Colin Meloy leads the Decemberists at the start of new tour at the Beacon on January 24 (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Beacon Theatre
2124 Broadway at 74th St.
January 24-26, $39.50, 8:00
212-465-6500
www.beacontheatre.com
www.decemberists.com
“And if you ever make it to ten, you won’t make it again,” the Decemberists opine on “Rox in the Box,” one of seven songs they played from their latest release, THE KING IS DEAD, on January 24 as they kicked off the Popes of Pendarvia World Tour with the first of three shows at the Beacon Theatre. Bespectacled lead singer Colin Meloy pointed out early on that in addition to the new album and tour, the band was celebrating its tenth anniversary this month, and they’re still burning ten years down the road. The Portland, Oregon, band, featuring Chris Funk on lap steel guitar, mandolin, and keyboards, Jenny Conlee on accordion, keyboards, and harmonica, Nate Query on electric and stand-up bass, John Moen on drums, and Meloy on guitar and harmonica, with guest violinist and background vocalist Annalisa Tornfelt, mixed it up Monday night with a set that drew from the group’s diverse catalog, including “July, July!” from 2002’s CASTAWAYS & CUTOUTS, “The Soldiering Life” from 2003’s HER MAJESTY THE DECEMBERISTS, and “The Rake’s Song” from 2009’s HAZARDS OF LOVE. Meloy’s highly literate, poetic lyrics and the band’s alternative indie folk sound, melding old English balladry with R.E.M. and Americana roots rock, filled the ornate hall in majestic ways, as befitting a group that often references royalty. On record, the songs from the new album sound more rustic and folkie, but played live they gained a sparkling vitality, as the opening trio of “Down by the Water,” “Rox in the Box,” and “Calamity Song” flowed seamlessly into the PICARESQUE hat trick of “We Both Go Down Together,” “The Engine Driver,” and “The Bagman’s Gambit.” After a few songs, Meloy told the audience they could stand if they wanted, and they rose as one, not sitting down for the rest of the night. He also said at one point that they weren’t going to play any of their long tunes, but the first encore was a stellar version of the song suite “The Island” from 2006’s THE CRANE WIFE, comprising “Come and See,” “The Landlord’s Daughter,” and “You’ll Not Feel the Drowning.” It was a triumphant night for the band, who are also the subject of a photo exhibition at the Impossible Project Space in SoHo, where Autumn de Wilde’s Polaroids of the group making THE KING IS DEAD will be on view January 26 through February 28, with the artist and some band members present at the opening reception this Wednesday from 3:00 to 7:00. (By the way, if you’re going to the Beacon either of the next two nights, be sure to get there early to catch the Baltimore duo Wye Oak, who played a strong, well-received opening set on Monday, with singer-guitarist Jenn Wasner and drummer-keyboardist Andy Stack previewing songs from their upcoming release, CIVILIAN.)