The Decemberists

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'American Idiot' director confirms Colin Meloy collaboration on Broadway

After speculation heightened in recent weeks, we can now confirm that COLIN MELOY is indeed working on a musical with Michael Mayer, the Tony Award...
By Michael Christopher | January 11, 2012

The Phoenix's Greatest Hits of 2011

We have to admit it: we're a little bit awesome. It's true.
Self-Aggrandizement Dept.
By PHOENIX STAFF | December 23, 2011

Photos: Tegan and Sara + Mavis Staples + The Decemberists at Newport Folk Festival

Tegan and Sara, Mavis Staples, and The Decemberists perform at the Newport Folk Festival on July 30, 2011.
Quad Stage + Fort Stage | July 30, 2011
By JANICE CHECCHIO | August 05, 2011

Newport Folk Festival expands its scope

Indeed much has changed since the historic and genre-defining Newport Folk Festival resumed in 1986 after a 15-year hiatus.
Plugged into 2011
By JONATHAN DONALDSON | July 29, 2011

Playing pretty at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

An accordion blasted a few bars of a two-step and then stopped. "That's the only Cajun music you'll hear on this stage," said Colin Meloy. The Decemberists were making their New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival debut on the Fais Do-Do stage, which is
Anthems and praise songs
By JON GARELICK | May 13, 2011

Does this book make me look smart?

The first and only complete passage of Infinite Jest Chris Braiotta ever read was tattooed on somebody's calf.
Somervillian mocks the cult of David Foster Wallace with Tumblr-tastic 'People Holding Infinite Jest'
By EUGENIA WILLIAMSON | April 15, 2011

Mean Creek lead a rocking Allston block party

"Hey, it's my birthday, and I got too drunk," announced Mean Creek's Chris Keene midway through their set before a sizable and affable crowd Saturday at the Brighton Music Hall. "You may remember me from such hits as 'Fucking Up the First Song.' "
Out: Choose your own adventure
By MICHAEL MAROTTA | February 04, 2011

Photos: The Decemberists at the House of Blues

The Decemberists play an acoustic set at the Foundation Room at the House of Blues on January 29, 2011.
The Decemberists | House of Blues | January 29, 2011
By STEPHANIE ROSE | February 04, 2011

The Big Hurt: A Swift descent into Cake, Broadcasting death, and Steven Tyler's Idol

It was a minor tragedy when blameless young TAYLOR SWIFT scored the worst-selling #1 album in recorded chart history. But the humiliation didn't end there: the poor kid's record was shattered only a week later by quasi-novelty dorks CAKE , who manage
Music News in Brief
By DAVID THORPE | January 28, 2011

How the Decemberists ruined indie rock

If you're a regular reader of the Phoenix's music section, you'll have noticed a decided uptick in the space devoted to electronic music here lately: electro, laptop lo-fi, chillwave, superstar DJs, and whatever other bullshit genre we're about to hype n
Colin Meloy's crew have much to answer for
By LUKE O'NEIL | January 28, 2011

The Decemberists | The King Is Dead

It may be called The King Is Dead , but the latest Decemberists album screams "rodeo" rather than "royalty."
Capitol (2011)
By MIRIAM LAMEY | January 14, 2011

Black Prairie | Feast Of The Hunter’s Moon

Admire the Decemberists’ meticulous sea-shanty soundscapes but can’t stand Colin Meloy’s word-nerd volubility?
Sugar Hill (2010)
By MIKAEL WOOD | April 09, 2010

Getting to know Audrey Ryan

Though she's primarily Boston-based at this point, Audrey Ryan grew up on Mount Desert Island and he's clearly retained some of that rough-and-tumble independence streak.
We know, we know
By SAM PFEIFLE | January 15, 2010

2009: The top 10 in pop music

Hmm, lots of women, a few old dudes, and some African banjo (not to be confused with Steve Martin's Hollywood banjo).
Music you need to own
By JIM MACNIE | December 25, 2009

