We actually were able to get pretty close to the stage, which is nice considering that when we saw the Decemberists at Chastain Park last July, we were oh, say, 150 feet from the stage. But not this time. No, this time we were close enough to see how recently Colin Meloy might have shaved. For the record? His chin looked smooth as a baby’s behind.

How did we get to be so up close to the front? We stood up for over three hours. That’s right. And near the end, we were saying things like “we’re getting too old for this” which is awful because we’re too young to be saying that we’re too old for anything except maybe High School Musical or Chuck E. Cheese’s. 

Apparently Meloy started a group, Musicians Against the Calling Out of Freebird (an audience member made him the t-shirt). This group is quite necessary, as I recall some drunk guy at every smaller concert that I’ve been to yelling out, “Play sum free bird!” No Freebird last night. I can’t remember all of the songs he played, but I do recall the Sporting Life, Crane Wife #3, Apology Song, Kingdom of Spain, A Cautionary Song, Tristan and Iseult, Cupid (cover of a Sam Cooke song he sang with Laura Gibson), and of course, Mariner’s Revenge. 

So far the album is pretty much what you’d expect from Radiohead if you’ve heard any of their past music. It’s good for background noise. Like when you’re having people over and there is a lot of conversation going on, when you’re working, or when you’re just not in the mood to listen to music with a strong leaning on lyrics.

I’ve heard that some people who don’t really like Radiohead’s music have been donating $20 or more to them just because they like what they’re doing. I hope this starts a trend.