Aug 29, 2022·edited Aug 29, 2022Liked by Colin Meloy
This tour diary has been a life preserver in a sea of anxiety for me these last couple weeks.
Thank you for the shows, and the stories. Thank you for (and all the other band members) for maintaining this band for over 20 years, so that, with each new album and live show, I can renew my passion for your music and energy. The Decemberists will always have a huge piece of my heart. I was introduced to your music when my friend’s Picaresque CD became lodged in his car’s radio, and every time he picked me up for a friend date, I’d hear the same songs on repeat. It always delighted me, whereas Joe became increasingly annoyed at having no other option but to drive in silence.
But he knew I enjoyed it, and when I decided to move across the country (from Indiana) to the Pacific Northwest in 2006, he made me a mix CD for my great road trip. It opened with the Crane Wife 1,2 and 3. By the end of Crane Wife 3, I was crossing the state border into Illinois with tears streaming down my face. I was hooked.
Here we are now, 16 years later, I have seen you live 53 times, so many of my closest lifelong friendships were forged in the now-rubble that was /orate, and subsequently in the Church of Decemberism Facebook group, which I started with Cassie and James in an attempt to fill the void after /orate dissolved into cyberspace. My love for the band has outlived four long-term relationships. I’ve grown exponentially, in both wisdom and grey hairs and pants sizes it seems. But my love and respect for the band has never wavered.
Thank you, bottomlessly, for always having the right song to pull me through, thank you for being vocal about issues concerning justice, racism, inequality. For voluntarily pulling songs that are problematic. For adjusting your entrance greeting to be gender neutral. For supporting local and National politicians who you know could make a positive change. You’re all wonderful musicians and also good humans. And that’s why, when the next tour comes up, I will be there, front and center, every damn time.
Nick Offerman complains ALL THE TIME about being constantly stopped on the street and told that he looks like an older Colin Meloy.
Also, thank you for sharing your tour diaries with us. I so enjoyed reading all of it: the shower ratings, your venue categorizations, the flubs, the stinky alleys, and all the other details. I’m glad your vocal chords get to rest now, and that they made it through ok. 😊
We really enjoyed the Ryman show! It rivalled the Wiltern and I think was just a bit better. The band was excellent across the tour, but the crowds at those 2 venues were incredible. (Except for the creepy people following me and my wife around taking pictures of us throughout the show.) Looking forward to the new book and maybe some solo shows this winter? A return to the Old Church maybe? :)
Thank you Colin for this great diary and a SPECIAL thank you for answering my question at the Nashville VIP Q&A (I asked advice on being a dad) as well as letting me play your guitar at the end of Meant for the Stage. Mind blown and the entire experience will be a highlight of my life.
And honestly, to all the Nashville fellow shebangers... thank you for reminding me you all are as weird and obsessed with this band as I am. I enjoyed nerding out with all of you.
I know you are aware of this sort of thing, but when the showers get gross, remind yourself that there are two 53 year olds driving in their car for 14 hours to see you perform something YOU created. In doing so, you helped these old teachers to remind themselves why it’s so wonderful to be alive.
Hey Colin, this tour was well worth the wait...I'm not used to going a year, never mind 2, between Decemberist shows...my goodness. The show @ Roadrunner (Boston/BDRC) was spectacular. Honestly as a fan in that audience, it was an excellent concert experience. Your sound (and voice) was phenomenal , and I look forward to more shows there. We were a little disappointed not hearing Rusalka or Ben Franklin during the encore...I get it, yer voice...but man, seeing that video of you guys with Lin in Central Park...Grrrrrrr. I've looked forward to every single entry in this tour diary...I love your writing style, humor, etc. If I had been fortunate enough to attend the pre-show in Boston, I would have asked a simple question: HOW THE HELL DO YOU PLAY ILLIMAT? I feel like we pull it out every so often and...well, get frustrated and put it away. A simple YouTube tutorial should do the trick...Lastly I want to thank you again for the 3 livestreams during the (Early) Pandemic. I was blown away by the quality of video and sound. I saw many livestreams during that time and most of them were awful and hard to enjoy...yours were perfect (i esp enjoyed the rooftop acoustic one). Each one was so unique. I did feel like I was there. I even paid for the Denver show which also looked and sounded great...needed to get my fill! I guess credit goes to Mandolin and to you guys for finding them...they are far and away the best at.....uh, whatever they do to make it play in our homes...I think all Dec fans appreciated the tasty new music intro'd as well....Ok, go home, relax...and start those new demos for the new record. Btw, what is your deal with Capitol? Are we all still good? Just curious...thanks again for coming out and rocking for your people, we so appreciated it.
