Image courtesy of BeauHoward.com.
Last month, I again found myself in Atlanta and made it to a great venue called The Tabernacle. One of my favorite bands, Blind Pilot, was opening for The Decemberists and rental car trouble started things off on the wrong foot. My front bumper dropped off the car on the interstate and dragged along the ground all the way through downtown, past throngs of on-lookers with no inhibitions about pointing and laughing.
I stepped inside the The Tabernacle, an old church cathedral with pews still visible in some areas, to see Blind Pilot starting things off. They had a great crowd, but as I listened to side conversations at the back bar, I soon realized that many people had never heard of them. You’d hear comments like “This is Blind who?” during “Go On, Say It” and then “Shit, these guys are good. Who are they?” around the time “One Red Thread” was kicking into gear. I then understood the importance of pairing up with the right headliner if you’re just getting your start. I’m sure this tour will grow Blind Pilot’s audience in big ways.
Between sets, National Car Rental was nice enough to drop off a new car with all parts intact.
Then The Decemberists took the stage. Their latest album, Hazards of Love, was still sinking in with me but the live performance pushed a couple songs up to the top of my playlists, most notably “The Rake’s Song” and “The Wanting Comes In Waves.” I noticed five drum kits set up on stage prior to “The Rake’s Song” and I was intrigued. Then Colin Meloy played first acoustic guitar chords and the lights went dim. Only his face was lit up until the thunderous drums started kicking in from all five locations on the stage. Lights flashed and chills were sent down my spine. The entire venue (me excluded) knew every word and the Tabernacle walls were echoing with the shouts of fans. The fan video below will give you a taste:
Video: The Decemberists – The Rake’s Song (Live in Atlanta)
Another highlight of the night was “The Wanting Comes In Waves” which I’d seen on Letterman a few weeks earlier. In my post about the Letterman performance, a reader pointed out my indie ignorance by explaining that Shara Worden from My Brightest Diamond/Sufjan Stevens is performing with The Decemberists. Well Shara stole the show. She has the best voice I’ve ever heard in person and a stage presence to match. A second video clip from the same fan.
Video: The Decemberists – “The Wanting Comes In Waves” (Live in Atlanta)
The Tabernacle’s temperature got up to about 108 degrees with 200% humidity so I left. I could taste the sweat of others around me. Despite the rental car and clammy venue, the night was great. I was always on the fence with Colin Meloy and friends, but after this night, it’s safe to say that I’m officially a fan of The Decemberists.
