Last night myself and some of my friends went to see The Decemberists at the Royal Festival Hall. That's in London on the South Bank and has recently been refurbished.
I had managed to get tickets for seats in the 3rd row and hadn't wagered for quite how close to the action we'd be. Pretty much dead centre, looking Colin Meloy in the eye.
The set was an absolute triumph. Beginning bravely with The Tain the audience were soon under their spell. Then followed The Apology Song two gems that I hadn't expected to hear live ever.
Following that it was pretty much all from The Crane Wife and was enough to rekindle my love affair with the album. I loved it upon release but after listening quite heavily to their EPs, Castaways and Cutouts and Picaresque I stupidly came to the conclusion that their latest offering was over produced and too 'arty-farty'.
I couldn't have been any more wrong. I was mesmerised. They are a bunch of supremely talented musicians who put on a real show. They move from hauntingly beautiful to slapstick comedy in the blink of an eye. From accordians and pedal steels to mandolins and mouth organs. The perfect accompaniment to Colin Meloy's superb lyrical mastery.
The hour and a half they were on stage utterly flew by. There was nothing from Picaresque until the final song of the encore. What a triumphant end to the set it was too. Having seen them perform The Mariner's Revenge live once before I knew we were in for a real treat. And they didn't disappoint. A brilliant end to a fantastic show. One that cemented The Decemberists' place in my top 3 bands of all time. Ever.