Question: Have y'all considered residency shows throughout the year? The Hold Steady and a few other bands have pretty much taken themselves off the tour bus but still work hard to satisfy their fans (and, I'm sure themselves) by playing multiple nights in the same city - a "the circus is in town" sort of event. I'm absolutely confident Decemberists fans would converge at such a weekend. Also, the idea of Decemberists-curated music festival would be awesome, a la Wilco or Bon Iver. Anyways, I'm sure you and the band have considered such moves and I (long time fine) would willingly part with some of my earned dollars to travel to a concert or two in, say, Nashville. Or Chicago. Maybe even Denver. I'd personally love such a shindig in St. Louis, Missouri, only out of personal convenience. Thanks for writing, thanks for touring, thanks for sharing. All the best to you and the rest of the band.
Congrats on surviving it! I caught the Atlanta show and had a good time up in the earbleed seats. I was wearing a mask and enjoyed singing along lustily knowing nobody would be able to identify me afterwards as That Terrible Singer. (I picture them asking "who WAS that masked man?")
That backup singer is amazing. She had a hell of a job -- sing harmony, and then belt out the Forest Queen's aria, oh and could you play third guitar and maybe a bit of banjo too? And run over to Jenny's station and keyboard some while you're at it. It must be hard to audition for superwoman.
Thanks for the fun time. Totally worth extending my trip and driving from Nashville to Atlanta for! And it was great to have the tour diary. The added suspense of your vocal cords teetering on the edge of collapse really charged the days before showtime with heightened excitement. Will it be Froglin Meloy Croaks His Way Through The Decemberists Greatest Hits, or will it work? (All praise Prednisone, the only way my beloved can sing accurately at gigs now)
Thank you so much for sharing! We drove from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia so that I could share the show with one of your newer fans, my special needs adult son. He cannot speak, but he was moving and cooing to the songs as if they possessed him. (I loved the show too :-)) Looking forward to more music and the next tour. Thanks again.
Thank you first and foremost for doing the tour! It really was a little bit life affirming to see you all again. I really am happiest at Decemberists shows and it was great to feel that level of happiness after a couple of trashfire years.
And thanks also for doing these tour diaries! They were a really fun insight, definitely not too dreary but refreshingly real!
Thank you so much for continuing to tour! I’ve seen y’all play in five states now, and my husband went to his first one with me in Atlanta. We thought you were all amazing and the silly missteps you mention in the blog made us love you even more. You’re real people. We’re real people. The sweat was definitely real!
Loved reading the diaries, and especially loved the couple of shows I was able to catch this summer. Glad to hear it’s not all a grind, I hope you all can be tempted out to play again next year.
This tour was unique for me. Never before have I travelled across the country to see the same band on the same tour. After seeing you perform at Marymoor, I made a spur of the moment decision to buy tickets to see you at the Ryman. I thoroughly enjoyed both shows, and was quite pleased with my decision. Both performance were phenomenal and the audiences were filled with lovely people. Waiting for my flight back to Washington, repping my cool new concert T-Shirt, I was stopped by a fellow fan that asked if I was at the Ryman the previous night. I proudly reported that I was there, and it was my second time this tour. To which she replied - this was her 6th show of the tour and the 80th time seeing you live!! I was both impressed and truly humbled! I’m a fan of a LOT bands, but this was the first time I’ve come across a fan base with this level of dedication. That’s a truly special impact on tens a thousands of people! Thank you for what you do and for what you bring into the world! We need more of it.
I was only vaguely familiar with your music before meeting my amazing husband, but I've come away from the handful of shows this tour an actual fan and can say with sincerity that the shows were truly enjoyable and memorable and we're looking forward to many more in the future. I can also appreciate the toll it must take on you guys personally, to be away from your lives and your families and etc. and I appreciate that sacrifice too.
That said, I also appreciate the effort and time you put into interacting with us, the fans. It makes for a special sort of dynamic that seems truly unique.
This tour diary has been a life preserver in a sea of anxiety for me these last couple weeks.
Thank you for the shows, and the stories. Thank you for (and all the other band members) for maintaining this band for over 20 years, so that, with each new album and live show, I can renew my passion for your music and energy. The Decemberists will always have a huge piece of my heart. I was introduced to your music when my friend’s Picaresque CD became lodged in his car’s radio, and every time he picked me up for a friend date, I’d hear the same songs on repeat. It always delighted me, whereas Joe became increasingly annoyed at having no other option but to drive in silence.
