The Decemberists

The Decemberists

Nov 12

I’ll Be Your Whale

When: 5 November 2018
Where: O2 Academy
Support: Hop Along
Band Previously Seen: 16 March 2011, Hammersmith Apollo, London

The latest album from The Decemberists, I’ll Be Your Girl, continues the band’s move away from their folk influenced indie rock (along with a historical bent to many of their lyrics) to a more ‘mainstream’ indie rock sound and some overt contemporary political lyrics (see sample video for ‘Severed’ below) but their show tonight skilfully blends these two strands into a seamless whole (the new album taking up about a third of the setlist). And whilst the crowd’s biggest cheers are for the indie folk tunes this probably reflects familiarity for much loved old tunes as much as anything – and the new material is well received.

 

It feels appropriate to be seeing this historically inclined band on bonfire night – and the opening song is from an album whose title Guy Fawkes et al would have hoped for, The King Is Dead. They have a reputation as a crowd focused band and whilst the crowd participation aspect is not as pronounced as when I last saw them in 2011, their bond with their audience is strong and warmly appreciated. In many ways they remind me of the excellent British Sea Power.

 

Colin Meloy is naturally the main focal point, his guitar playing and singing rooting the band’s sound. The other focal point in the band is Jenny Conlee on keys, synths, accordion and backing vocals – a fan favourite who gets some of the loudest cheers of the night. The others are no slouches either – Nate Query on upright bass etc (theatrical throughout – especially on the whale song), Chris Funk on guitar and related instruments, the excellent drummer John Moen, and touring member Kelly Hogan on backing vocals (and laudable lead on ‘The Queen’s Rebuke’). They are an impressively tight band who do that trick of making seem like they are far looser and the interplay between all band members is great.

 

The dark lyrical content of many of their songs is undercut by the generally jaunty musical settings and is there is no sense of the sombre in the crowd. Although there was slight tension from some around me when they played ‘The Shankill Butchers’, a very dark murder ballad (but played slightly faster live) but I suspect this was due our geography. I really liked the new songs, especially ‘Sucker’s Prayer’, ‘Severed’ and ‘Once In My Life’ but the highlight was undoubtedly the encore of ‘The Mariner’s Revenge Song’ – complete with large inflatable whale that made it ways through the crowd and onto stage where it attacked several band members. It also involved  the most enthusiastic crowd participation. A great evening.

 

 

Band page

 

Sample video