If any band is full of enough bombast to not be outshined or ill-utilize the talents of some of America’s finest symphonic orchestras, it is probably the Decemberists. Remember, this is a band who has pageantry coming out the yin-yang, and hell, they put out an 18-minute-long song cycle based on Celtic mythology. So yeah, when it gets announced that the band will be playing five dates across the country this summer backed by symphony orchestras in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Chicago, one is inclined to think “obviously.” Is it a once in a lifetime event? Maybe, maybe not. But still, it’s worth checking out. And hell, they’ve even announced a regular European tour, too. Here’s the dates, yo:
2007 Orchestral Tour
7.7 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl (with LA Philharmonic, Band of Horses opens)
7.13 – Atlanta, GA – Chastain Park (with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra)
7.14 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion (with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra)
7.15 – Philadelphia, PA – Mann Center (with the Mann Festival Orchestra)
7.18 – Chicago, IL – Grant Park Music Festival at Pritzker Pavilion (with Grant Park Orchestra) Free!
September
Sat 22 – Amsterdam, Holland – Paradiso
Sun 23 – Köln, Germany – Live Music Hall
Mon 24 – Frankfurt, Germany, Batschkapp
Tues 25 – Karlsruhe, Germany – Substage
Thurs 27 – Vienna, Austria – Arena
Fri 28 – Munich, Germany – Muffathalle
Sat 29 – Berlin, Germany – Postbahnhof
Sun 30 – Hamburg, Germany – Grosse Freiheit
October
Tues 2 – London, England – Royal Festival Hall
Weds 3 – Cambridge, England – Junction
Fri 5 – Wolverhampton, England – Wulfren Hall
Sat 6 – Bristol, England – Anson Rooms
Sun 7 – Oxford, England – Academy
Tues 9 – Dublin, Ireland – Vicar Street
Weds -10 Liverpool, England – Academy
Thurs – 11 Newcastle, England – Academy
Fri 12 – Glasgow, Scotland – Academy
Sat 13 – Leeds, England – Metropolitan University