On a wet, dreary Tuesday night, The Decemberists made their return to Philadelphia and the Academy of Music. The fabled, beautiful theatre housed the band on their previous headlining tour and it served as the same for their current one as well. With the release of their latest album, What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World, earlier this year, the Portland natives had much to share with their devoted fanbase. As people packed into the historic venue on Broad Street for a sold out performance, band leader Colin Meloy and company showed that despite the lengthy gap since their last album, the band was far from slowing down.

Alvvays (all photos by Matt Kelchner)

Along for the ride were Canadian indie pop group Alvvays. Playing a much larger stage and to a bigger audience that their last stop at Boot and Saddle, Alvvays wowed the crowd with their :30 minute opening set. Songs like “Atop A Cake” and “Party Police” shined as great examples of the band’s jangly, dreamy sound. Ending with their insanely catchy single “Archie, Marry Me”, Alvvays may have won over more than just a few new fans Tuesday night. As the final notes rang out and they said their goodbyes, the group received a warm standing ovation from many of the crowd members.

With an expanded, larger than life version of the cover art from What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World behind him and full wine glass in hand, Colin Meloy came out to greet the sea of fans beneath him before the remaining members of the band joined him. Their night started with the appropriately placed tune “The Singer Addresses His Audience” and it only took a few songs before the entire place was standing and dancing around.

While What A Terrible World took center stage Tuesday night, it was not the sole focus of The Decemberists. Songs from almost every full length album made their way into the setlist. Newer editions like “Make You Better” and “The Wrong Year” fit in perfectly next to old favorites such as “16 Military Wives” and “Down By The Water”. A short teaser of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” even managed it’s way in.

The Decemberists

Crowd participation is one of the key cogs in their well oil, on stage machine and as he stepped to the front of the stage during “The Rake’s Song”, Meloy led the sold out venue in an elaborately constructed clapping choir. The vocal melodies from the aforementioned “16 Military Wives” was also aided with a bit of help from the audience as well.

The pinnacle of it all came in the band’s last song in the encore, “The Mariner’s Revenge”. By this point in the band’s career, the fans have come to know just what exactly is in store for the salty, swashbuckling sailor’s tune, and Tuesday night was no exception. About three quarters of the way through the song, where the song’s character is swallowed by a whale, The Decemberists invite each member of the crowd to scream as such…and scream did they ever! With a giant, cardboard whale making it’s way on stage the crowd wailed (pun intended) at the top of their lungs.

And with that The Decemberists walked off to a roaring round of applause, whistling and cheering from their beloved fans. With 15 years and seven albums in, the Portland band is still out there like they’ve just released their first record.