speed of dark

We took a drive last weekend and came across a field with acres of gourds drying in the sun. You would not believe how big these things are.

What's happening on the blogroll:

Count Me Out notes that both Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and the Handsome Furs will have new releases early in the new year.

Lost In Your Inbox celebrates a clean bill of health!

QCLA has started a record label called Chocolate Lab Records and has signed up Andy Yorke, who happens to have a brother who sings as well.

Music Is Art has a contest to give away an art poster designed by the vocalist of TV On the Radio.

Quarterlife Party correctly judged the video of Australian band Tame Impala's "Half Glass of Wine" as a must-see: dazzling and surreal. The song is good too! Note to self: must find.

Contrast Podcast #137 is Songs With Whistling in Them. I couldn't think of anything except Andrew Bird or Lovin' Spoonful's "Daydream," but other contributors were much more inspired.

Since Blogger's random poofing of posts includes those with label-approved files, there is not much incentive to stay perfectly "clean." So today I'm saying, Screw It! I'll post what I want. I have backups of everything.

A couple of days after Barack Obama's historic win, the Decemberists and a large audience celebrated with a 2-hour concert at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. Having seen the Decemberists twice (at the Wiltern, 2006 and at the Hollywood Bowl, 2007) and Colin Meloy on his own (at the Music Box, 2008) as well, we know that no matter how many times you've heard the songs, Meloy will manage to make them different and fresh. And he must enjoy bossing people around. This concert was no exception.

Here Meloy makes the audience run in place! Gee, I'm glad he only made us sing scales! Then, "double-time!!!" Then he makes them all sit on the floor. "Aw, it's not that dirty," he says to those who hesitate, "They just mopped it. I watched them."
The Perfect Crime Pt 2 (live)

One of the new singles:
A Record Year For Rainfall (live)

After the blood-chilling "Culling of the Fold," Meloy leads into "Chimbley Sweep" with a monologue about Obama. In the middle he talks about his campaign to get everyone to call our VP-elect Joe Biden "Fightin' Joe."
Chimbley Sweep (live)

Without a pause they launch into a great rendition of "16 Military Wives" that of course includes audience sing-alongs and ends the show until they return for the encore.
16 Military Wives (live)

Listen to the whole thing here. It includes several songs from the new album and from singles that have recently been released.

MySpace | Official Website | Label: Capitol Records
Buy at the Decemberists' Store, Amazon.com, iTunes, and eMusic

Photo by alt-gramma: gourds in the sun