non-NAFDAns may not have seen the finale yet.

Exactly.

Oh lordy, I am so sorry.

Unfortunately, I know nothing of the Divine Comedy. Would I like them?

More than toast with honey. Take that how you will.

In other news, Real Life is touring the US - although I can't seem to find where they're going except here to Salt Lake City. Nevertheless, I'm going, and you all should too, if you get a chance. I saw them once before, and they put on a great show.

Oh, yes, and for those who are interested in a trip to Utah, there is a Synthpop Festival over labor day weekend. $25 for 12 or 13 bands over 2 days. How can you go wrong?

I saw the Decemberists (again -- this makes three times, and ever time in a larger venue. I expect them to play RFK Stadium next time) last night. They continue to rock live, and covered the Smiths' "Ask."

I just wish they would quit devoting a third of their set to "The Tain." It's a fantastic 20-minute concept song, but ... it's a 20-minute concept song, so playing it means dropping three or four other songs from their set. Which makes me sad.

I can send you a copy when I send you the next round of mixes, LJ.

That is fantastic.

Ooh, Decemberists. I have a couple songs. Good stuff.

You need one of their CDs, P-C. I like "Castaways and Cutouts" slightly more than "Her Majesty," but both are fantastic.

I love "July, July!" and "Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect" is good, but not as superawesome.

this makes three times, and ever time in a larger venue.

Ha! Same thing here!

In Boston, Saturday night at the Paradise, they didn't do "the Tain". My biggest complaint is that the soundman didn't have the backing vocals up enough. He finally got them up to an acceptable level halfway through the set. Then two-thirds of the way through, there was some horrible screeching feedback. It was fixed, but I suspect it was at the expense of the monitors because when they came out for the encore the band did an unusual thing -- they told the soundman to shut off the PA completely and proceeded to play (acoustically) and sing with absolutely no mics. The Paradise holds 750 people yet everyone was completely quiet. They did this for three or four songs. It was quite impressive that the band could hold an audience's attention like that.

In Boston, Saturday night at the Paradise, they didn't do "the Tain".

Did they do "Grace Cathedral Hill"? That's the song I missed the most from their D.C. set.

they told the soundman to shut off the PA completely and proceeded to play (acoustically) and sing with absolutely no mics.

Oh, wow. I would have loved to have seen that, especially given that "Red Right Ankle" breaks. my. heart even when amplified. Unamplified, I would be a sobbing pile of goo, in a really good way.

And Jon, did the Long Winters open for them in Boston? Got an opinion on them? We liked.

I quite liked the Long Winters' When I Pretend To Fall album.