The Decemberists

By user • Aug 1st, 2009 • Category: Band Bios

In what was not exactly a ringing endorsement for the way that fantasy rock operas usually translate on stage during a typical mid-August outdoor festival, Jethro Tull declined to play the inaugural Woodstock Festival in 1969. Then again, Led Zeppelin and The Doors also turned down the chance to perform at the historic “three days of peace and music” — yet hard rock is still well represented at today’s summer festivals which follow in Woodstock’s footsteps 40 years later. So perhaps Colin Meloy and his band of merry folklorists can find their niche at Lollapalooza after all. On the heels of their brilliant The Hazards of Love, a 17-song fable of epic proportions, the Portland-based chamber-pop ensemble finds itself expertly toeing the line between tongue-in-cheek antics and a full-on belief in their hyper-literate tales. It’s an awesome hybrid of silly storytelling and serious rock ‘n’ roll that even Mr. Tull in his heyday could never quite reach.

Chicago Innerview, August 2009

user is
Email this author | All posts by user

Comments are closed.

• Subscription

  Fill out the form to receive my newsletter, and I'll drop you a line when new items make their way onto the site.

  Our strict privacy policy keeps your e-mail address 100 percent safe and secure.

• The Archives

  June 2014 May 2014 February 2012 August 2011 March 2011 December 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 April 2010 March 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002

• More About Derek

  • Bio
  • Contact