my girl, linen and curls
I must say, the best concerts are performed by people who look like they're having a good time, and the Decemberists always look like they're having an absolute blast.
Setlist for April 19 at the Riv
It was very slightly warmer outside yesterday, and I was wearing thicker socks, so my toes did not become nearly as numb. This proved important because I was able to book it to the front stage left, in front of Jenny. I'd never stood in front of Jenny before, so it was nice to see her up close for a change. Between the warmer temperatures outside and the lack of Laura Veirs on constant loop inside, the wait didn't seem nearly as long as it did the day before. Even My Brightest Diamond seemed to be growing on me, or at least I enjoyed this set a little more than yesterday's.
The Decemberists opened once again with the choral music, which aliste said she heard was the national anthem of the Former Soviet Union. And this time, as you can see if you look at the setlist, they opened with the Crane Wife 1 and 2, but 3 did not follow as I've seen it done before. Instead they segued into the intro drumming to the Infanta, and Colin took a moment to have us close our eyes and imagine a scene. Lisbon, around the 17th century, on a dusty road.
During July, July, the girl standing next to me was recording it on her phone (that's going to be some great sound/picture quality :P). Colin noticed, and at one point in the song came over and made a funny face right into the camera. Oh, that Colin. He introduced Summersong by telling us that it had been written on a picnic bench in Ireland. They had Shara come out again for Yankee Bayonet, and after that almost everyone left the stage except for Colin and Chris, who played Clementine as a duet of sorts.
They were about to start Shiny when Colin stopped to tell us the dream he had the night before. Not an exact quote, but:
"We were having some interpersonal strife in the band, and Chris said 'You always write the same kind of songs, you should write a song about an Easter bunny with an external heart that he carries around.' And I said 'What? I can't write a song about that!' Chris went off in a huff, and Jenny then said 'You do write a lot of songs about gypsies.'"
In the middle of Shiny he forgot the first line of one verse briefly, but soon remembered it and they repeated those bars. Later, when talking about the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra show, Colin remarked that he hoped that they would be able to deal when he forgot lyrics and had to extend songs, heh.
They started 16 Military Wives normally, but before getting into the actual song they started randomly jamming and Colin played some bluesy licks, announcing "the Chicago Blues, ladies and gentlemen!" They took another blues break in the middle, with Jenny bluesing it up this time. The 'La-de-da' war made a triumphant return, with the rear part of the main floor performing sadly compared to the two front sections and the balcony.
Colin came out solo for the first song of the encore and played a song written about his baby (more knowledge courtesy of aliste). And of course the Mariner's Revenge, which was crazy and wacky. John was not so crazy, but he definitely still brought a lot of silly. After the whale came out and they were all lying on the stage, Nate was literally lying underneath his bass, and toward the end there was more dancing at the front. Still altogether very entertaining, even though we had seen most of the antics the previous night.
Colin decided to go crowd surfing again, but this time he kept his shoes. While he was doing that the rest of the band stayed on stage for a minute and handed out some setlists, whereas the previous night the roadies had to be relied on. Jenny gave one to aliste, and Nate came over to give his to me, proving once again that bass players love me. And then a woman behind us asked, "Are you sure you guys really want those setlists?" Which has to be one of the most ridiculous questions I've ever been asked.
There was no Tain at this show unfortunately, but otherwise another great show. I mean, I've never been to a bad Decemberists show, and like I said at the beginning, it's easy to have a good time when the people up on stage have huge smiles on their faces.
Setlist for April 19 at the Riv
It was very slightly warmer outside yesterday, and I was wearing thicker socks, so my toes did not become nearly as numb. This proved important because I was able to book it to the front stage left, in front of Jenny. I'd never stood in front of Jenny before, so it was nice to see her up close for a change. Between the warmer temperatures outside and the lack of Laura Veirs on constant loop inside, the wait didn't seem nearly as long as it did the day before. Even My Brightest Diamond seemed to be growing on me, or at least I enjoyed this set a little more than yesterday's.
The Decemberists opened once again with the choral music, which aliste said she heard was the national anthem of the Former Soviet Union. And this time, as you can see if you look at the setlist, they opened with the Crane Wife 1 and 2, but 3 did not follow as I've seen it done before. Instead they segued into the intro drumming to the Infanta, and Colin took a moment to have us close our eyes and imagine a scene. Lisbon, around the 17th century, on a dusty road.
During July, July, the girl standing next to me was recording it on her phone (that's going to be some great sound/picture quality :P). Colin noticed, and at one point in the song came over and made a funny face right into the camera. Oh, that Colin. He introduced Summersong by telling us that it had been written on a picnic bench in Ireland. They had Shara come out again for Yankee Bayonet, and after that almost everyone left the stage except for Colin and Chris, who played Clementine as a duet of sorts.
They were about to start Shiny when Colin stopped to tell us the dream he had the night before. Not an exact quote, but:
"We were having some interpersonal strife in the band, and Chris said 'You always write the same kind of songs, you should write a song about an Easter bunny with an external heart that he carries around.' And I said 'What? I can't write a song about that!' Chris went off in a huff, and Jenny then said 'You do write a lot of songs about gypsies.'"
In the middle of Shiny he forgot the first line of one verse briefly, but soon remembered it and they repeated those bars. Later, when talking about the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra show, Colin remarked that he hoped that they would be able to deal when he forgot lyrics and had to extend songs, heh.
They started 16 Military Wives normally, but before getting into the actual song they started randomly jamming and Colin played some bluesy licks, announcing "the Chicago Blues, ladies and gentlemen!" They took another blues break in the middle, with Jenny bluesing it up this time. The 'La-de-da' war made a triumphant return, with the rear part of the main floor performing sadly compared to the two front sections and the balcony.
Colin came out solo for the first song of the encore and played a song written about his baby (more knowledge courtesy of aliste). And of course the Mariner's Revenge, which was crazy and wacky. John was not so crazy, but he definitely still brought a lot of silly. After the whale came out and they were all lying on the stage, Nate was literally lying underneath his bass, and toward the end there was more dancing at the front. Still altogether very entertaining, even though we had seen most of the antics the previous night.
Colin decided to go crowd surfing again, but this time he kept his shoes. While he was doing that the rest of the band stayed on stage for a minute and handed out some setlists, whereas the previous night the roadies had to be relied on. Jenny gave one to aliste, and Nate came over to give his to me, proving once again that bass players love me. And then a woman behind us asked, "Are you sure you guys really want those setlists?" Which has to be one of the most ridiculous questions I've ever been asked.
There was no Tain at this show unfortunately, but otherwise another great show. I mean, I've never been to a bad Decemberists show, and like I said at the beginning, it's easy to have a good time when the people up on stage have huge smiles on their faces.