I saw the last show on the tour in Edgefield. It was so amazing!! I made sure to get there early so I was closer to the front!! It was humanly divine!!!! <3
I saw 3 shows. Atlanta, Milwaukee, Rumpus in Portland. My favorite was Atlanta because I shared the Decemberists with my brother and we absolutely bonded over the experience at his first show, my 20 something show. He’s hard to impress and really really dug Joan in the Garden and I’ll hold onto that moment forever.
“I sometimes seethed at the injustice of this, which probably created bad vibes in that cramped mobile apartment, population 10. I’m sorry, Decemberists. If I could go back and do it again there are some things I’d do differently.” I don’t have children, but I do have a spouse that owns his own business that’s a community space that makes so many lives better but takes up all of his time, and there’s always going to be an inequality there , and I totally felt you in that moment. <3
Being in Vancouver, I saw them last Monday night when they played here. My second Decemberists show, first time being in 2017. Hank is wearing the same tour shirt from that year I have! It was a phenomenal show and I'm pretty sure I went into a trance during the drone/noise section of 'Joan in the Garden.'
I saw them this time in Indianapolis, my eighth or ninth Decemberists show of all time. I was walking into the park with my husband and I tripped on an unseen hole in the ground and severely sprained my ankle. We just ... stayed back there with my foot propped up and ice packs from the sweet boys at the med tent who kept checking on me. Thankfully we were close enough to still hear and kind of see the stage. Missed out on the tour poster I wanted but did still get a shirt. Definitely one of the most memorable shows of my life now!
I saw 4! Rumpus, Spokane, Vancouver, and Troutdale. Rumpus was insanely fun, but last night's show was absolutely pure magic. Thanks for giving us a peek into your experience with this too. I've often wondered how simultaneously exhilarating and hard it must be on families.
We were at the show last night. It was my daughters’ first concert (2 & 6) and what a show! They were wild and spinning to the music and I was overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers and friends who entertained them between bands with games and stories. My oldest is still delighted that the song we listen to every night at bedtime (June Hymn) isn’t just our song but is in fact shared with so many.
we were at the edgefield show and was so happy to find myself up front in the video you posted! what a magical night it was! honestly, it always is.
the first time i saw the band was at the crocodile cafe in seattle on valentine’s day in 2003, the decemberists were opening for another indie band. i have felt such a sense of awe watching the crowd grow and grow and grow some more over the years. i can only imagine how you feel!! thank you for sharing your perspective. it’s all so interesting, this life stuff 💜
If I put myself in your shoes (which from the few photos—look lovely) I would think what is the most wild part is that you are probably one of this
first/only people to hear what may/may not be the germ of a Decemberists song idea—and then bang!! months? Years? later, Thousands of people are singing it louder than the band can play it—THEN buying it with YOUR artwork on it? What a mindF*** that must be. You get to experience a whole other level of Decemberists world. Thank you for the glimpse into it.
I also was at the Edgefield show last night, and the Rev Hall Rumpus in June. Both delightful and magical in such different ways. Thanks for a peek behind the scenes ❤️
My husband and I saw them in Phoenix! It was such a lovely show. We found out we were expecting right after the traveler's rest fest six years ago ("why am I taking naps all of a sudden and nothing sounds good to eat?"). This felt like a reunion of sorts. Hopefully the next tour we'll bring our son and bring it full circle. ❤️
❤️❤️ Buckle up because I could probably write a novel about this. I went to 4 shows and each one was special in its own way.
The first show was in Bend, which was my first time seeing them. I've been a fan for the better part of the last two decades, but missed out on shows because children/grad school/jobs/life/etc. It was an absolutely stunning night. It's hard to top hearing some of my favorite songs live for the very first time. I brought a friend along who told me on the way home that "they were so good! I'm going to have to listen to more of their stuff."
I went to back-to-back shows in Tucson and Phoenix with my youngest Decemberists fan, Annabelle (you may have read about her somewhere...). Tucson was special because my husband and best friend joined us. The husband had bought us VIP tickets to the show in Denver back in 2020 for my birthday, a nice little getaway. He made a fancy card with the cricut and everything. It was one of the best birthday gifts I've ever received. And well, that didn't work out. It kind of helped make this one that much more special, though. Sharing that experience with one of our kids was even better. Seeing her little face light up, seeing her confidently ask the band a question during VIP, singing and dancing together to songs I've been listening to since I was not much older than her older sibling. Nothing beats that. Plus, Annabelle got to hear her request: Oceanside (a song she has been "making" me play on repeat basically since she learned to talk).
