McMenamins Edgefield (2126 S.W. Halsey St., Troutdale)

Reason #593 Why Portland is the Coolest City: The Decemberists were born here.

Kristin and I went to see them yesterday at Edgefield, a winery/hotel/ music venue/restaurant. First of all, it was a beautiful day, and they had yellow balloons flying. Which was a fortuitous sign that it was going to be a great concert.

It was sticky hot, but we managed to find some shade and chow down some burgers (McMenamins burgers - eh.) before Menomena came on. They are cool - kind of took a few minutes for me to get used to, but very cool.

We had good seats on the grass, thanks to our friend for saving us a spot. And I was delighted to be able to see Colin Meloy's face. The sound was good and loud and vibrating my water bottle, which I have never had happen before at an outdoor concert.

So my new favorite Decemberists song is something about the Culling - not sure of the exact title, but goes something like this. Listen up boy, take your lover to the river and dash her against the rocks, break her limbs... etc. Something violent and horrible, but why does it sound so catchy when Colin Meloy sings it? When he stands up there and says "Okay now listen up - here's the instructional part." Then sings about tying up the body, but sings it in a folk-songy-indie-rock kind of way. The Law and Order side of me was saying "Cool!"

The encore finale was The Mariner's Revenge Song, which is my FAVORITE song to hear them perform because there is audience participation, a giant whale (which ended up in the audience at the end), screaming, total chaos, never mind the tragedy of the story (mother dying, young boy grows up to take revenge on the scoundrel who ruined her life). It's just simply an experience and I love it! It brings out the kindergartner in me who likes to jump around and scream at the top of my lungs like I am being swallowed by a whale. Awesome.