"We'll All Come Praise the Infanta"

I saw the Decemberists play in Philadelphia last night with Derek. The whole plan came together in about 24 hours. I loved their latest album, The Crane Wife, on which I felt they moved past their folky, twee, intellectual roots. Yes, they were still folky and intellectual on the new album, but they found a groove that I felt was missing on previous releases. The new album genuinely rocked and also highlighted the band as a whole, instead of just simply singer Colin Meloy's songwriting.

I caught an NPR broadcast of one of their concerts on Monday night and realized this new band dynamic translated to the stage. Tuesday morning, I found out they were playing at the Electric Factory. I called Derek, who was actually looking for someone to go with him, and purchased tickets for the Wednesday night show.

More than a concert, the show was a performance! The new songs contained several movements, easily distinguishable by the band members switching instruments mid-song. Derek and I concluded that one had to be able to play a minumum of six musical instruments to even try out for the Decemberists. Other highlighs included the audience dance contest held during "The Perfect Crime #2" (a Decemberists first) and the monstrous sing-along to "16 Military Wives" (Check the 1 hour 9 min mark on the NPR broadcast or this YouTube video from Atlanta.) My personal favorite was a battle reanactment several band members performed in the middle of audience during the closing number.
I completely understood why Derek, who double majored in English and History, liked this band.

Here's the set list (I may have gotten some of the songs from Her Majesty wrong, because I don't know that album as well):

Crane Wife 3
The Island (Come & See, The Landlord's Daughter, You'll Not Feel the Drowning)
We Both Go Down Together (video)
The Engine Driver
Yankee Bayonet (I WIll Be Home Then)
The Perfect Crime #2
The Shankill Butchers
Song For Myla Goldberg (NPR slideshow)
O Valencia!
July, July! (mp3)
16 Military Wives
The Crane Wife 1 & 2
Sons & Daughters

(encore break)

Red Right Ankle
Take It To the Limit (Eagles Cover performed with opening act Lavender Diamond)
The Legionnaire's Lament
A Cautionary Song

wednedsay, november 15, 2006 (Addendum):
This concert was reviewed by Pitchfork