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Wed 18 Jul – Free Decemberists Show

OH. MY. GOD. Perhaps one of the best shows I've seen in ages.

So today in Chicago at the Millennium Park, well, I guess all summer long, they've got these free shows. Normally they're just classical/orchestral gigs, but tonights was the Chicago Symphony and The Decemberists.

Anyway. My sisters were dropped off at Brooke's house (out of one car into the next) at 10:25 and off we went to Millennium Park, we parked right in the venue, and got out of the building and I could hear Colin Meloy. I was like, they're soundcheccckkkiiiinnngg. And because it's an outdoor/park venue we were allowed to just sit there and watch. So we watched them soundcheck The Tain and I Was Meant for the Stage. Which are both fantastic tracks, though, I'm a firm believer that all Decemberists tracks are fantastic. Kind of biased. Anyway. So we picked out the best seats in the lawn. And then, my sister Rachel says that she saw it was supposed to rain. And I went back to the car, after soundcheck was over, to get the umbrella out of it. Came back to the venue and there was Chris and Jenny signing things and talking to people. And because there wasn't a ticket, I didn't have anything for them to sign, but I talked to them both. I was wearing my brand new Built to Spill shirt. And Chris Funk asked me how the show was and he was jealous, he apparently loves Built to Spill. Now you know! I had the funniest conversation with Jenny. I was blabbing on about how I was excited for the show, and what a treat it was to meet her blah blah blah, shook her hand, and she says; "I'm Jenny."
And I respond; "I know." (cue rest of crowd giggles. because i said it in a very matter of fact way.)
"And you are?"
"Oh, Allison. I'm not used to the famous people wanting to know my name. haha" (mummer of agreeing from the crowd)
"Oh, Well, Allison. Enjoy the show."

And then. We found out that the second section of the seated area would be open to the gen admin public. OKAY. So we formed a line. And there was some bs, they moved the line and all that, but we ended up with swell seats. Saw; The Crane Wife 1 & 2, The Infanta, We Both Go Down Together, The Bagman's Gambit, Odalisque, The Perfect Crime #2 (just them), Los Angeles, I'm Yours, The Tain, O Valencia! (just them), I Was Meant for the Stage. It started raining during The Infanta and all the old ladies in the paid area took out their umbrellas, and because we weren't standing (it was an orchestra gig afterall) it got kind of hard to see. But then when The Perfect Crime came on, we stood up, because Colin gave us interactive things to do, and then he ran about in the entire paved area of the pavillion, not near us of course, but, it was pretty sweet, and the band just kept playing it was great. And then we sat down again because people were angry, even though the umbrellas were in the way. Anyway. You'll see that once my video uploads. Luckily the older people started leaving pretty much half way through, or, they just decided to deal with the not so heavy rain. We stood for O Valencia, most of us did, and they got a standing ovation of course. And let me say The Tain is amazing with an orchestra, the flute bits on it are just. Spot on. Just. Wow.

Then. They left. But not for long. They came out for a just them encore, and most of the old ladies left then, that is, the ones that had stuck around... and Colin calls us all down to the front. So we made our way down to the front of the stage. It was amazing. The encore was 16 Military Wives and The Mariner's Revenge Song, complete with audience interaction of being eaten by a whale. It was great. The entire thing was great. My sisters loved it. Melissa especially. Her away message right now is cute; "omg the concert was so fun but i'm tired now. zzzzzzz." I think she has a thing for Colin Meloy. She's loved him since I put Of Angels and Angles on the summer mix of 06. And then she got me Crane Wife for Christmas, we're just decemberisty together. And Rachel was like.... it's a concert. But then when they did O Valencia! I caught her singing along. hahahaha.

Overall. FANTASTIC.

And, nothing else I can say.