The Decemberists stopped by Saratoga, California’s scenic Mountain Winery on Monday on their Arise From The Bunkers Tour. The Portland-based band led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Colin Meloy unveiled a new song, “Burial Ground,” about halfway through their set.
Following a pre-show that included the songs, “Philomena” and “Calamity Song,” The Decemberists — Meloy, drummer John Moen, bassist Nate Query, keyboardist Jenny Conlee, guitarist Chris Funk and touring vocalist Lizzie Ellison — got their main set underway with “Leslie Ann Levine” from their 2002 debut LP, Castaways And Cutouts followed by “Sucker’s Prayer” off their latest album, 2018’s I’ll Be Your Girl. The band continued with “Song for Myla Goldberg,” “Rox In The Box,” “William Fitzwilliam” and “Lake Song.”
Following “The Sporting Life” from their 2005 album, Picaresque, which contained The Smiths’ “This Charming Man,” Meloy addressed the audience: “We’re gonna play another new song. Now that we’ve got you on your feet we’re gonna play a song you’ve never heard before.” Colin then led the band through “Burial Ground,” which boasted a jangly electric 12-string guitar solo from Funk as well as an accordion solo from Conlee.
Elsewhere, The Decemberists nodded to Olivia Newton-John who sadly died on Monday, offering lines from the late singer’s 1980 hit, “Magic,” during their tune “The Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All).” The tail end of the set included favorites like “Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect” as well as I’ll Be Your Girls’ “Severed.” The band bookended the set with Cutouts And Castaway songs, closing with the album’s “California One / Youth and Beauty Brigade.”
The Decemberists returned for a three-song encore beginning with “12/17/12” from the 2015 LP, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World. The band also offered “Ben Franklin’s Song,” a 2017 collaboration with Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda for his monthly “Hamildrops.” The Decemberists concluded the evening with The Crane Wife (2006) standout “Sons & Daughters.”
Watch fan-shot video of The Decemberists debuting “Burial Ground” below:
Setlist
The Decemberists at The Mountain Winery
Pre-Show
- Philomena
- Calamity Song
Main Show
- Leslie Anne Levine
- Sucker’s Prayer
- Song for Myla Goldberg
- Rox in the Box
- William Fitzwilliam
- Lake Song
- The Sporting Life
- Burial Ground
- The Crane Wife 1
- The Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All)
- Down by the Water
- Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect
- Make You Better
- Severed
- California One / Youth and Beauty Brigade
Encore
- 12/17/12
- Ben Franklin’s Song
- Sons & Daughters
