Earlier this week, indie rockers The Decemberists took over The Bellwether (one of LA’s newest - and nicest, if you ask me - concert destinations) for two nearly sold-out nights almost exactly one year since the venue opened.

Just outside DTLA, The Bellwether provides a much-needed midsize show option for Angelenos in a convenient, centrally-located neighborhood - I was actually able to take the bus there and back with relative ease (if you live in LA, you know this is definitely not always the case). In addition to location, the Bellwether also offers comfort. Even packed shows like Tuesday’s have plenty of space to move around, multiple bars, and (my personal favorite) an upstairs patio with lovely skyline views.

Pitchfork darlings Ratboys kicked off the show with their guitar-driven, country-influenced indie alternative sounds, getting the already buzzing crowd even more excited for the main event. This will come as no surprise to anyone who’s listened to them, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find Ratboys in their own headlining spot in the next year or two - they’re just that good. Check out “Go Outside” and “Elvis is in the Freezer.”

Finally, the main event - The Decemberists promptly took the stage at their allotted set time (shout-out to long-running artists who respect their aging fans’ bedtimes, lol), starting off their set on a dark note: “Here we are again,” lead singer Colin Meloy remarked onstage before launching into their 2002 ghost story song, “Leslie Anne Levine.”

The mood stayed somber for a bit, with the band sticking to slower, simpler, and often sadder tracks for the first chunk of the show. Finally, during “Burying Davy,” hooded figures appeared onstage and carried away the plants that had been obscuring part of the stage, revealing the full band as they joined the song - an incredibly full sound.

Meloy’s voice is somehow still just as good as it was 20 years ago - a talent matched by his bandmates, many of whom are multi-instrumentalists that seem to be good at everything (that horn section!).

The group continued with hits from throughout their career, including new songs from 2024 album As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again. Some personal favorites included “The Sporting Life,” which they ended with a light nod to The Smiths’ “This Charming Man,” and the (pre-encore) closer, “16 Military Wives,” during which Meloy came down in the crowd and encouraged everyone to form a death metal-style wall of death. The group wrapped up the show with new song “Joan in the Garden,” which featured an anticipation-building jam sesh in the middle. So good!

The Decemberists’ longevity seems to be matched only by their talent - this was my first time catching The Decemberists live, but it certainly won’t be my last.

Review & Photos by: Katie Bowles

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