REVIEW: THE DECEMBERISTS @ ROADRUNNER 5/2
Photo Credit: Holly Andres
Written By Sadie Shelkey
The Decemberists create vibrant worlds through their songs, from ghost stories to tales of revenge to love stories to retellings of classic folktales. On the second stop of their “A Peaceable Kingdom” tour, The Decemberists took Roadrunner by storm with a performance as whimsical as their music. This tour comes in anticipation of their 9th studio album, “As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again,” the band’s first new release since 2018.
The concert kicked off with a memorable indie-rock set by chicago-based band Ratboys. Led by vocalist Julia Steiner, the 4-piece ensemble brought a unique energy to the stage, their vibe and lyricism reminiscent of Julien Baker and early Big Thief. The set was a perfect precursor to The Decemberists’ performance, setting the stage with songs from their new album “The Window.”
After Ratboys, I took notice of the stage setup, filled with an array of mics and instruments that begged the question of “surely, they can’t possibly be using ALL of those?” However, as the seven touring band members took the stage, it became clear that they would be —and it was going to be wonderful. The set was a unique blend of an old-timey theater, a spooky marsh, and the Garden of Eden simultaneously– a perfect setting for a band with so many stories to tell.
The imagery in their lyrics and atmosphere onstage complimented each other well. They immediately immersed the audience in their storytelling with “All I Want Is You” from their new album. The Portland-based band, led by frontman Colin Meloy, switched up the setlist significantly from the tour’s first show, playing fan favorite “Severed” and my personal favorite “Don’t Carry It All.”
While the recorded versions of their songs range between orchestral and stripped-back, the concert’s arrangements were all layered with instrumentals ranging from trumpet to accordion to harmonica—all seven members clearly in tune with each other as with their instruments.
Throughout the set, Meloy’s unique bell-tone vocal quality blended extraordinarily with touring member Lizzy Ellison’s haunting harmonies. Still, nothing could have possibly prepared me for “The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid,” where Lizzy unveiled a powerful belt as she rocked the part of the queen in the song’s narrative. By far, this was my favorite performance of the night. She brought a fantastic quality to the music, which was already a fun pivot from the folky jaunts and ballads that made up much of the set.
The band also teased two unreleased songs: “Oh No!” and “Long White Veil,” giving the audience a further look into “As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again,” which will be released on June 14th, mid-tour.
They also performed “Joan in the Garden,” the upcoming album’s 19-minute-long epic, as the show’s encore. It may have been my tired legs speaking, but I feel like this song and its many interludes would have been better placed earlier in the set to allow for a more triumphant finish.
Despite this, “As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again” is sure to be an instant classic for both longtime fans of the band and those only familiar with a few songs.
From harmonica solos to Meloy’s charming anecdotes, this concert was such a joy. The Decemberists have long held a special place in my heart, and this performance was full of the lovely eccentricity that attracted me to the band’s music in the first place.