But he knew I enjoyed it, and when I decided to move across the country (from Indiana) to the Pacific Northwest in 2006, he made me a mix CD for my great road trip. It opened with the Crane Wife 1,2 and 3. By the end of Crane Wife 3, I was crossing the state border into Illinois with tears streaming down my face. I was hooked.
Here we are now, 16 years later, I have seen you live 53 times, so many of my closest lifelong friendships were forged in the now-rubble that was /orate, and subsequently in the Church of Decemberism Facebook group, which I started with Cassie and James in an attempt to fill the void after /orate dissolved into cyberspace. My love for the band has outlived four long-term relationships. I’ve grown exponentially, in both wisdom and grey hairs and pants sizes it seems. But my love and respect for the band has never wavered.
Thank you, bottomlessly, for always having the right song to pull me through, thank you for being vocal about issues concerning justice, racism, inequality. For voluntarily pulling songs that are problematic. For adjusting your entrance greeting to be gender neutral. For supporting local and National politicians who you know could make a positive change. You’re all wonderful musicians and also good humans. And that’s why, when the next tour comes up, I will be there, front and center, every damn time.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Seriously. I love the updates. Colin may have to start posting his everyday mundanity as well lol ...
Hey Missy!!! " You" are eternal!
“YOU” are eternal! *triangle fingers*
Did you post a pic of these overalls? I need to go see them!
Yes! I posted them on my personal Facebook and the church page!
👀👀👀
I have been loving reading these entries! Sorry to hear how gross the streets and shower in Nashville were!
I smiled a huge smile at you mentioning our overalls! I hope the tour wrapped up amazingly for you all and I cannot wait to see you play again!
I’m so glad he mentioned you!!!! Def deserved. They were amazing!
It was great to meet y'all. So glad y'all got a well-deserved shout ot for them overalls!
I was so happy to get to talk to so many fans!
Nick Offerman complains ALL THE TIME about being constantly stopped on the street and told that he looks like an older Colin Meloy.
Also, thank you for sharing your tour diaries with us. I so enjoyed reading all of it: the shower ratings, your venue categorizations, the flubs, the stinky alleys, and all the other details. I’m glad your vocal chords get to rest now, and that they made it through ok. 😊
Colin - I was wondering if you got recognized in your forays into the city for food other than chalmon.
We really enjoyed the Ryman show! It rivalled the Wiltern and I think was just a bit better. The band was excellent across the tour, but the crowds at those 2 venues were incredible. (Except for the creepy people following me and my wife around taking pictures of us throughout the show.) Looking forward to the new book and maybe some solo shows this winter? A return to the Old Church maybe? :)
Thank you Colin for this great diary and a SPECIAL thank you for answering my question at the Nashville VIP Q&A (I asked advice on being a dad) as well as letting me play your guitar at the end of Meant for the Stage. Mind blown and the entire experience will be a highlight of my life.
And honestly, to all the Nashville fellow shebangers... thank you for reminding me you all are as weird and obsessed with this band as I am. I enjoyed nerding out with all of you.
Hi friend! Core memories unlocked for sure
Bonded for life by playing guitar at the Ryman!
I know you are aware of this sort of thing, but when the showers get gross, remind yourself that there are two 53 year olds driving in their car for 14 hours to see you perform something YOU created. In doing so, you helped these old teachers to remind themselves why it’s so wonderful to be alive.
Meet you at the burial ground.
This made me tear up. Well said and so true.
Hey Colin, this tour was well worth the wait...I'm not used to going a year, never mind 2, between Decemberist shows...my goodness. The show @ Roadrunner (Boston/BDRC) was spectacular. Honestly as a fan in that audience, it was an excellent concert experience. Your sound (and voice) was phenomenal , and I look forward to more shows there. We were a little disappointed not hearing Rusalka or Ben Franklin during the encore...I get it, yer voice...but man, seeing that video of you guys with Lin in Central Park...Grrrrrrr. I've looked forward to every single entry in this tour diary...I love your writing style, humor, etc. If I had been fortunate enough to attend the pre-show in Boston, I would have asked a simple question: HOW THE HELL DO YOU PLAY ILLIMAT? I feel like we pull it out every so often and...well, get frustrated and put it away. A simple YouTube tutorial should do the trick...Lastly I want to thank you again for the 3 livestreams during the (Early) Pandemic. I was blown away by the quality of video and sound. I saw many livestreams during that time and most of them were awful and hard to enjoy...yours were perfect (i esp enjoyed the rooftop acoustic one). Each one was so unique. I did feel like I was there. I even paid for the Denver show which also looked and sounded great...needed to get my fill! I guess credit goes to Mandolin and to you guys for finding them...they are far and away the best at.....uh, whatever they do to make it play in our homes...I think all Dec fans appreciated the tasty new music intro'd as well....Ok, go home, relax...and start those new demos for the new record. Btw, what is your deal with Capitol? Are we all still good? Just curious...thanks again for coming out and rocking for your people, we so appreciated it.
