ah yeah... well the decemberists are great after all... wasn't disappointed in the slightest! was a brilliant night (although i could possibly have done without the mid-song singing contests)

You were obviously on the balcony :-]

I should probably say nothing, and I know I'm going to be in a minority of one here but, being kind, the best I can say is that they were pretty average. In fact, I hated most of it. The crowd was full of arseholes who spoke all the way through and the band were mostly very dull. Terrible sound up the front. The call and response stuff was cringe inducing. Stadiums beckon - Yes, they were that bad.

I thought it was a really enjoyable evening - the most shamelessly entertaining indie\rock band I've seen in ages. Would've been nice to hear more from their first 2 albums (which are probably the best ones) but the newer songs came through very well.

so protein biscuit loved the sing song (i was in the middle of it and didn't) but pool cleaning guy hated it... i also agree with pool cleaning guy that the sound wasn't the best downstairs up the front (disappointing for vicar street which is usually excellent) and that the crowd was full of the odd arsehole... everything else i disagree on though because i think they are a brilliant band with brilliant songs and a pretty brilliant way about them...

also disagree with dermot that the first two albums are the best although i would say that all four are pretty magnificent...

On the album front i'm only in possession of "Picaresque" however am familiar with some of the tunes from their earlier stuff. Ah yeah, sure the sing-a-long was harmless. A bit of crowd/band interaction at least. Yeah, there was a lot of talking alright but i've been to gigs where the asshole count has been markedly higher. I'd give it a 6/7 out of 10 i suppose. I should also note that i wasn't sober so i can only offer a primarily subjective insight.

Jesus, can't believe you all didn't like it. One of the better shows I've been to I must say. The singing contest was fantastic fun. People here need to let go of their inhibitions along with a lot of the saps at that gig. Eli and We Both Go Down... were brilliant and the Crane Wife/Sons 7 Daughters was nothing short of magical.

i'd prefer people actually let go of their inhibitions by dancing though... what is 'sons and daughters' without dancing?.... were you dancing?... properly like, not just nodding your head and tapping your feet?

dublin doesn't dance

I was dancing for sure. We were on Colins far right dancing like a bunch of ecstatic little kids. All the people around us were slightly perturbed though. I didn't care, it was bloody fantastic