Showing posts with label The Hazards of Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Hazards of Love. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
HERE COME THE WAVES: THE HAZARDS OF LOVE VISUALIZED
The Decemberists’ epic song cycle The Hazards Of Love takes on new life on December 1st with the release of Here Come The Waves: The Hazards Of Love Visualized, a full-length video album available exclusively through iTunes, the first of a kind for the digital retailer. Here Come The Waves, which was debuted live in Los Angeles in October to rave reviews, is a collaboration with four filmmakers—Peter Sluszka, Julia Pott, Guilherme Marcondes, and Santa Maria—each of whom created original animation to accompany a section of the album.
The Hazards Of Love became one of the most discussed album’s of the year when EMI’s Capitol Records released it in March, and went on to become a thrilling live spectacle as the band performed the album in it’s entirety throughout the summer in front of sold-out audiences across the country from their hometown of Portland, Oregon, to New York’s Radio City Music Hall, as well as major festivals including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.
Friday, October 23, 2009
HERE COME THE WAVES: THE HAZARDS OF LOVE VISUALIZED @ UCLA. THE DECEMBERISTS LIVE!
In early 2009, Portland’s own, The Decemberists along with Shara Worden from my Brightest Diamond and Becky Stark from Lavender Diamond, put together one of their finest albums to date. ‘The Hazards of Love’ is a rock opera of a one continuous track, displaying songs of love, falling stars, wounded fawn, crippled children, marriage, fireflies, life, and death.
This was truly something different and successfully done: a masterpiece. In the springtime, I had the opportunity to see them perform this album from start to finish without stopping, just like on the album, and they did it with finesse. It was then front man Colin Meloy had the genius idea to turn this lyrical story into a visual narrative. He collaborated with artists/filmmakers/animators Guilherme Marcondes, Julia Pott, Peter Sluszka and Santa Maria to create this vision of beauty with the idea that they would perform the album synced up to this series of vignettes, and they did, without a hitch and flawlessly.
This was the conclusion, and last day of the their US tour and the debut and premiere of ‘Here Come the Waves: The Hazards of Love Visualized’. This night was truly special. They created a mood that I have not witnessed in a live performance for a very long time. I can honestly say this was the first show that I have gone to in a while, and we go to many here at Musicbleep, that left me with speechless. Once they completed a non-stop performance of the videos and ‘The Hazards of Love’, they came back for another full set of older tunes starting off with a Morrissey cover “The Sporting Life’, my favorite ‘The Crane Wife 1&2”, and Shara Worden and Becky Stark along with the rest of the band did a smashing cover of Heart’s “Crazy On You”. I was floored.
This was a truly honored event to have attended and could not have been at a more appropriate venue, Royce Hall at UCLA. Although this does not do it justice, here are some photographs and a sample of clips from the collection of films that we saw that evening. If you are not familiar with this amazing group of artists check them out at
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
HERE COMES THE WAVES: THE HAZARDS OF LOVE VISUALIZED
The Decemberists’ album The Hazards of Love was released by EMI’s Capitol Records in March to rave reviews with NPR calling the album an “epic adventure” and SPIN writing that it “yields spectacular sparks,” adding that it contains “some of the snarliest, bluesiest, rockingest moments in The Decemberists’ catalog.” The raves continued when the band hit the road for their “A Short Fazed Hovel” tour with Pitchfork calling the live performance “a triumph,” The Wall Street Journal declaring it “a remarkable experience,” and New York Magazine naming it the “Indie Rock Show of the Year.”
On October 19, The Decemberists will unveil Here Come The Waves: The Hazards of Love Visualized, a special project that takes their ambitious and acclaimed song cycle to new heights for it’s final American performance at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Los Angeles. This unique live experience will feature The Decemberists in collaboration with four filmmakers—Guilherme Marcondes, Julia Pott, Peter Sluszka and Santa Maria—each of whom have created animation to accompany a section of the music. Presented in association with Flux, the event will also be a benefit for The GRAMMY Foundation®’s Grammy In The Schools® music education programs for high school students.
At Royce Hall, The Decemberists will perform the entire piece synchronized with the animation, as well as an additional second set of older and newer material. A limited presale will begin at 10:00am PT on Wednesday, September 16 at http://www.decemberists.tickets.musictoday.com. General tickets will go on sale on Friday, September 18. The band will also kick off the final leg of their “A Short Fazed Hovel” tour this week.