Question: Have y'all considered residency shows throughout the year? The Hold Steady and a few other bands have pretty much taken themselves off the tour bus but still work hard to satisfy their fans (and, I'm sure themselves) by playing multiple nights in the same city - a "the circus is in town" sort of event. I'm absolutely confident Decemberists fans would converge at such a weekend. Also, the idea of Decemberists-curated music festival would be awesome, a la Wilco or Bon Iver. Anyways, I'm sure you and the band have considered such moves and I (long time fine) would willingly part with some of my earned dollars to travel to a concert or two in, say, Nashville. Or Chicago. Maybe even Denver. I'd personally love such a shindig in St. Louis, Missouri, only out of personal convenience. Thanks for writing, thanks for touring, thanks for sharing. All the best to you and the rest of the band.
They did a music festival in Montana in 2017 and 2018, my sister and I went to both and they were awesome. <3
Congrats on surviving it! I caught the Atlanta show and had a good time up in the earbleed seats. I was wearing a mask and enjoyed singing along lustily knowing nobody would be able to identify me afterwards as That Terrible Singer. (I picture them asking "who WAS that masked man?")
That backup singer is amazing. She had a hell of a job -- sing harmony, and then belt out the Forest Queen's aria, oh and could you play third guitar and maybe a bit of banjo too? And run over to Jenny's station and keyboard some while you're at it. It must be hard to audition for superwoman.
Thanks for the fun time. Totally worth extending my trip and driving from Nashville to Atlanta for! And it was great to have the tour diary. The added suspense of your vocal cords teetering on the edge of collapse really charged the days before showtime with heightened excitement. Will it be Froglin Meloy Croaks His Way Through The Decemberists Greatest Hits, or will it work? (All praise Prednisone, the only way my beloved can sing accurately at gigs now)
Who was the backup singer?? We were obsessed
From the first Tour Diary note:
> Lizzy Ellison, of Cardioid fame, is joining us on this run as a backing vocalist/instrumentalist/tambourine player.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing! We drove from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia so that I could share the show with one of your newer fans, my special needs adult son. He cannot speak, but he was moving and cooing to the songs as if they possessed him. (I loved the show too :-)) Looking forward to more music and the next tour. Thanks again.
Thank you first and foremost for doing the tour! It really was a little bit life affirming to see you all again. I really am happiest at Decemberists shows and it was great to feel that level of happiness after a couple of trashfire years.
And thanks also for doing these tour diaries! They were a really fun insight, definitely not too dreary but refreshingly real!
Thank you so much for continuing to tour! I’ve seen y’all play in five states now, and my husband went to his first one with me in Atlanta. We thought you were all amazing and the silly missteps you mention in the blog made us love you even more. You’re real people. We’re real people. The sweat was definitely real!
Loved reading the diaries, and especially loved the couple of shows I was able to catch this summer. Glad to hear it’s not all a grind, I hope you all can be tempted out to play again next year.
This tour was unique for me. Never before have I travelled across the country to see the same band on the same tour. After seeing you perform at Marymoor, I made a spur of the moment decision to buy tickets to see you at the Ryman. I thoroughly enjoyed both shows, and was quite pleased with my decision. Both performance were phenomenal and the audiences were filled with lovely people. Waiting for my flight back to Washington, repping my cool new concert T-Shirt, I was stopped by a fellow fan that asked if I was at the Ryman the previous night. I proudly reported that I was there, and it was my second time this tour. To which she replied - this was her 6th show of the tour and the 80th time seeing you live!! I was both impressed and truly humbled! I’m a fan of a LOT bands, but this was the first time I’ve come across a fan base with this level of dedication. That’s a truly special impact on tens a thousands of people! Thank you for what you do and for what you bring into the world! We need more of it.
Let me imagine the tour diary for the U.K. “Got on the bus at midnight and we set off for the next venue. We arrive and park; It’s now 01:15......
Lol, this got me good
I was only vaguely familiar with your music before meeting my amazing husband, but I've come away from the handful of shows this tour an actual fan and can say with sincerity that the shows were truly enjoyable and memorable and we're looking forward to many more in the future. I can also appreciate the toll it must take on you guys personally, to be away from your lives and your families and etc. and I appreciate that sacrifice too.
That said, I also appreciate the effort and time you put into interacting with us, the fans. It makes for a special sort of dynamic that seems truly unique.
Until next time, take good care!