Hot on the heels of the Decemberists’ opening set at Barack Obama’s massive Portland, Oregon rally in May, the Portland indie darlings are getting back into the political arena this Sunday with a fundraising gig for Oregon senate candidate Jeff Merkley, according to an email sent to fan club members Tuesday. Merkley is the Democratic challenger to two-term Republican incumbent Gordon Smith, and has been endorsed by Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Originally viewed as a longshot candidate, Merkley has turned the race into one of the most hotly-contested Senate races in the country.
The Decemberists’ support for Obama is widely known, but as the band’s newsletter explains, “it’s hight time we all take a moment to recognize that Mr. Obama’s potential *FDR-redux-new-progressive* administration would be NUTHIN (in the parlance of our day) without a strong majority of like-minded Senators and Representatives to enable said progressivism! Gentle Mailing List Recipients, we are sooooo close to that magic 60 seats. . .”
The event will take place at Portland’s Doug Fir Lounge on Sunday, October 12, at 7pm. Decemberists members Colin Meloy, Chris Funk, and Jenny Conlee will be joined by fellow Portland musicians China Forbes and Thomas Lauderdale (of Pink Martini fame), as well as Seattle singer-songwriter Laura Viers. Admission is $25.
In other Decemberists news, the first installment band’s vinyl- and digital-only Always the Bridesmaid singles series is set for released on October 14. The newsletter reveals that the band has finished recording their fifth studio album, to be titled Hazards of Love. They will spend the month of November on tour in support of Always the Bridesmaid (full dates below the fold).
The Decemberists:
10.30 – Georgetown, TX – Southwestern University (public onsale 10/8)
10.31 – Wheaton, IL – Edman Chapel at Wheaton College
11.05 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
11.06 – Boston, MA – The Orpheum
11.07 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
11.08 – Baltimore, MD – Ram’s Head Live
11.09 – Ithaca, NY – Cornell University, Barton Hall
11.11 – Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theatre
11.12 – East Lansing, MI – Wharton Center at Michigan State University
11.24 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
11.25 – San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theatre
11.29 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
11.30 – Seattle, WA – The Moore Theatre
-Sean H.
