Colin Meloy (The Decemberists) at UCSD: 2009
Colin Meloy (The Decemberists) at UCSD: 2009
Colin Meloy, the literate frontman of The Decemberists, performed a solo acoustic show at UC San Diego. Stripped of his full band, armed only with an acoustic guitar and his distinctive voice, Colin proved that great songs work in any format.
The Solo Format
The Decemberists are known for their elaborate arrangements - accordions, keyboards, strings, complex harmonies. Songs like "The Mariner's Revenge Song" are mini-operas with multiple parts and theatrical dynamics. So seeing Colin perform solo was a different experience entirely.
But great songs are great songs. Without the full band, you could hear the bones of the compositions - the melodies, the chord progressions, the stories in the lyrics. Colin's songs are built on strong foundations, and the solo format revealed that.
The Performance
Colin opened with songs from "The Crane Wife," the album that had brought The Decemberists to a wider audience. "O Valencia!" as a solo acoustic song lost the driving rhythm but gained an intimacy. You could hear every word of the story about star-crossed lovers clearly.
"The Engine Driver" - that beautiful meditation on longing and dissatisfaction - was devastating solo. The line "I am a writer, writer of fictions / I am the heart that you call home" hit differently without the full band. Just Colin's voice and guitar, telling a story about wanting to be wanted.
He played "We Both Go Down Together," the murder ballad about lovers who die together. Stripped down to just acoustic guitar and voice, the song's darkness came through even more clearly. Colin's voice - that slightly nasal, expressive instrument - carried the narrative perfectly.
Between songs, Colin was funny and self-deprecating. He talked about writing songs, about the literary influences that shape his lyrics (he name-dropped authors like Mervyn Peake and historical events that inspire songs). His intelligence and wit made the between-song banter as enjoyable as the music.
The Storytelling
What makes The Decemberists special is Colin's commitment to storytelling. His songs have narratives - characters, settings, plot developments. "The Mariner's Revenge Song" tells a complete revenge story. "The Rake's Song" is about an awful father who kills his children. "The Chimbley Sweep" is Victorian social commentary.
In a solo acoustic format, these stories came to the foreground. Without production and arrangement to hide behind, it was just Colin telling tales. And his voice - expressive, theatrical without being overdramatic - brought the characters to life.
The Literary Connection
Colin studied creative writing and has published children's books (the "Wildwood Chronicles"). His literary ambitions show in his lyrics. Where most indie rock bands write about relationships and feelings in vague terms, Colin writes specific narratives with historical settings, archaic language, and complete story arcs.
It's not for everyone. Some people find The Decemberists precious or overly clever. But if you love storytelling, if you appreciate when rock music tries to do something beyond the usual themes, The Decemberists (and Colin's solo work) offer something rare.
UCSD Audience
The college crowd was perfect for Colin. UCSD students - smart, literary-minded, appreciative of cleverness - ate it up. When Colin threw in references to Victorian England or maritime history, the audience got it. This wasn't dumbed-down entertainment; it was music that assumed intelligence.
The intimate venue meant the show felt like a living room performance. No barrier between artist and audience, just a songwriter sharing stories.
The Verdict
Colin Meloy's solo show at UCSD proved that he's more than just The Decemberists' frontman - he's a genuine songwriter and storyteller. His songs work stripped down to their essence, and his stage presence holds a room even without a band behind him.
If you love lyrics that tell stories, if you appreciate musicians who bring literary ambition to rock music, if you want something more than the usual indie rock fare, Colin Meloy delivers. The Decemberists might be precious to some, but I'd rather have artists who aim high and risk being called pretentious than artists who never try anything ambitious.
Great show, great songwriter, and proof that sometimes solo acoustic formats reveal the true quality of the songs.