By K.D. Norris
60-second Review
The Decemberists, with Eleanor Friedberger opening, June 4, at Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids, Mi.
About half way through The Decemberists 16-song set Monday night, I had the feeling I had missed the boat on this band — that I just did not get them. By the band’s final encore, the crowd-anticipated and enjoyed “The Mariner’s Revenge Song”, complete with a whale balloon swimming above the sold-out audience, I was all in and on board.
I should have signed up a little earlier, probably. I mean, if Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss (who, either her or her clone, was sitting directly behind my wife and I) had already kicked off her shoes and was sippin’ dark beer while she was rockin’ out, I had to believe I was missing something here.
Immersed in the often mesmerizing, but sometimes a little slow, early part of the band’s set — a situation possibly, partly explained by Decemberists front man Colin Meloy’s warning that his voice was fragile and the “special” set would include “more love songs” — the tone of the evening changed mid-way with rousing, rocky renditions of “Sucker’s Prayer” and “Starwatcher”, both off the band’s just released I’ll Be Your Girl.
Then, The Decemberists slid into a surprisingly good version of the band’s current hit, “Severed” — surprising because the studio/radio version is so high energy, so techno/synth driven, and such songs often don’t quite translate to stage.
This discussion so far is not to say that the Portland, Oregon-based band’s softer music is not good stuff. In fact, it is probably its ability to shift from rock ’n’ roll into an almost alt-folk mode is apparently part of what keeps its fans loyal.
Two of my favorite songs of the set, truth be told, were “Cutting Stone” from its latest release, and “Grace Cathedral Hill”, from the band’s 2002 debut release: Castaways And Cutouts. Both songs — as does much of the band’s catalogue — offered sly, stylish, sarcastic stories of simple lyrics but enigmatic meaning.
“Whether wild or whether won, though I travel far from home, I will always have my cutting stone.”
And The Decemberists, with their genre-blending musical spectrum, evidently will always have their local fans.
May I have more, please?
The crowd at Meijer Garden received a hint that Meloy and his voice were a little “severed” during an opening set by Eleanor Friedberger, who mostly sang with only her own electric guitar backing but was joined by a member of The Decemberists on two songs after announcing that she had been asked to extend her set that night.
And the union with Decemberist multi-instrumentalist Jenny Conlee, on accordion and on a stripped down, exquisite version of Procol Harum’s now 50-year-old “A Whiter Shade of Pale” was, to me and with all due respect to the music from ex-Fiery Furnaces lead singer’s new Rebound release, the most memorable song of her set.
Also, a quick glance at the Meijer Gardens concert list, and concerts with originally-priced tickets still available, finds 11 shows have not yet sold out including Brandi Carlile — whose new single “The Joke” is on everybody’s song of the year short list — on June 13, Seal on June 20, Herbie Hancock on June 27 and Blondie on June 29.
For more information visit meijergardens.com .
