When I received Ticketmaster’s concert update newsletter announcing that The Decemberists and Death Cab for Cutie would be playing together in Bend over Memorial Day Weekend, I knew I had to buy tickets. How could I miss seeing two of my favorite bands, much less see them both in the same show? That would be like passing on bacon-wrapped hors d’ouvres — foolish not to have at least one. By the end of the evening, it was clear that The Decemberists stole the show, and we all secretly wished they’d come back for an encore instead of Death Cab for Cutie.

For those not familiar with The Decemberists, imagine Dickensian tales of street urchins, scallywags and trollops set to a mix of modern and classic music styles (even accordions). Imagine James Joyce set to a catchy tune. Imagine Wordsworth meets Wilde, epics about trapeze artists, Japanese folk stories, and experiences on the Portland bus mall. Colin Meloy’s grasp of literary styles, narrative, wit, and performance are uncanny. He melds classic tropes and mythologies with contemporary events and music, creating a unique style. Basically, it’s an English major’s dream come true.

Some bands just get on stage and play their songs, allowing the audience to witness their glorious musical acumen. Not The Decemberists. They perform, they entertain, they engage. At one point, Colin Meloy had much of the crowd doing aerobic exercises — squats, running in place, doing the pogo — under the guise of keeping warm in the damp-chilled evening. An impromptu telling of the founding of Bend by Lewis & Clark had us all cracking up, even when the Indians died from chicken pox-infested blankets. I looked around and everyone was smiling, laughing, having fun. We were part of the show just as much as the band on stage.

But their songs aren’t just goofy historical narratives; sometimes they’re touching, personal, even heartbreaking. What I love about them is that they aren’t heavy-handed accounts of a breakup or a bad experience — they transcend the realm of the personal and reach toward archetypes that speak to us all. “Your Red Right Ankle” always makes me tear up, and “The Cranewife” makes me cry whenever I hear it. Seeing it performed live was no different, in fact it was even more intimate and touching to see the band play to the crowd. These are the songs we all have in our hearts.

It’s a rare talent that can bring such skill and finesse to lyrics, music, and performance. I was a big fan before the show, but now I’m completely enthralled. In my dream concert line-up, I’d have The Decemberists playing with Arcade Fire, featuring an encore ensemble of the two bands playing together. Oh what sweet heaven that would be!

What music touches you, entertains you, makes up the soundtrack of your life?

Tagged as concerts, Inspiration, music, storytelling + Categorized as Inspiration, Being entertained, Inspiration, Listening to music