Phoenix was great because the AC worked 😂 But also the set was amazing. Annabelle left with Colin's setlist: a treasure that she reminds me daily is hers, not mine. (She is currently requesting that I let you know that Colin is her favorite and she absolutely loved the shows. She should be in bed, though. It's a school night.)
The 4th show was Edgefield. It was a last minute-ish decision to go. Sometimes those are the best decisions, right? I got a ticket without having a real plan of how I was going to get there. But I had 2 days off, just enough time to fly out and back. The energy was unmatched. The last show of a tour is always so fun, but also a little sad as a fan. The post show depression hits hard when you know you can't spontaneously decide to go to "just one more." Seeing all the families there made me a little misty eyed.
Thanks for sharing these times from your perspective. I always imagined tour life with a family would be challenging. Hell, life is challenging. We are so grateful for everything you all do to bring some joy to a bunch of random strangers. It means so much to us ❤️❤️
Last night’s show at Edgefield was lovely! The music was fantastic and the people watching was incredible. Families dancing and kids running around, such a peaceful and colorful vibe. I am so thankful for your part in the Decemberists. I simply cannot imagine the albums, the shows, the merchandise, without your artistic vision and talent. Thank you for all that you do, including sharing your perspective and writing this newsletter. I hope you enjoy some good family time now that you’re all home.
Aw, this was so fun and sweet - to see the other side of tour life is fascinating. I’m just leaving the little kid stage and I feel annoyed by one week business trips for my husband! It’s always been a point of interest to how you guys did it, especially when the band was touring more often. Thank you so much for sharing your husband with us during the “weird, but mostly wonderful” years of parenting <3 We were at the Utah show and Colin had mentioned at the VIP show about Milo joining him that day, but we had no idea how much more complicated that journey was behind the scenes! It was hot hot hot that day for an outdoor show, I think we all felt a little melty but it was a wonderful evening nonetheless! Always a treat to have the band roll through.
I saw the last show on the tour in Edgefield. It was so amazing!! I made sure to get there early so I was closer to the front!! It was humanly divine!!!! <3
*I was at the rumpus as well, which is one of my favorite shows of all time
What a delightful post, as all of your writings are. This one, filled with gratitude, hits particularly well. Thank you.
I saw 3 shows. Atlanta, Milwaukee, Rumpus in Portland. My favorite was Atlanta because I shared the Decemberists with my brother and we absolutely bonded over the experience at his first show, my 20 something show. He’s hard to impress and really really dug Joan in the Garden and I’ll hold onto that moment forever.
“I sometimes seethed at the injustice of this, which probably created bad vibes in that cramped mobile apartment, population 10. I’m sorry, Decemberists. If I could go back and do it again there are some things I’d do differently.” I don’t have children, but I do have a spouse that owns his own business that’s a community space that makes so many lives better but takes up all of his time, and there’s always going to be an inequality there , and I totally felt you in that moment. <3
Being in Vancouver, I saw them last Monday night when they played here. My second Decemberists show, first time being in 2017. Hank is wearing the same tour shirt from that year I have! It was a phenomenal show and I'm pretty sure I went into a trance during the drone/noise section of 'Joan in the Garden.'
I saw them this time in Indianapolis, my eighth or ninth Decemberists show of all time. I was walking into the park with my husband and I tripped on an unseen hole in the ground and severely sprained my ankle. We just ... stayed back there with my foot propped up and ice packs from the sweet boys at the med tent who kept checking on me. Thankfully we were close enough to still hear and kind of see the stage. Missed out on the tour poster I wanted but did still get a shirt. Definitely one of the most memorable shows of my life now!
I saw 4! Rumpus, Spokane, Vancouver, and Troutdale. Rumpus was insanely fun, but last night's show was absolutely pure magic. Thanks for giving us a peek into your experience with this too. I've often wondered how simultaneously exhilarating and hard it must be on families.
