Last night I went to see the Portland, Oregan band
The Decemberists with the opening Seattle, Washington Band,
The Head and The Heart. What a great show! I can't get enough of the Jacob's Pavillion venue. I love the view of the skyline, bridges and the river. The Architectural design of the Old Powerhouse, the buildings, and the rusty lift bridges in which the stage is nestled, make it cozy. A perfect way to spend a Summer evening.
The opening band was fabulous. I recognized more of the songs than I realized. I couldn't keep my eyes off of
Charity Rose Thielen, (violin, vocals). She had a quirky way of approaching her mike and her movement was interesting. Her voice and timing were also intriguing. The talent of this group was limitless. They have a new fan.
The Decemberists did not disappoint. This was the first time that I saw them "LIVE". I just love
Colin Meloy's voice. I think that he has a unique sound that you will either love or hate, but you will definitely have an opinion about it. He is an excellent front man. He is funny and keeps the crowd involved. At one point, he made up a quick ditty about Cleveland. "Cleveland Lights and the Cleveland Nights, Oh how the heart of Rock and Roll is still Beating!" Meloy gave a warm mention to Decemberists accordionist
Jenny Conlee. She had recently been forced to sit out the band's tour dates since being diagnosed with breast cancer in May. They finished the last set by dedicating
Why We Fight to Conlee. At one point, they had the crowd in the palm of their hands, while performing "
The Crane Wife". I looked around and everyone was mesmerized. Of course, the encore was very active and not to be missed. You never know what's in store for the crowd.
