Decemberists visit Lexington for first time!

As an avid fan of live music (and an Alltech Fortnight Festival Blogger) I have, of course, been following the signings and concert announcements for the Festival. While there are several that I am excited about, I have to say, the concert that intrigues me most is that of the Decemberists. This band has exploded onto the scene over the past couple of years and I couldn’t help but ask myself why. I have come up with 3 reasons that I think led to their meteoric rise through the indie rock scene and their rapid appearance in the spotlight of mainstream music.

1. Talent: It is rare these days to find a band that is talented at every position. From a drummer, who brings a driving rock beat, to a guitarist, who makes one reminisce the days of talented folk musicians who dominated the mainstream of the 1960’s and 70’s, to a songwriting style that is unique, ballad-like and equally impressive. It is not often that a songwriter that has intriguing lyrics that evoke legitimate emotion can pull together the instrumentalists necessary to bring his lyrics, skillfully, to the public eye.
2. Timing: The music scene was poised for a band that hits America in its folk music roots. Set up by other successful indie bands turned mainstream phenomena, the Decemberists bring their unique style into the mix at the perfect moment for their music. The music industry was ready for a band, similar to the pioneers of indie-folk rock but unique in what it brings to the table with songwriting and overall musical ability.
3. Presence: The news is filled with musicians who get in brushes with the law to the point where it is hard for the public to care or be surprised. Often these stories are shocking to people because of the pure selfishness that is shown by the perpetrator; rarely are these brushes with the law because of a band trying to give back to its fans. The Decemberists break the mold again with the recent news coming from Portland, Oregon that featured a spontaneous, free concert put on by the band in the streets of their hometown. This concert was broken up by the police, cited as a public disturbance, but I have to respect a band for scraping with the law in order to give back to their fans. The news of this concert confirms something that I have been suspicious of for a long time… The Decemberists love to play music. I have been following the Decemberists and have noticed that they play every show with energy like it is the first show of their tour. Also they have been featured at many different well known music festivals, always drawing a large crowd and never disappointing. I am hopeful that their performance will bring the Alltech Fortnight Festival to a new level and we will see many great performances in the months and years to follow.
It is these three things that, in my opinion, bring the Decemberists to the forefront of a music industry filled with pretenders. That is why I am excited to have them as part of the Fortnight Festival, bringing good music to a town that has, historically, lacked a live music scene worth talking about.

The Intern