Let me just start by saying that what makes rock music so great is that it is a feeling, completely undefinable. You feel it in your loins and it creeps into your legs and heart. It is a feeling a lot like love or sex. Now part of the job of selling rock n roll is the delivery system of young nubile guys and gals, some who are amazing rockers and some who play the part. But, mixed into that are batches of normal looking and even some downright ghoulish individuals who make great music. Frank Zappa, Joey Ramone, Frank Black, Phish, Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse, etc… Amazing musicians who not only understand music and its subtleties, but perform with such expertise and fire that they are transformed to gods on the spot.

The Decemberists are one such band who hail from today’s closest thing to a musical mecca, Portland, OR. They may look like they would work at your local food coop, or that they would be found pontificating at the local corner bar (which they probably do), but in addition they are true musicians. More than just being true musicians they also put on a great live show. I don’t mean the kind of live show where there is flame and large penises on stage, I mean the kind of live show where the level of playing, the songs, the energy, will convert you on the spot and you’ll find yourself saying, “I don’t know what the hell a Decemberist is, but I want one!”

Enough build-up? I had the opportunity to see them on April 22nd when they played the Fillmore in Denver. That’s right, the other Fillmore. Everytime I walk into that place I feel I am at the beginning of the movie “Goodfellas” where the camera is walking behind the main characters as you see the room open up. Beautiful spot, great sound. You walk in and it opens into a huge dancehall with tall ceilings and chandeliers; three thousand people on one floor enjoying music. There is also a small balcony section. Beer is served fast and the people who work there are professional and kind. On this night, through several mysterious circumstances, I found myself in possession of a VIP pass and so decided to watch the show from backstage.

Now back to the build-up. Mostly I am sharing my unadulterated opinion of what I witnessed, but in addition I am trying to help you break through a barrier. The Decemberists are getting more popular. No doubt, you have seen pictures of the band. They look a little antiquated, maybe even oddly normal. You may come to the decision that this band is boring. I did. But, I had a generous friend who passed me their newest CD, “The Crane Wife”, and in a moment when I had nothing to listen to I put it on and was blown away; mouth gaping and sweating. No shit. The blend and mix of maritime folk music, prog rock, metal, indie and more all wrapped up in a gorgeous melodic pop song. This is what made some music journalists claim “The Crane Wife” as the best album of 2006, especially Paste Magazine, which to my mind is the gold standard of music magazines today.

Before I go into the show, you may still be wondering what a Decemberist is. Let’s go back to Russia in 1825. Tsar Alexander died and the throne should have gone to Constantine, but he abdicated not wanting to do the job. So Nicholas, his younger brother, decided to step forward to take the throne. It was December, this move by Nicholas did not make people happy, thus you have the Decemberists, or the group of rebels who challenged Nicholas’ claim to the throne.

Mostly that was just to show how good I am at research on the web. But, also The Decemberists, are quite revolutionary. At a time when most songs are expressions of overwrought emotions or “we just want to have fun” they create stories and scenes evoking Japanese fairytales or a gang of rogue butchers. Within the rocking music are stories that draw you in.

Given all of these factors I expected to see an older crowd at the show. Literate, arty, thirty year olds living the Portland dream. Instead the audience was mostly high schoolers and they knew every word of every song, fists pumping and girls screaming. When the band launched into their perfect pop song “O Valencia!” I was stunned at the sheer exuberance of the crowd. During their timely song “Sons and Daughters” there is a refrain of “Hear all the bombs fade away” and the whole place was singing it and meaning it. They played for two plus hours. I guess the last time they were in this area they played at the Fox in Boulder and Colin Meloy, the lead singer, was sick, so he wanted to make it up to the fans by playing right up until 11pm. This is the time the city of Denver dictates a show has to stop. In another rebellious move, when you walk into the Fillmore there are signs everywhere saying “no crowd surfing under any circumstances”. This of course prompted several members of the band to jump into the waiting sweaty crowd towards the end of their show.

Meloy knew how to play with the crowd as well. At one point he separated the full house into two sides and had them pump their fists in aggression at each other. Then he had them flirt with eachother. Then he asked the crowd to form little dancing circles amidst the sea of people. My view from the balcony was perfect as Meloy, with genuine sarcasm, messed with the crowd and the crowd loved it. They loved it. When the band came back onstage to do their encore the sheer orgasmic screams were deafening.

I have been reluctant each step of the way to fall in love with this band. Maybe this is because there is too much going on to conceptualize what they are. Or, maybe it is because we think of rainy Portland. They also are just so normal looking and unassuming. But they are proving themselves to be one of the best bands around who can stand the test of time. Triumphantly they march carrying the musical flag of melody and lyrics and some truly kick ass song writing.

-- silver j