Click the link for tour details.
http://www.decemberists.com
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
THE HAZARDS OF LOVE
Last Tuesday at the newly renovated Hollywood Palladium, the Decemberists demonstrated an amazing variety of extreme talent. Portland based extraordinaries: Colin Meloy, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee,Nate Querey, and John Moen plus special guests Becky Stark of 'Lavender Diamond' and Shara Worden of 'My Brightest Diamond' completely rocked the stage playing one continuous, non-stop live version of their latest album 'The Hazards of Love'.
It was no surprise to me that the Decemberists was going to be an amazing show, but I was not expecting the experience they gave me that evening. From the very beginning with 'Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle in the Thistles Undone' all the way through to 'The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned), they not once stopped playing an instrument, transitioning from one song to the next, without a glitch. It was breathtaking and glorious.
If you have yet to have a listen to "The Hazards of Love' do so on iTunes. It has to be one of the best conceptual albums in the past ten years, and is a definite treat!
Take a peek at one of the highlights of the show below:
Monday, May 18, 2009
IN CASE YOU MISSED EM...
"The Wanting Comes In Waves" was performed by The Decemberists on Leno the other night! This is one of my favorite songs off their latest album, THE HAZZARDS OF LOVE. We will be at their show Tuesday night, so check back for a review & photos. In the meantime, check out this killer performance!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
THE HAZARDS OF LOVE
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I know it has been a while since it's release (March 24th), but I had to just finally sit down and talk about this album. Just when I when I though that they could not get any better, the Portland based band proved me wrong. With their 5th full length, "The Hazards of Love", these genius musicians have reinvented themselves, while maintaining the Decemberist's sound that we all love. They are one of the few bands around that definitely have a distinct sound, both lyrically and musically and are not afraid to take risks. Just like their last album "The Crane Wife", they have produced almost a rock opera, storytelling narrative throughout the entire album. For those that are familiar with "The Neutral Milk Hotel", you would understand what I am talking about. They keep with the same theme for the duration of this one solid track-full length, always coming back to the chorus of the title track "The Hazards of Love". Without skipping a beat or emotion, the album takes you on an emotional roller coaster of vocals and instruments, that only the Decemberist's could get away with. As odd as it may sound, I picked up on some rock and roll references like Heart and even, and please forgive me, Bon Jovi, don't ask, but it's there. I look forward to their upcoming tour and their stop in Hollywood on May 19th @ the newly renovated Hollywood Palladium! Check them out at www.myspace.com/thedecemberists or at www.thedecemberists.com
Friday, February 20, 2009
DESIGN THE OFFICIAL DECEMBERISTS SHOW POSTER
On March 18th, The Decemberists will give the debut live performance of their epic new song cycle The Hazards of Love when they headline NPR Music's SXSW showcase at Stubb's in Austin. To mark the occassion, Capitol Records (who will release the album on March 24) and Imeem are inviting fans to design the official poster for the showcase with a contest -- the winning design will be hand-picked by the band and contestants can enter here:As previously announced, The Decemberists will play The Hazards of Love, in sequence, in its entirety. Joining all five members of the band on stage will be Lavender Diamond’s Becky Stark and My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden, who lend leading vocals to the album. Opening bands are North Carolina trio The Avett Brothers, set to debut songs from its forthcoming album produced by Rick Rubin, and bluesy rockers Heartless Bastards, riding the success of its third record, The Mountain. The concert will begin at 10pm CST and will be streamed live, archived and podcast at www.NPR.org/sxsw, and will be available for broadcast on NPR Member stations across the country.
May 19 - Hollywood Palladium - Los Angeles, CA
May 20 - Fox Theatre - Oakland, CA
May 21 - McDonald Theater - Eugene, OR
May 24 - Wilma Theatre - Missoula, MT
May 26 - Fillmore Auditorium - Denver, CO
May 27 - Uptown Theater - Kansas City, MO
May 29 - Riverside Theater - Milwaukee, WI
May 31 - The Pageant - St. Louis, MO
June 1 - Lifestyle Communities Pavilion - Columbus, OH
June 3 - Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA
June 4 - Memorial Auditorium - Raleigh, NC
June 5 - The National - Richmond, VA
June 6 - Tower Theatre - Upper Darby, PA
June 9 - Bank of America Pavillion - Boston, MA
June 10 - Radio City Music Hall - New York, NY
June 11-14 - Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival - Manchester, TN
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
THE DECEMBERISTS ANNOUNCE SPRING U.S. TOUR
THE DECEMBERISTS ANNOUNCE FIRST LEG
OF SPRING 2009 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR;
KICKING OFF MAY 19th
THE HAZARDS OF LOVE SET FOR
MARCH 24th RELEASE ON CAPITOL RECORDS
The Decemberists have announced the first leg of their Spring 2009 North American tour in support of The Hazards of Love, their ambitious new album to be released by Capitol Records on March 24th. The 16-date run will kick off May 19th at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, and include a June 10th performance at Radio City Music Hall in New York, as well as a set at the 2009 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee.
