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The Decemberists w/ Alvvays @ UB’s Center for the Arts (4/1/15)

April 2, 2015

I had seen The Decemberists once before. The Portland, OR natives played an outdoor, midday set on a sweltering day at Bonnaroo 2011, and I was excited to be able to cross one of the “bucket list bands” off of my list, despite the heat. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t show up hours early for a good spot in front of the stage, and the sun was entirely unforgiving—curse my fair skin—making the experience distant, hot, and less than magical. Luckily for me, the indie-folk storytellers made their most welcome return (and second sell out) to UB’s Center for the Arts this past Wednesday evening, and this time the magic prevailed. Toronto-based girl-pop group Alvvays opened the show promptly at 8pm (the CFA doesn’t mess around when it comes to start times), kicking things off with “Adult Diversion,” the opening track off of the group’s excellent 2014 self-titled debut. For[...]

Tonight: The Decemberists

April 1, 2015

Portland’s hyper-literate, indie-folk rock act, the Decembrists, have amassed many accolades, from Grammy nominations to well-documented participatory live shows. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the group however is its consistency of strong material. Since the band’s inception in the early 2000s, the Decembrists have released one phenomenal album after another, leading to many debates (as is oft the case among great bands) about which album is the creme de la creme, the focal center. My personal favorite remains the Hazards of Love, for many reasons. It caught me at the right time, and I could heavily relate to the character arcs and the bold, exploratory nature of the music. Thematically, it was a powerhouse, tempered by a vibe both subdued yet somehow startlingly open. (Feel free to debate this is the comments section. Everyone’s a winner in these kind of arguments.) Tonight, the Decembrists will be regaling us with[...]