Annabelle is 8 🫣 and thankfully a small-ish 8; a gymanst with a bit of strength to help hold herself up when I'm fatigued. My arms are still recovering, as I'm sadly not as young as I once was. Zero trauma inflicted on her, I guarantee. I've been cautioning her (and her teen sibling) with Shankill Butchers since infancy. She also often asks to listen to Hazards 3 (or as she calls it "the one where the dead kids are singing"). So, you know, totally normal childhood experiences.
It's a toss-up of who enjoyed the shows more between the two of us: I, a fan of over 20 years, or the small child who got to hear her favorite song played "just for her." Thank you for two great nights! We made many great memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. Hopefully next time she's tall enough to see on her own two feet. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat, though.
You legend! Our son discovered the Decemberists as a preteen and it quickly became our Family Thing (though we never had to carry either kid through a show! Much respect). We lost our son last year and the Decemberists feature strongly in so many of our best memories. Go Annabelle and go you!
Such a great show in Santa Fe! Also appreciated hearing you all play through Boys of Summer for Don Henley's birthday while we were waiting to get into the VIP pre-show.
Hope you come back this way again. Albuquerque is where we live, so that's my preference of course, but you might get your tour bus stolen ;)
We just did the one in Santa Fe last week with some friends in for a visit. Had never been. It is great, but tons of people in at times a very tight space. Be aware if you're claustrophobic or concerned about germs. But we masked up and had a great visit. Millions of artistic decisions made in that place. Overwhelmingly cool.
When y’all played beginning song in Austin during the IBYG tour you described it as something to play when we all need some centering and it definitely centered. Felt like one of those moments in life that marks a deep spiritual reset. Came out of that concert feeling new. I think the live crowd often feels this way about this song!
Live in Tucson and the Rialto is a great venue but it was hot for the audience. I drove to the very hot Phoenix. I registered 105 at 7pm. But inside the Van Buren was lovely. Was up close for both. Glad I saw both shows as Tucson show included The Island and Joan as the encore. Phoenix had Shankhill Butcher and Intafada among other favorites. I wish I could follow you to other venues. But drove back to Tuscon where a monsoon apparently happened. I saw Annabelle in Tucson. Holding her must have been exhausting. Things we do for our kid fans!!! Thanks to the Decemberists for an amazing (and hot) Arizona trip!!
Being accosted at the bus stop is a quintessential Tucson experience... your description of the desert climate had me literally laughing out loud! My fiance and I were at both shows in Arizona and were fortunate enough to have VIP tickets in Tucson and get up to the barrier in Phoenix. We were blown away. It was such a treat to hear some different songs each night. Thank you for stopping by two cities in our state. We can't wait for the next tour :)
Thank you Colin. San Diego was wonderful! One of the great joys of parenthood is seeing your kids happy and appreciative at the same time.
So having you serenade my daughter on her 27th birthday (after she caught your guitar pick but before she grabbed the setlist print out) was a top twenty parenting moment for me. I don’t think she could have been happier.
(Calling The Decemberists her favorite band grossly understates the situation.) So, thank you!
Had a blast in Santa Fe, thanks for the great show. We also went to Geronimo that night—great experience if a bit much. Thanks for making the trip from Oklahoma so worthwhile (several groups from Tulsa, you all are huge here!).
Annabelle is 8 🫣 and thankfully a small-ish 8; a gymanst with a bit of strength to help hold herself up when I'm fatigued. My arms are still recovering, as I'm sadly not as young as I once was. Zero trauma inflicted on her, I guarantee. I've been cautioning her (and her teen sibling) with Shankill Butchers since infancy. She also often asks to listen to Hazards 3 (or as she calls it "the one where the dead kids are singing"). So, you know, totally normal childhood experiences.
It's a toss-up of who enjoyed the shows more between the two of us: I, a fan of over 20 years, or the small child who got to hear her favorite song played "just for her." Thank you for two great nights! We made many great memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. Hopefully next time she's tall enough to see on her own two feet. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat, though.
