The Decemberists
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Decemberists | |
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 The Decemberists, playing live at the 2006 Sasquatch! Music Festival
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Genre(s) | Indie rock Folk rock Baroque pop[1] Progressive rock[2] |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Label(s) | Kill Rock Stars, Capitol |
| Website | Decemberists.com |
| Members | |
| Colin Meloy Chris Funk Jenny Conlee Nate Query John Moen |
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The Decemberists are an indie rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk (guitar, multi-instrumentalist), Jenny Conlee (hammond organ, accordion, melodica, piano, keyboards), Nate Query (bass guitar, string bass), and John Moen (drums, backing vocals, melodica). The band's debut EP, 5 Songs, was self-released in 2001. Their fourth full-length album, The Crane Wife, was released on October 3, 2006 by Capitol Records, and is the band's first appearance on a major label.
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[edit] Musical style
The band's songs range from upbeat pop to instrumentally lush ballads, and often employ instruments like the accordion, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer organ, and upright bass. In its lyrics, the band eschews the angst and introspection common to modern rock, instead favoring a storytelling approach, as evidenced in songs such as "My Mother Was A Chinese Trapeze Artist" from the 5 Songs EP and "The Mariner's Revenge Song" on Picaresque. The band's songs convey tales ranging from whimsical ("The Sporting Life") to epic ("The Tain") to dark ("Odalisque"), and often invoke historical events and themes from around the world. Early in their career, The Decemberists' musical and lyrical aesthetics frequently prompted critics to compare them to Neutral Milk Hotel.[3]
[edit] History
[edit] 2000: Formation
The Decemberists formed in 2000 when Colin Meloy left his band Tarkio in Montana and moved to Portland, Oregon. There he met Nate Query through friends. Query introduced Meloy to Jenny Conlee (they had played together in a band previously) and the three scored a silent film together. Upon playing a solo show previous to meeting Query, Meloy met Chris Funk. Funk was a fan of Tarkio and played pedal steel on the first two Decemberists releases, not "officially" becoming a member until the third effort. The band's first drummer, Ezra Holbrook, was replaced by Rachel Blumberg sometime after Castaways and Cutouts. The band's name refers to the Decembrist revolt, an 1825 revolt over the Imperial Russian succession that Meloy views as an attempted communist revolution,[4] with another e added for clarity. 5 Songs, the band's first album, was self-released by The Decemberists in 2001. The members of the band at that time played for several hours in a McMenamins hotel the night before to raise the money needed to record in the studio the next day. This originally served as a demo tape and the five songs on it (minus "The Apology Song") were recorded in under two hours.
[edit] 2003-2005: Kill Rock Stars
After releasing its first full record Castaways and Cutouts on Hush Records, the band moved onto the Kill Rock Stars recording label. After the re-release of Castaways, Her Majesty the Decemberists was released in 2003. In 2004, the band released "The Tain," an eighteen-and-a-half minute single track based on the Irish mythological epic Táin Bó Cúailnge. The band's final album with Kill Rock Stars was Picaresque, which was recorded in an old church.
In March 2005, the band was the first to distribute a music video via BitTorrent, the self-produced "16 Military Wives" (from Picaresque).[5] In the same month, the band's equipment trailer was stolen;[6] fans contributed to a replacement fund, and another fundraiser was organized via an eBay auction, with buyers bidding for copies of Colin Meloy Sings Morrissey and original artwork by Carson Ellis. The band also received help from Lee Kruger, the Shins, the Dandy Warhols, and other musicians. The Martin Guitar Company offered 6- and 12-string guitars on permanent loan. In early April, police discovered the trailer (and a fair amount of the band's merchandise) in Clackamas, Oregon, but the instruments and equipment were not recovered.[7]
[edit] 2005: Capitol Records debut
On December 12, 2005, Meloy revealed to Pitchfork Media that the band had signed to Capitol Records, and planned to begin recording their major label debut with producers Tucker Martine and Chris Walla (of Death Cab for Cutie) in April 2006.[8] The band's first album on Capitol, The Crane Wife, was released on October 3, 2006. The release was accompanied by an appearance the same day on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, during which the band performed "O Valencia!". The supporting tour (called "The Rout of the Patagons Tour") began on October 17, 2006, at Portland, Oregon's Crystal Ballroom. The opening act was Lavender Diamond. Later in the tour, Alasdair Roberts opened for the band. NPR listeners voted The Crane Wife their favorite album of 2006, as announced on the December 5 episode of All Songs Considered.[9]
[edit] 2006: Green screen music video
In November 2006, the band encouraged fans to create a music video for the single "O Valencia!" using footage of the band in front of a green screen. On his Comedy Central program, Stephen Colbert started a mock feud with the band, claiming his "green screen challenge" came first;[10] the band countered that its 2005 on-stage lightsaber fight in San Francisco preceded Colbert's idea.[11] The feud culminated in a December 20 guitar solo competition[11] on Colbert's show, with lead guitarist Funk representing the band. After Colbert feigned a hand injury, Peter Frampton took over for Colbert and won an audience vote. Show guests got involved, with New York Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer and Dr. Henry Kissinger declaring, "Tonight, I think the American people won." The prize for winning the challenge was revealed to be a copy of The Crane Wife. According to Meloy, the Colbert challenge was not prearranged, and before Funk's appearance, they were only told that Frampton would step in for Colbert.[12]
[edit] 2007: "A Bit of Grass-Stain Does Not a Ruined Pair of Jeans Make" tour
In July 2007, the band embarked on a five-date tour with a full orchestral accompaniment. On July 7, the tour put the band on the stage of the historic Hollywood Bowl for the first time, pairing them with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.[13] On July 15, the band performed with The Mann Festival Orchestra at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they debuted a new song.[14] The band then played a free concert in Chicago at the Millennium Park with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra.
