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Was Colin Meloy drunk for the Decemberists shows this week?
Submitted by ChrisB on February 3, 2008.
OK, this I need someone out here to confirm. Was anyone at the Decemberists show on Wednesday night at the Moore? Was Colin Meloy visibly drunk?
I was at the Decemberists show on Thursday night and thought the band sounded better than any of the previous four times I had seen them. Meloy seemed his usual, jovial self. I didn't notice anything amiss but Travis Hay of Ear Candy (and long-time friend of TIG) posted a letter from a reader who wrote:
"... (I)was wondering if you were going to do anything or have heard anything about the Decemberists concert last night at the Moore? I think they're playing there tonight as well, but a buddy and I went to the show last night and came away with mixed feelings. I'm a huge fan and for the most part thought the show was really good. They sounded great and had a lot of fun interaction with the crowd. But the lead singer was hammered and got a little crazy before the end of the set. When he was playing his guitar he was fine, but whenever there was a break in the action he would start to sway this way and that. It was entertaining to say the least and didn't affect his sound at all...a la Eddie Vedder.
Nope, it was the encore we had an issue with.
Duder played solo for two songs: "I Was Meant for the Stage," which was awesome, and then a cover of Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You," which was equally as awesome and kind of fitting considering how smashed he was at the time. When the rest of the band came out, however, they just started wailing away on each other's instruments. For like 15 minutes. Seriously. It was awful. No music. No real direction. They literally just swapped each other's instruments and made a bunch of garage-band static...like the Wyld Stallyns of "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" fame. Crazy stuff, and not what you want to leave your audience with after an otherwise rockin' show."
Another anonymous commenter also said he was visibly drunk. Really? I've seen tons of shows with drunken lead singers, but this one is quite a shock. If you can confirm this, please do. It will only increase my (already great) respect for the Decemberists.
(Gracious hat tip to Claudette.)
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ChrisB said on February 3, 2008:
Oh I know, JL, trust me, I've been to plenty of shows and seen my fair share (and yours and yours) of drunk musicians, just the Decemberists? I still have a hard time wrapping my brain around the literary nerds and theater majors being drunk rock stars.
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Erik Gonzalez said on February 3, 2008:
Uh, you haven't been around enough literary nerds and theatre majors ...
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JL said on February 3, 2008:
EXACTLY, Erik. I mean, I love love LOVE Colin and he's the reason why I, in turn, love literature.... so c'mon - it's gotta be in his blood. :)
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serotonein said on February 3, 2008:
what a fucking whiner. the writer is clearly only pissed because they jammed out instead of playing a written song (after a two-song solo encore), and decided that because the *whole band* played music he didn't like at the end, he'll blame it on the lead singer being drunk.
i have no idea if meloy was drunk or not, but as long as it doesn't affect the length/quality of the main set, what's the problem? i saw meloy gut out a set at the paramount a few years ago while being quite sick, and performing an incredibly haunting version of "red right ankle" when he could barely get through the notes. if he wants to imbibe a bit while feeling well, more power to him :)
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MaxCC said on February 3, 2008:
He was really drunk, this is true. When he and Chris Funk tried to play each other's guitars and they fell over, it was pretty clear. Made for a really entertaining show though
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imaginary dana said on February 4, 2008:
I kinda agree with ChrisB... seeing Colin Meloy drunk is like being a kid and running into your elementary school teacher at the grocery store. You know they must eat, but it's weird to see they exist outside the classroom. It just seems out of place and context.
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toby said on February 4, 2008:
I second Erik's comment. I remember they did postpone/cancel a bunch of dates at the end of last year because someone in the band had mysterious 'illness'. Any idea what the story behind that was?
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Joseph Riippi said on February 4, 2008:
I've actually had a few beers with Colin Meloy in the past. Show in D.C. doing an interview for college paper. He wasn't drunk, but I will attest to him drinking (gasp!). And, as a self-conscious literary nerd (Melville rocks!) I'll also admit to being a fan of the booze. Is there no greater death than, a la Dylan Thomas, to die resting your head about a bar, your feet upon a brass rail, and your hand upon the base of a martini glass?
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Reviews
imaginary chona said on February 3, 2008:
My Decemberists superfan buddy down in Portland went to go see them last week. She, among others, was pulled on stage by Meloy himself during "Sons and Daughters" (perfectly normal behavior). Then, apparently, he kept "ramming" (whaaaaaa?) into her...whatever that's supposed to mean. The verdict? Colin Meloy: GUILTY AS CHARGED!