Chris_H_2 Posted October 29, 2007 Share Posted October 29, 2007 In case anyone is interested, the Decembersists started their new "The Long And The Short Of It" tour last night at the Vic. All of the dates are 2-date swings through cities, with the band playing their longer, epic songs on the first nights and their shorter, poppier songs on the second nights. Here's last night's setlist (on stage at 8:15, off stage at 10:05): Crane Wife 1 & 2Crane Wife 3The IslandThe Bagman's GambitCalifornia One/Youth and Beauty BrigadeThe TainI Was Meant For The Stage_________________________(I missed the first song of the encore, but I didn't recognize it -- it sounded like a Pink Floyd beginning)Mariner's Revenge Song I believe that they skipped some songs from the setlist, because "the Long of it" was running a little longer than anticipated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bböp Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 Here was the setlist for last night's "Short Of It" show at the Vic: OceansideShinyMy Mother Was A Chinese Trapeze ArtistAngel, Won't You Call Me?I Don't MindO Valencia!Billy LiarThe Soldiering Life (w/Steve Moore on trombone)Lesley Ann LevineEli, The Barrow BoyThe Engine DriverYankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then) (w/Laura Veirs on vocals)The Culling of the FoldThe Perfect Crime No. 2The Chimbley Sweep--------------------------A Cautionary SongAfter the Bombs>Ask (Smiths) It was a treat to hear the 5 Songs record in its entirety (well, except for Apology Song). The band came out and played those songs in a half-circle with mostly, if not all, acoustic instruments. Ultimately, they maybe could have been a little bit more true to the claim that they would play "shorter, more pop-minded songs," (for instance, they could have played more than three songs off of Her Majesty, which is probably their most pop-minded album) but the show was still a lot of fun nevertheless. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris_H_2 Posted October 30, 2007 Author Share Posted October 30, 2007 Ultimately, they maybe could have been a little bit more true to the claim that they would play "shorter, more pop-minded songs," (for instance, they could have played more than three songs off of Her Majesty, which is probably their most pop-minded album) but the show was still a lot of fun nevertheless. Agreed. I would have loved to have heard a few more of their shorter songs rather than some of the songs that they lengthened. Also, I thought the mix for both nights was a little off. The guitars and mics were definitely at a lower volume -- for instance, during O' Valencia, all we heard basically were bass and drums. Other than that, I thought both shows were really good. I'm glad I went, because I got to hear a bunch of songs that they don't regularly play in their rotation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scalzunfield Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 I'm not gonna lie: that "Short Of It" setlist, aside from the 5 songs EP, is very disappointing. No July July or We Both Go Down Together? I was thinking of getting tickets to the Milwaukee gigs, but I've seen them 3 times this year already and those lists convinced me that's probably enough. And I didn't realize the 5+ minute Perfect Crime was really that short. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Steve Brule Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 Yeah, I will only gripe about the super long drawn out songs at the end. That's why I didn't go to the long show, so that was a little bit of a downer. I could have done without Chimbley Sweep, Perfect Crime 2 and Cautionary Song, and the dance contest, historical reenactment, etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 Yeah, when Wilco is averaging 21+ songs per show this year (including Spiders at most of those!), it seems odd to me that an evening of "short" songs is only 17 songs. If anything, for a show like that, I'd like to hear quick and dirty versions of more songs, rather than longer versions of songs that were meant to be shorter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shoesgetcold3 Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 Very adventourous and brave sets by Colin and the gang. Seeing two shows back to back nights with completely different set lists is something I have conditioned myself to believe was not possible. Nothing against Wilco as it has been discussed to death on this site, but it was very refreshing knowing that going back on Monday would be totally different then the set on Sunday.That said, Sunday night was magical in my opinion. The long songs had a way of winding one into the next. Colin did not even speak until after the 4th song (which was actually the 6th song if you count crain wife 1&2 separately, etc.) He kept switching instruments without stopping. I was in the balcony and thought the sound was strong. Not too much excess noise from my spot, I heard the band playing their instruments. I love the Mariners Revenge Song and all that goes with it but the highlight was The Bagman's Gabit. It is, once again in my opinion, their signature song. 7 minutes on the album, it was at least 10 live with the noise part extra sharp. I left with a clear belief that the Decemberists are now my #2 (of live touring bands making music today, edging out Arcade Fire)My excitement was high for last night, but as others have stated, it was a bit of a letdown. I did not think the band ever found a rhythm. The short of it pop songs were not all that poppy or short. The performance was a little too theatrical and not quite musical enough for my liking. I was downstairs under the balcony directly in front of the sound board and thought the sound was muzzled, but that is what you get at the Vic if you hang under the balcony. I agree that many missing songs were strange. Picaresque is my favorite album but where was Infanta, Both go down together, or 16 military wives. And I love Engine Driver, but is it a pop song? So I guess where the long of it played exactly as one would expect, the short was deciphered incorrectly from my end.I would still go see these guys (and girl) any time they come around as the combination of this tour with the summer at Prtizker with the orchestra makes them one of todays best live acts Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bböp Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 If anything, for a show like that, I'd like to hear quick and dirty versions of more songs, rather than longer versions of songs that were meant to be shorter. Barring that, I said to Sam that what they really should do is play all their epic-length songs really, really fast on the "short of it" night and then draw all their shorter songs way out for the "long of it" show. Seriously, though, the bottom line is I enjoyed last night's show. Of course I wish some of the song choices had been a little different, but it was the first time they've done this. The thing about this tour is I think the "long" show is going to inevitably become fairly standard because how many of those 8- to 10-minute songs do they really have? Whereas I think the "short" night could really change up from city to city because so many more songs fit into the "short" definition, judging by how it was defined last night. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 True enough. And they're doing two two sets (four nights) in SF, so I'm hoping I can look forward to some change-up in the set list for the "short of it" night. I still think though, that short songs should = more songs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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