On October 6, 2007, the band announced the cancellation of the remainder of their European tour, citing the ill health of a band member. On November 1, 2007, the band further canceled the remaining 28 shows of their "Long and Short of It" tour.[15]
[edit] 2008: Always the Bridesmaid
The members of The Decemberists appeared, individually billed (as "Colin Meloy, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee, Nate Query, and John Moen"), to perform in support of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama at a rally at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland, Oregon, on May 18, 2008. On October 14, 2008 the band began releasing a series of singles called Always the Bridesmaid; a volume was released every month until the end of the year. The band also took up a limited tour in support of the singles, including an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien the day before the 2008 U.S. presidential election.
[edit] 2009: The Hazards of Love
The Decemberists' latest album, The Hazards of Love was released on March 24, 2009 on Capitol Records.[16] It was made available for download on iTunes one week earlier, on March 17, 2009. The track "The Rake's Song" was put up for download on The Decemberists website in advance of the album's release. During Meloy's 2008 U.S. tour, he played several new songs that were included on the album. The album was produced by Tucker Martine.[17]
In a 2007 interview, Colin Meloy described The Crane Wife as a "massive record... [with] crazy arrangements," and stated that the band was thinking about recording an album with more relaxed folk rock themes.[18]
In a post on Rolling Stone's "Rock 'n' Roll Daily" blog, the band revealed more details about the album.[19] A press release read: "The album began when Meloy – long fascinated by the British folk revival of the 1960s – found a copy of revered vocalist Anne Briggs's 1966 EP, titled The Hazards of Love. Since there was no actual song with the album’s title, he set out to write one, but was soon immersed in something much larger. The Hazards Of Love tells the tale of a woman named Margaret who is ravaged by a shape-shifting animal; her lover, William; a forest queen; and a cold-blooded, lascivious rake , who recounts with spine-tingling ease how he came 'to be living so easy and free' in the aforementioned 'The Rake’s Song' ( First played by Colin solo at a Washington Dc music club, 9:30 Club ). Lavender Diamond’s Becky Stark and My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden deliver the lead vocals for the female characters, while My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, Robyn Hitchcock and The Spinanes’ Rebecca Gates appear in supporting roles. The range of sounds reflects the characters’ arcs, from the accordion’s singsong lilt in “Isn’t it a Lovely Night?” to the heavy metal thunder of 'The Queen’s Rebuke/The Crossing.'"
On February 9, 2009, the Decemberists announced in a newsletter to fans that they would be embarking on the first leg of the "A Short Fazed Hovel" Tour 2009 starting on May 19 in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Palladium. The newsletter included a complete list of dates for the first leg of the tour ending on June 14 at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.
[edit] Influences
On their website, the band claims that their official drink is Orangina, and that they "adore" the bands Norfolk & Western, The Places, The Long Winters, Death Cab for Cutie, Dokken, Tracker, Sleater-Kinney, Electrelane, Camera Obscura, Clearlake, Tom Heinl, The Thermals, Swords, and Earlimart. The band's official biography, keeping up their reputation for intentionally over-the-top grandiloquence, describes how they met in a Turkish bath. A footnote following the biography claims, "The Decemberists travel exclusively by Dr. Herring's Brand Dirigible Balloons."
At the 2009 South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, the band arranged for Pink Floyd's epic 22-minute track "Echoes" to play before they took the stage to perform The Hazards of Love in its entirety.
[edit] Artwork
The Decemberists' album and promotional artwork is produced by Meloy's wife, Portland artist Carson Ellis.
[edit] Members
[edit] Current
- Colin Meloy (lead singer, songwriter, guitar)
- Chris Funk (guitar, multi-instrumentalist)
- Jenny Conlee (hammond organ, accordion, melodica, piano, keyboards)
- Nate Query (bass guitar, string bass) - except Her Majesty... and Billy Liar single
- John Moen (drums, backing vocals, melodica) - The Crane Wife and The Hazards of Love
[edit] Former
- Jesse Emerson (bass guitar) - Her Majesty
- Ezra Holbrook (also of Dr. Theopolis) - 5 Songs and Castaways and Cutouts (drums, backing vocals), The Crane Wife (backing vocals)
- Rachel Blumberg (drums, vocals) - Her Majesty, Billy Liar single, The Tain, and Picaresque
- David Langenes (guitar)
- Petra Haden (violin, vocals) - Picaresque, daughter of jazz bassist Charlie Haden, also supporting musician for the Picaresque tour.
