Remember that first roommate you had in college? You know, that guy who liked theater, but ended up majoring in philosophy? The one who hadn't slept with anyone who hadn't read at least one Faulkner book? You remember him, right? You liked him, but there'd be no way in hell you'd be rooming with him next year. Why? Because he was safe.
I hope you see the parallel I'm trying to draw here. The Decemberists, although they do mean well, too, are oh so terribly safe. If temperance societies were all the rage again, you bet your precious undergarments they'd be jumping onto that bandwagon.
Case in point: The Decemberists have a new album coming out March 24 (safe) on Capitol Records. Their newest concept album, The Hazards of Love, is a collection of 17 songs telling the story of a woman named Margaret and her various misadventures, much in the same fashion as, say, an Edward Gorey cartoon or perhaps Lemony Snicket (safe). In support of Hazards, The Decemberists are also launching a large tour/performance of the album in its entirety, and they are planning to debut this at NPR Music's SXSW showcase (seriously, these guys are safer than betting that white hipsters are going to love Portland or that your aunt's going to buy you another Thomas Kincaid painting this Christmas at the mall because she thinks you're artsy).
Joining them for the tour will be Lavender Diamond's lovely Becky Stark, as well as Shara Worden from My Brightest Diamond; they will be playing the part of the female leads.
Their confirmed tourdates are as follows:
05.19.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium
05.20.09 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theatre
05.21.09 - Eugene, OR - McDonald Theater
05.24.09 - Missoula, MT - Wilma Theatre
05.26.09 - Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
05.27.09 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
05.29.09 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater
05.31.09 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
06.01.09 - Columbus, OH - Lifestyle Communities Pavilion
06.03.09 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
06.04.09 - Raleigh, NC - Memorial Auditorium
06.05.09 - Richmond, VA - The National
06.06.09 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre
06.09.09 - Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavillion
06.10.09 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
06.11.09 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
