Sweating in December

The Decemberists. Wow. We all knew they would be good, but I wasn't expecting them to be that good. Last Sunday's concert was amazing (besides the humidity). They instantly jumped into this Phillyist's top-ten-best-concerts list. For the record, Phillyist has given The Decemberists nothing but positive reviews: "easily one of the best live shows we've ever seen," and another stated, "It was our first Decemberists show, and it won’t be our last." We agree emphatically with past reviews and say that The Decemberists are incredible.

This concert was a bit different from their regular shows. The outside venue and collaboration with the Mann Festival Orchestra made for a very unique concert - something that audience members won't soon forget. Overall the concert was genius. The orchestral arrangements made for an epic movie-sounding score with lush strings and in-your-face brass that was exciting, interesting and sometimes overpowering. The orchestra was beautiful, intense and exciting. (Usually all at the same time!) The real genius was heard in Sean O'Loughlin's adaptation of The Decemberists' entire EP, The Tain. Twenty minutes of sheer brilliance. Utterly amazing.

The Decemberists gave the orchestra a break and played a few songs by themselves: "Perfect Crime No. 2," "O, Valencia!" and two encores: "Baby Song," and an unnamed new song. Though the orchestra was amazing, I think I prefer The Decemberists by themselves. You could tell they felt more comfortable playing without the orchestra and they seemed to finally loosen up and find the kookiness that they are known for. Though they left the audience wanting more, (I heard several people leaving the concert area a bit pissed because they only played two encores) The Decemberists proved that they could jump into an entirely different genre, venue and crowd and still deliver a musically stunning concert. That is one helluva accomplishment.

Set List:
The Crane Wife 1 & 2
Infanta
We Both Go Down Together
The Bagman's Gambit
Odalisque
The Perfect Crime #2
Los Angeles, I'm Yours
The Tain
O Valencia!
I Was Meant For the Stage
**
Baby Song
Unnamed new song

*A minute-to-minute live blog of the concert that includes pictures and video.
*Another review with some incredible front-row pictures.

Picture taken by author