You legend! Our son discovered the Decemberists as a preteen and it quickly became our Family Thing (though we never had to carry either kid through a show! Much respect). We lost our son last year and the Decemberists feature strongly in so many of our best memories. Go Annabelle and go you!
I am so sorry for your loss ❤️
I also used to play that song for my niece and nephew when they were young. As adults, they remember that and The Clash. My work is done
She sounds like a fun kid! 😆
She really is! I'm pretty darn lucky to be her mom.
Just throwing my love to Beginning Song, it always makes me cry a bit and I loved seeing it this time around in Boston!
Beginning Song makes my teary every time too ❤️
Such a great show in Santa Fe! Also appreciated hearing you all play through Boys of Summer for Don Henley's birthday while we were waiting to get into the VIP pre-show.
Hope you come back this way again. Albuquerque is where we live, so that's my preference of course, but you might get your tour bus stolen ;)
omg, we did not know it DON HENLEY'S BIRTHDAY it was in the air
A Beginning Song is a favorite! We could always do with more songs from WATWWABW.
If you ever have another down day in Santa Fe, I can’t recommend Meow Wolf enough. There’s one in Denver too …
We just did the one in Santa Fe last week with some friends in for a visit. Had never been. It is great, but tons of people in at times a very tight space. Be aware if you're claustrophobic or concerned about germs. But we masked up and had a great visit. Millions of artistic decisions made in that place. Overwhelmingly cool.
My husband and I have been to the SF one and are in Denver to see the show tonight and will be going to Meow Wolf tomorrow. Definitely fun!
Now I have this ear bug playing, thanks!
“Everything, everything, everything, everything, everything, thing
Everything, everything, everything, everything, everything is ochre”
When y’all played beginning song in Austin during the IBYG tour you described it as something to play when we all need some centering and it definitely centered. Felt like one of those moments in life that marks a deep spiritual reset. Came out of that concert feeling new. I think the live crowd often feels this way about this song!
Live in Tucson and the Rialto is a great venue but it was hot for the audience. I drove to the very hot Phoenix. I registered 105 at 7pm. But inside the Van Buren was lovely. Was up close for both. Glad I saw both shows as Tucson show included The Island and Joan as the encore. Phoenix had Shankhill Butcher and Intafada among other favorites. I wish I could follow you to other venues. But drove back to Tuscon where a monsoon apparently happened. I saw Annabelle in Tucson. Holding her must have been exhausting. Things we do for our kid fans!!! Thanks to the Decemberists for an amazing (and hot) Arizona trip!!
I am one of those for whom Beginning Song is important. Thank you for continuing to sprinkle that one in occasionally.
Being accosted at the bus stop is a quintessential Tucson experience... your description of the desert climate had me literally laughing out loud! My fiance and I were at both shows in Arizona and were fortunate enough to have VIP tickets in Tucson and get up to the barrier in Phoenix. We were blown away. It was such a treat to hear some different songs each night. Thank you for stopping by two cities in our state. We can't wait for the next tour :)
Thank you Colin. San Diego was wonderful! One of the great joys of parenthood is seeing your kids happy and appreciative at the same time.
So having you serenade my daughter on her 27th birthday (after she caught your guitar pick but before she grabbed the setlist print out) was a top twenty parenting moment for me. I don’t think she could have been happier.
(Calling The Decemberists her favorite band grossly understates the situation.) So, thank you!
(And, yes, on the hierarchy of things that I love but also make me weepy, “A Beginning Song” is comfortably on the podium.)
1. FLO &EDDIE! I wonder if anyone did the Mudshark that night.
2. Did you not at least catch a glimpse of the Dear Old Surprise? I hear the refurbishments are going well.
Thank you again. And count me as a fan of The Beginning Song.
Did anyone get the Santa Fe set list by any chance?
Had a blast in Santa Fe, thanks for the great show. We also went to Geronimo that night—great experience if a bit much. Thanks for making the trip from Oklahoma so worthwhile (several groups from Tulsa, you all are huge here!).
I learned why Sante Fe looks the way it does from the lovely 99% Invisible podcast: https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/stuccoed-in-time/