A limited number of pre-sale tickets go on sale today to the public on a first-come, first-served basis at http://www.decemberists.
On tour, The Decemberists will present a full performance of the album, a 17-song suite that tells the tale of a woman named Margaret who is ravaged by a shape-shifting animal; her lover, William; a forest queen; and a cold-blooded, lascivious rake. Joining the band on stage will be Lavender Diamond’s Becky Stark and My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden who deliver the lead vocals for the female characters. The band announced last week that they will give the debut live performance of The Hazards of Love when they headline NPR Music’s South by Southwest showcase at Stubbs in Austin on March 18th.
With their fifth full-length album, the Portland-based quintet of Colin Meloy, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee, Nate Query and John Moen solidifies its standing as one of the most innovative creative forces in music today. In an age when singles rule and the death of the album has been pronounced by many, The Decemberists have fashioned an anomaly: a record that demands to be listened to from start to finish and reveals more with each subsequent play. NPR All Songs Considered has already declared it an “epic adventure,” while Rolling Stone recently wrote that “[The] Hazards of Love is The Decemberists’ full-on classic-rock move, with pretty Zep-style fingerpicking punctuated by crushing stoner-metal lurches"
The Decemberists’ confirmed Spring 2009 tour dates are as follows:
May 19 Hollywood Palladium Los Angeles, CA
May 20 Fox Theatre
May 21 McDonald Theater Eugene, OR
May 24 Wilma Theatre
May 26 Fillmore Auditorium
May 27 Uptown Theater
May 29 Riverside Theater
May 31 The Pageant
June 1 Lifestyle Communities Pavilion Columbus, OH
June 3 Tabernacle
June 4 Memorial Auditorium
June 5 The National
June 6 Tower Theatre
June 9 Bank of America Pavillion Boston, MA
June 10 Radio City Music Hall New York, NY
June 11-14 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival Manchester, TN
Friday, January 16, 2009
FREE SONG FROM THE DECEMBERISTS
As most of you may already know, The Decemberists are preparing to release their fifth full-length album, The Hazards of Love, on March 24. The album is a 17-song suite that demands to be listened to from start to finish and reveals more with each subsequent play. It is rooted in ancient language and imagery, yet entirely modern and accessible.The Portland-based quintet of Colin Meloy, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee, Nate Query and John Moen are eager to share a bit of the new music with fans before street date -- The Decemberists are making “The Rake’s Song” available as a free download beginning today at:
www.decemberists.com
The album began when Meloy – long fascinated by the British folk revival of the 1960s – found a copy of revered vocalist Anne Briggs’s 1966 EP, titled The Hazards of Love. Since there was no actual song with the album’s title, he set out to write one, but was soon immersed in something much larger.
The Hazards Of Love tells the tale of a woman named Margaret who is ravaged by a shape-shifting animal; her lover, William; a forest queen; and a cold-blooded, lascivious rake, who recounts with spine-tingling ease how he came “to be living so easy and free” in the aforementioned “The Rake’s Song.” Lavender Diamond's Becky Stark and My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden deliver the lead vocals for the female characters, while My Morning Jacket's Jim James, Robyn Hitchcock and the Spinanes' Rebecca Gates appear in supporting roles. The range of sounds reflects the characters’ arcs, from the accordion’s singsong lilt in “Isn’t it a Lovely Night?” to the heavy metal thunder of “The Queen’s Rebuke/The Crossing.”
“There’s an odd bond between the music of the British folk revival and classic metal,” says Meloy. “A natural connection between, like, Fairport Convention and Black Sabbath – of course, Sandy Denny from Fairport even sang with Led Zeppelin on ‘The Battle of Evermore.’ I think there’s a shared sense of narrative and ambience, of moving beyond the first person in your writing. And I thought it would be interesting to mess around with that.”
The Decemberists will tour this spring, playing The Hazards Of Love straight through for the show’s first half and older material for the remainder. Tour dates will be announced shortly.
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