july, july!

the decemberists are probably not the best looking band i've gone to see, nor are they the best sounding band i've seen...but i'd safely say they're one of the most fun. a summer night out in central park with the decemberists promised to be great, but there was an element of exuberance to it that just made this a live performance i'm glad i didn't miss.

the band came out in their seersucker suits and with their vast assortment of instruments (including an accordion, violin, bass, and organ grinder), and i immediately got a good feeling. and although the opening strains of "july, july!" felt a bit shaky, they hit their stride almost immediately and swept the crowd up with them. they have a quality that i think is rare in a lot of bands these days (why does it seem like the shtick for most bands is to act cool and stalk the stage while ignoring the people who are paying to see them?). they were out to entertain the crowd, including the audience in a number of their songs and getting audience participation! after colin meloy put the members of the band to "sleep", he got the entire audience to "go to sleep" as well. we all sat, bemused, on scratchy astroturf before jumping right up to the rousing conclusion of chimbley sweep.

unfortunately i didn't get to hear "the soldiering life" but they played plenty of more recent and old material. their plaintive storytelling manifested itself in songs like "sons and daughters" and the refrain that the crowd took up, "hear all the bombs, they fade away..."

it was refreshing to see a band so unpretentious, so obviously enjoying what they do and just having a lot of fun.