Bring the trauma

Even with the new order completely renovating the rock biz, some things have to be done the old-fashioned way. And after having their asses duly kicked by the old-fashioned way this past month, the five-piece London orchestral-pop combo known as Fanfarl
Fanfarlo adjust to the road
By MICHAEL BRODEUR | December 18, 2009

The Decemberists at Umaine-Orono

Bigger still, Colin Meloy and the DECEMBERISTS are at UMaine-Orono’s new Collins Center for the Arts. There are still a few seats left for what’ll...
By webteam | September 16, 2009

Covering the bottom end - and the bottom line

The biggest news made by the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals the past two weekends was that they happened at all.
Newport Jazz comes back with a bang
By JON GARELICK | August 14, 2009

Photos: George Wein's Folk Festival 2009

Photos from George Wein's 50th annual Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park, Newport.
Photos of Deer Tick, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Judy Collins and more at the Newport folk festival
By RICHARD MCCAFFREY | August 07, 2009

Making waves

A packed weekend begins THURSDAY (the 30th) when the ladies take over at the Hi-Hat, with MELISSA FERRICK and locals Seriously Fierce (aka Heather Rose and Keturah) opening, call 401.453.6500.
Six Star General invade Newport
By PROVIDENCE PHOENIX MUSIC STAFF | July 31, 2009

Newport Folk Fest 2009: 50th Anniversary

This year’s a big ’un for the Newport Folk Fest, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2009 — as does the career of headliner...
By Shaula Clark | July 29, 2009

Photos: Bonnaroo 2009

Bruce Springsteen, Wilco, Elvis Costello and more at Bonnaroo 2009 in Manchester, Tennessee
Bruce Springsteen, Wilco, Elvis Costello, and more at Bonnaroo 2009
By LEXY WINTER | June 19, 2009

Trail of tunes

The best summer music festivals take something from the season: the smell of the surf, the sight of the mountains, fireworks, lawn seating — or, at least, fried dough.
Music al fresco at summer fests
By CLEA SIMON | June 12, 2009

Video: The Decemberists cover Heart

I'll be polite, here: the Decemberists - who play the Bank of America Pavilion this evening - inspir...
By Ryan Stewart | June 09, 2009

The Decemberists

Few bands work the “fantastical songs about horrible things” angle more deftly than the Decemberists. Their catalogue of accordion-and-Wurlitzer-fortified ditties brims with such characters as...
By Shaula Clark | June 02, 2009

The Decemberists at the Bank of America Pavilion

TUESDAY, JUNE 9 Colin Meloy, the reedy-voiced lead singer of Portland, Oregon-based The Dece...
By Liza Weisstuch | June 01, 2009

Marianne Faithfull | Easy Come Easy Go

The CD cover is deceptively retro Sinatra: here's Marianne encased in a lady's tux in front of a vintage microphone with "Easy" twice on the title and the subtitle "12 Songs for Music Lovers."
Decca (2009)
By GUSTAVO TURNER | March 23, 2009

Sincerely yours,

There is a surge in polyglot music, but despite its force, a strain of conservatism (one that has always run through indie rock) is keeping pace.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's new homonymous album is filled with well-worn lyrics.
By DEVIN KING | February 10, 2009

The Countdown / First Contact [MONDAY – 2/2]

[# 5] Paramore - Decode [# 4] Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses [# 3] My Chemical Romance - Deso...
By Paul Driscoll | February 02, 2009

The electric company

We all know how in 1965, at the Newport Folk Festival, the previously all-acoustic Bob Dylan took the stage with an electric guitar, plugged in, enraged fans, and destroyed the folk-music scene forever.
The Builders and the Butchers plug in, take off
By MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG | February 02, 2009

A real cut-up

Robert Pollard is a Renaissance man.
An interview with Robert Pollard on the occasion of the landing of Boston Spaceships
By MIKE MILIARD | September 23, 2008

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