The Decemberists at TLA - P.A.W. Print - Philadelphia Arts Writers

"There is a common misconception that there are pirates in the songs but all of the Mariners I have used are legitimate in one way or another, they may be amoral, but they are not pirates"

So expect no tales of pirates when the Decemberists sail into town on June 15. Expect however, the usual rogues gallery of Legionnaires, waterfront trollops, Chinese acrobats grizzled sailors and…..a gong. "Rachel just bought a gong…," said Meloy. "A very big gong that is now going to be part of our stage set."

Since their inception in 2001, two things have the set the Decemberists apart from their indie pop peers. Firstly they specialize in extremely literate, engaging music drawing references from everything from traditional sea shanties to mellow seventies California rock. They also feature one of the most varied line-ups of instruments ever assembled on one stage. When they play the TLA on south street in June you could possibly see and hear Glockenspiels, banjos, claves, vibraphones, pedal steels, dobros, and the aforementioned gong, recently purchased by percussionist Rachel Blumberg.

Hitting the road on the heels of their masterful EP, The Tain, an 18-minute song suite inspired by Thomas Kinsella's adaptation of the classic Irish heroic tale, and last years Her Majesty, The Decemberists, I recently spoke on the phone with Decemberists' leader Colin Meloy. Speaking from his native, rainy Portland he spoke of hitting the road during the next month and a half.

"I'm looking forward to it… I'm a bit of a homebody and I like the comforts of home… but there are some wonderful things about touring: performing, meeting people, visiting new and different places" We can also, this time around look forward to a varied set and a group much more at ease with their following.


Colin Meloy and the Decemberists. photo, Alicia J. Rose.

"The last few tours we did we sort of felt like we were introducing ourselves to the world and tailoring our set accordingly, but this time around we know we are going to be playing to people who are fans, who have the record, and kind of mix it up a bit, throw in some more obscure songs." Writing on the road, however, is one thing Colin does not do.

"I don't, I need a lot of calmness, and time to work on music, I need to be able to sit down and work on something for a little bit, and then walk away and make lunch, or run errands. There is just no time on the tour to afford me that."

These days while preparing to tour and return to the studio, Meloy has been listening to some of his fellow artists' new music. "The last record I listened to was the Street's new record, A Grand Don't Come for Free, which is phenomenal and the new Morrissey record. I have been listening to quite a bit, and it's FANTASTIC."

The rest of the year is pretty busy for Colin et al, as well. When they return from the tour, they will be entering the studio to record their third LP in Portland, with Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla.

"The songs are written, most have been worked through with the band, and we're recording in an old Presbyterian church," said Meloy, who added, "We wanted to record in a more unconventional place, have a little more of a relaxed environment, and have it sound a little stranger, not so much like a studio record. The cast of characters is moving across the ages, though, drawing from a lot of 16th and 17th century sources…there will be a lot of kings and queens this time around"

Mr. Meloy promised they will be road testing some of the new songs this time around, and also compels fans that caught the show in Philadelphia last year to come again. "If you happened to see us at the Khyber last time I don t think you got a proper representation, I would invite you to see us on a stage that actually fits us."

Meloy and the Decemberists will be performing on June 15 at 8pm with the Long Winters at TLA, located at 334 South Street (just 4 blocks where pirates were hung by the Delaware river in the 17th century). For more information, call (215) 922-1011.