I’ll let Matt knock out all the details, but I thought I’d give my opinion. The Hazards of Love is an interesting record to say the least. It’s a Rock Opera for one, so it’s meant to be enjoyed from start to finish in order to capture the full experience. However, not many people sit down and listen to full albums anymore…It’s truly taxing. Hearing it live made me sympathize with Colin Meloy and enabled me to understand why he would release such a pretentious piece…because he can. Let’s be honest, Colin Meloy is a pompous fellow, but I feel he’s entitled to be. Personally, I feel he’s a literary genius. He is my favorite modern day lyricist and he is also a very skilled raconteur, whose stories are enthralling. I was on-board when he took his listeners on a trip to the Oceanside. Hell, I even reluctantly followed when he decided it was time to give his listeners a taste of ancient Japanese Folklore. However, I did not accompany him on his latest journey about some shape shifting creature who falls in love…at first. Until last night. Only the Decemberists could pull an album like this off and only they could play is so masterfully live.

*Side Note* I still think the story line sucks wang and I still think this was an endeavor that should have never been taken on.

That being said, I have lightened up on the album after seeing it live. It was epic live to say the least. I went into the concert believing that this was sonically the best Decemberists album to date but didn’t think much else of it. I was truly blown away last night at how beautiful it was live. However, those feelings didn’t really continue into this morning…I was excited to enjoy the album from start to finish when I arrived at work this morning, but I only made it 3 songs in…so I guess my opinion really didn’t change much after all…I think it can be said that this album was crafted for the live setting.
To sum up the first half of the concert which was the Hazards of Love, I would say it deserves a
8.5/10

The second set was a good old fashioned Decemberists show. If you haven’t seen this band live yet *Cough* Alex Davis *Cough*, then you really should. They are easily one of the best live bands around. The second set had some of my favorite Decemberists songs which made me happy, though I would have killed to hear On the Bus Mall or Engine Drive.

Overall, I think this was an amazing way to perform a show. They are touring off a rock opera…Okay cool. If I went to this show last night and only heard Hazards of Love, I would have been disappointed even though it was fucking awesome. However, this album is not why I love the Decemberists and I think they understand that it would be stupid to just play just one album in full. Though, I give them serious props for playing something like a 10 song second set. I’m pretty sure they played roughly 28 songs overall.

My only quip about their playing is the Sporting Life…One of the better Decemerbists songs and I was extremely excited to her it live and I still am glad I heard it, but I think it’s the only song I’ve heard them play that loses something in the live setting.

Overall I give this show a

8.8/10

because I am a Decemberists fanboy.