We were at the show last night. It was my daughters’ first concert (2 & 6) and what a show! They were wild and spinning to the music and I was overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers and friends who entertained them between bands with games and stories. My oldest is still delighted that the song we listen to every night at bedtime (June Hymn) isn’t just our song but is in fact shared with so many.
we were at the edgefield show and was so happy to find myself up front in the video you posted! what a magical night it was! honestly, it always is.
the first time i saw the band was at the crocodile cafe in seattle on valentine’s day in 2003, the decemberists were opening for another indie band. i have felt such a sense of awe watching the crowd grow and grow and grow some more over the years. i can only imagine how you feel!! thank you for sharing your perspective. it’s all so interesting, this life stuff 💜
So happy for Ratboys success
If I put myself in your shoes (which from the few photos—look lovely) I would think what is the most wild part is that you are probably one of this
first/only people to hear what may/may not be the germ of a Decemberists song idea—and then bang!! months? Years? later, Thousands of people are singing it louder than the band can play it—THEN buying it with YOUR artwork on it? What a mindF*** that must be. You get to experience a whole other level of Decemberists world. Thank you for the glimpse into it.
I also was at the Edgefield show last night, and the Rev Hall Rumpus in June. Both delightful and magical in such different ways. Thanks for a peek behind the scenes ❤️
What a neat glimpse into the tour life! I was at the Edgefield show last night and loved it!
My husband and I saw them in Phoenix! It was such a lovely show. We found out we were expecting right after the traveler's rest fest six years ago ("why am I taking naps all of a sudden and nothing sounds good to eat?"). This felt like a reunion of sorts. Hopefully the next tour we'll bring our son and bring it full circle. ❤️
❤️❤️ Buckle up because I could probably write a novel about this. I went to 4 shows and each one was special in its own way.
The first show was in Bend, which was my first time seeing them. I've been a fan for the better part of the last two decades, but missed out on shows because children/grad school/jobs/life/etc. It was an absolutely stunning night. It's hard to top hearing some of my favorite songs live for the very first time. I brought a friend along who told me on the way home that "they were so good! I'm going to have to listen to more of their stuff."
I went to back-to-back shows in Tucson and Phoenix with my youngest Decemberists fan, Annabelle (you may have read about her somewhere...). Tucson was special because my husband and best friend joined us. The husband had bought us VIP tickets to the show in Denver back in 2020 for my birthday, a nice little getaway. He made a fancy card with the cricut and everything. It was one of the best birthday gifts I've ever received. And well, that didn't work out. It kind of helped make this one that much more special, though. Sharing that experience with one of our kids was even better. Seeing her little face light up, seeing her confidently ask the band a question during VIP, singing and dancing together to songs I've been listening to since I was not much older than her older sibling. Nothing beats that. Plus, Annabelle got to hear her request: Oceanside (a song she has been "making" me play on repeat basically since she learned to talk).
Phoenix was great because the AC worked 😂 But also the set was amazing. Annabelle left with Colin's setlist: a treasure that she reminds me daily is hers, not mine. (She is currently requesting that I let you know that Colin is her favorite and she absolutely loved the shows. She should be in bed, though. It's a school night.)
The 4th show was Edgefield. It was a last minute-ish decision to go. Sometimes those are the best decisions, right? I got a ticket without having a real plan of how I was going to get there. But I had 2 days off, just enough time to fly out and back. The energy was unmatched. The last show of a tour is always so fun, but also a little sad as a fan. The post show depression hits hard when you know you can't spontaneously decide to go to "just one more." Seeing all the families there made me a little misty eyed.
Thanks for sharing these times from your perspective. I always imagined tour life with a family would be challenging. Hell, life is challenging. We are so grateful for everything you all do to bring some joy to a bunch of random strangers. It means so much to us ❤️❤️
I will pass on Annabelle’s message. ❤️
Last night’s show at Edgefield was lovely! The music was fantastic and the people watching was incredible. Families dancing and kids running around, such a peaceful and colorful vibe. I am so thankful for your part in the Decemberists. I simply cannot imagine the albums, the shows, the merchandise, without your artistic vision and talent. Thank you for all that you do, including sharing your perspective and writing this newsletter. I hope you enjoy some good family time now that you’re all home.
Aw, this was so fun and sweet - to see the other side of tour life is fascinating. I’m just leaving the little kid stage and I feel annoyed by one week business trips for my husband! It’s always been a point of interest to how you guys did it, especially when the band was touring more often. Thank you so much for sharing your husband with us during the “weird, but mostly wonderful” years of parenting <3 We were at the Utah show and Colin had mentioned at the VIP show about Milo joining him that day, but we had no idea how much more complicated that journey was behind the scenes! It was hot hot hot that day for an outdoor show, I think we all felt a little melty but it was a wonderful evening nonetheless! Always a treat to have the band roll through.