- Lisa Molinaro (viola, guitar, keyboards, vocals) - supporting musician for The Crane Wife tours
[edit] Guests
- Laura Veirs - duet vocals on 'Yankee Bayonet' on The Crane Wife and The Long and Short of It Tour
- Shara Worden - duet vocals on 'Yankee Bayonet' for live performances in 2007. Sings vocals as the character of The Forest Queen on The Hazards of Love
- Becky Stark - vocals as the character of Margaret on The Hazards of Love
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
| Title | Date | Label | Peak position (Billboard 200) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castaways and Cutouts | May 1, 2002 | Hush | |
| Her Majesty the Decemberists | September 9, 2003 | Kill Rock Stars | |
| Picaresque | March 25, 2005 | Kill Rock Stars | 135 |
| The Crane Wife | October 3, 2006 | Capitol | 35 |
| The Hazards of Love | March 24, 2009 | Capitol | 14 |
[edit] EPs
| Title | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Songs | 2001 | Independent Release, reissued on Hush Records |
| The Tain | March 4, 2004 | Acuarela Discos |
| Picaresqueties | September 13, 2005 | Kill Rock Stars |
| Connect Sets | November 17, 2006 | Sony Connect Exclusive |
| Live from SoHo | January 16, 2007 | iTunes exclusive |
| The Perfect Crime #2 | September 26, 2007 | Capitol Records |
[edit] Singles
| Title | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| "Billy Liar" | September 14, 2004 | Kill Rock Stars |
| "16 Military Wives" | November 21, 2005 | Kill Rock Stars |
| "O Valencia!" | September 19, 2006 | Rough Trade / Capitol |
| "The Perfect Crime #2" | September 27, 2007 | Capitol Records |
| "Always the Bridesmaid: Volume I" | October 14, 2008 | Capitol Records |
| "Always the Bridesmaid: Volume II" | November 4, 2008 | Capitol Records |
| "Always the Bridesmaid: Volume III" | December 2, 2008 | Capitol Records |
[edit] DVD
- The Decemberists: A Practical Handbook
Kill Rock Stars
March 20, 2007
The Decemberists: A Practical Handbook includes a full concert (filmed in December 2005) in Portland's Roseland Theater and "Paris, Before the War," a documentary about the history of the band and making of Picaresque.
[edit] References
- ^ Brian Wise (2007-06-24). "Segue From ‘Gigi’ to Geek-Chic Rock". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/24/arts/music/24wise.html?pagewanted=all. Retrieved on 2008-02-03.
- ^ The music box: Progressive rock band Decemberists in town today
- ^ Jesse Jarnow (September 16, 2003). "out of the aeroplane into the sea". Salon.com. http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/music/review/2003/09/16/decemberists/index.html. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
- ^ Gene Armstrong (June 17, 2004). "On Behalf of Orangina: The Decemberists perform their dramatic, literary alt-rock, with orangina soda in tow". Tucson Weekly. http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Music/Content?oid=oid%3A57566. Retrieved on 2006-10-10.
- ^ "Rockers Flex BitTorrent's Muscle". Wired News. March 23, 2005. http://wired-vig.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,66969,00.html.
- ^ "Decemberists Shipwrecked By Pirates". CMJ. 22 March 22, 2005. http://www.cmj.com/articles/display_article.php?id=3547565.
- ^ Hunt, Pete. Thieves Who Took the Decemberists' Gear. Willamette Week, March 23, 2005.
- ^ Exclusive: The Decemberists Sign to Capitol Records. Pitchfork. Retrieved on November 6, 2007.
- ^ [1] NPR.
- ^ Maher, Dave (2006-11-30). "Video: Stephen Colbert Vs. The Decemberists". http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/39925-video-stephen-colbert-vs-the-decemberists. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
- ^ a b Matthew, Solarski (2006-11-30). "Exclusive: Decemberists Counterchallenge Colbert!!". Pitchfork Media. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/39928-exclusive-decemberists-counterchallenge-colbert. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
- ^ "Colin Meloy of The Decemberists". National Public Radio. 2007-01-29. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7061028. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
- ^ Peters, Mitchell (2007-04-20). "Decemberists Get Orchestra Treatment On Tour". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003574344. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
- ^ Decemberists at the Mann Center in Philadelphia- New Song. YouTube. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
- ^ Decemberists cancel 28 shows due to illness. CNN.com. Retrieved on November 6, 2007.
- ^ http://www.decemberists.com/#
- ^ http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/10/colin-meloy-talks-new-decemberists-album-with-past.html
- ^ Greenwald, David (2007-07-18). "Portland Trailblazer". ew.com. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20038840_20038841_20046328,00.html. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
- ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/11/18/in-the-studio-the-decemberists-return-with-fairy-tale-album/
[edit] Εxternal links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: The Decemberists |
- Official Website
- The Decemberists at MySpace
- The Decemberists at Last.fm
- The Decemberists at Allmusic
- The Decemberists at Virb
- The Decemberists live on NPR
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