It seems like the only time I go to a show anymore is to see the Decemberists. I know, I know. A few friends were in Portland from out of town and we went to Edgefield to see the band play the first of two nights out there.

Much like their set at Eugene's McDonald Theater back in May, they played the entirety of The Hazards of Love before returning to the stage for a run through of tracks from their older albums. Sadly, the show wasn't equal to that fantastic barn burner a few months ago. Colin Meloy held back from staging any historical reenactments with members of the crowd and, at no point, did the band descend into the depths of a lengthy acid-rock jam session in the middle of "The Chimbley Sweep."

The cover of Heart's "Crazy on You" though? Fantastic. Maybe the venue has to wrap up concerts at a decent hour in order to avoid pissing off the neighbors at the correctional facility next door or the hotel's guest.

Oh, well. Maybe next time. I'm still hoping that one day I'll get to see the Decemberists stage a reenactment of the Boston Molasses Disaster.

Labels: music