and roll; this translated I hoped. At intermission (yes, they performed the whole album and then took a break only to come back and play some more!), I looked over at her and she said “Well, that sucked.” Ha! There’s no accounting for taste in this family!
What followed next can only be described as a whole other concert. It was a two-for-one night, much to the wife’s relief! Songs included “Leslie Ann Levine” (what I requested via twitter while in a three-block-long line to get in), “Yankee Bayonet” (M.Chutney’s favorite), “We Both Go Down Together,” and more. It all ended with a giant sing along and invitation to come up on stage which I think Mr. Meloy might have later regretted. Look at MChutney’s picture below, almost the entire standing area hopped up there! 
Oh Lordy! I almost forgot to mention perhaps the crowning moment of the evening for MChut and me; Shara Worden and Becky Stark sang a spine-tingling cover of Heart’s Crazy On You. Yeah, all us 40-somethings (and late 30-somethings) danced our asses off to that one! It was gorgeous! 
buy Heart’s Dreamboat Annie, it’s a great, classic album
The girl that plays the keyboard and accordion and other keyed instruments was supposed to do the cover of my first DVD but was unable to finish it because of having to go make The Hazards of Love. I still need to mail you a copy. I’m a horrible PR person.
Do you know what else Heart and The Decemberists have in common? They both are Portlanders. Portlanders are so awesome.
Oh Jesse, you are a treasure trove of information, darlin’ and you are speedy on the blog read too! I was still editing this when your comment came in, sheeesh! And yeah, Portland rocks, I’d love to go see that first hand someday, thanks for stopping by xoxo
i think we might be releated……stop it you’re scaring me…..re-Heart, i used to love them….twice in fact…BTW have you noticed how i haven’t mentioned The Decemberists at all…cos i’m not bothered the show was amazing or anything….i mean who cares!!!
Love
Well you should know that it was even more than amazing. I know I tend to hyperbole on this blog, but honest to gawd, chills. I hope you get to see them!
It’s too bad that all the people on the stage (I think) were too young to have enjoyed “Crazy On You” the first time around like me. ha! xoxox
Sounds like an awesome show. I love The Decemberists & Shara Worden, but I love Heart even more.
Yeah, that was how I felt that night too. But, it was great seeing The Decemberists rockin out that song, I have to say!
I am a 29 year old who was up in the standing section and completely lost it during Crazy on You. Jumping and singing along to every word. That was absolutely the highlight for me. I did look around at the hipsters young uns around me and they looked a bit lost. Too bad they didn’t quite know the awesomeness they were witnessing.
Whee! It was amazing, and I’m so pleased to find that people from the show(s) read the reviews, thank you! xoxo
That was such a great show! Was anyone else sitting up in the balcanoy area though. There was a really drunk guy kind of by the ramp, who sort of ruined the show for us.
Does this ring a bell with anyone else?
Great show!
ugh, all it takes is one idiot sometimes, eh? so sorry for you! xoxo
Thanks for this, Tartist. I’ll be seeing them this Friday night in Richmond, VA, at the newly-renovated National Theater and I can’t frickin’ wait. I am prepared to be blown away.
well, we expect a full report, mr. non-blogger! and get that booty shakin to “Crazy on You” too, if ya know what’s good for ya!
I am living vicariously through your fantastic post. Sigh….I am a Hazards of Love addict. Honestly, I keep taking the cd off the changer and it somehow finds its way back there. At least I am down to only about 3 listens (start to finish in order of course!) a day. “drenched in certainty”. I am so jealous.
Why thanks Tricia! It was such a fantastic experience, easy to write about