a fleeting beating of hearts

The Decemberists were absolutely perfect last night in Boulder, in my first time seeing them live. I wrote of their new album that it is clear Colin Meloy and I are MFEO, and now I amend that to say TMFEO (totally made for each other). He is as engaging a frontman as my other favorite, Jeff Tweedy, and every single song they played, even the ones I didn’t know, were intricate, shimmering, smart, and galvanized us from the stage. The crowd participation (“Mariners Revenge Song,” anyone?) is truly amazing. I sang and screamed and swayed along as best I could.

This gem of “January Hymn” came halfway through the set and set me off into bliss. “What were the words I meant to say before you left?” So bittersweet.

The set closed with the bookend of “June Hymn,” and it was almost too sublime to breathe or say anything. It was exactly as I hoped it would be — a panoply of song.

Superb, superb show. Go see them live on this tour and get tix in advance — they are selling out many of the shows. And they just announced a second leg which starts in… Colorado Springs?! Uh, okay. Yes please.

DECEMBERISTS WINTER TOUR
# with Mountain Man
+ with Justin Townes Earle

February 12, The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA#
February 13, House of Blues-San Diego, San Diego, CA#
February 14, Fox Theater, Oakland, CA#
February 18, Paramount Ballroom, Seattle, WA#
February 19, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, OR#
March 4, Vicar Street, Dublin, Ireland
March 5, ABC, Glasgow, UK
March 7, Birmingham Institute, Birmingham, UK
March 8, Bristol Academy, Bristol, UK
March 10, Manchester Academy, Manchester, UK
March 11, Leeds Academy, Leeds, UK
March 12, De la Warr Pavillion, Bexhill, UK
March 13, Trix, Antwerp, Belgium
March 14, Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands
March 16, Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK
April 16, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO+
April 17, Holland Performing Arts Center, Omaha, NE+
April 18, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA+
April 19, Overture Hall, Madison, WI
April 21, Benedum Center, Pittsburgh, PA+
April 22, Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak, MI
April 23, The LC Pavilion, Columbus, OH+
April 25, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI+
April 26, Iroquois Amphitheater, Louisville, KY+
April 27, The Pageant, St. Louis, MO+
April 29, House of Blues, Dallas, TX
April 30, Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre, Austin, TX
May 1, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA
May 2, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta, GA+