"Hear All the Bombs Fade Away."

When most people hear Amsterdam, they immediately think of smoke-filled coffeeshops where the coffee plays second fiddle and glowing red alleyways burgeoning with scantily clad seductresses and packs of horny men looking for 15 minutes of fun. There are much better things to do in Amsterdam, and the Decemberists reminded us last Wednesday that seeing live music at Paradiso is probably the best. For those of you that don't know The Decemberists, they are a spirited, Portland, Oregon-based quintet with a knack for eloquent storytelling and Irish-tinged folk rock. Their recent 2006 release, The Crane Wife, has received high acclaim. As for Paradiso, like a lot of music houses in the States, the venue is a restored church. However, with its two-tiered, ornate balconies, large bar, and grand, red velvet curtain-backed stage, the place seems more like a Tombstone era theater than an old house of worship.

The first thing one notices when going to a concert in the Netherlands is that the Dutch are really tall. In fact, my friend Brad informs me that they are the tallest population in the world. After constantly having to steal glances of the stage between clusters of human towers during opener Lavender Diamond and the first few songs of the Decemberists, I can't disagree. Eventually it was decided that best vantage point would be found up high. But despite the viewing issues, the crowd at Paradiso was the best I've encountered thus far. A solid mix of young and old, American Apparel hipster and Doc Marten wearing Joe, the audience was attentive and respectful all night. In addition, there were very few of the recently experienced boorish inebriates that enjoy shoving their way to the bar and loudly slurring ill-timed lyrics in your ear. Always a plus.

It was definitely a positive that the crowd was up for a good time, because The Decemberists love nothing better than getting the fans involved. After a so-so set of folk-pop from Lavender Diamond, tarnished by lead singer Becky Stark's penchant for over the top, flower child stage antics, the Decemberists got things rolling with Picaresque's drum-laded "Infanta." After "rocking [his] laces untied" during Castaways and Cutouts' "California One/ Youth and Beauty Brigade," lead singer Colin Meloy led the band through an unusual jazz jam into Picaresgue's rollicking tale of paths crossed, "We Both Go Down Together." Later, following a blues breakdown spearheaded by lead guitarist Chris Funk--also known for his guitar battle with staunch conservative Stephen Colbert--the five-piece performed Her Majesty, The Queen's "Billy Liar." Throughout this opening run, Meloy was chatty with the crowd, even imploring us to "tear the doors from the hinges" of the AMS Museum Hotel. Maybe there wasn't a mint on the pillow.

Despite the band's brilliant display thus far, Paradiso still buzzed with anticipation. Everyone who knows the Decemberists' live affairs knows they love their standard mid set calisthenics. As Meloy told the crowd after an enthralling performance of The Crane Wife's "Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)"--beautiful multi-instrumentalist Lisa Molinaro joined the front man for a glowing rendition of the romantic duet--the band "wants to spread health and fitness." So that's exactly what they did, jovially prodding the crowd to "crouch down and feel the burn," because even though the bike is the preferred mode of travel in the Dam, the Decemberists weren't fooled. "We've seen your hills," Meloy quipped.

This was only the tip of the crowd interaction iceberg. After ordering up a shot of whiskey for drummer John Moen, and feeding the audience energy with a rousing performance of Crane Wife hit "Oh, Valencia," Meloy and company broke into Picaresque's blues-inflected rocker, "16 Military Wives"--a song chock full of political commentary. For the last refrain of the "la de da" chorus, Meloy split the crowd in two for a singing competition. "Competition," he stated, "Is everywhere today. There's competition between religion. Between Citizens. Between Politicians. We're here to spread the good word." With that, he led sections of the crowd against one another, with the nonsensical lyrics representing the pointless basis of conflict in the World today. Then,following the always chilling "The Crane Wife #3," Meloy and co. utilized their music once more in a political fashion, urging the crowd to join for the final chorus of The Crane Wife's "Sons and Daughters." The audience did exactly that, filling the music hall with the uplifting cry of "Hear all the bombs fade away," a glimpse of hope in today's war-ridden state of affairs.

The crowd wasn't finished yet. After Colin Meloy delivered a chilling, slowed-down rendetion of "Red, Right Ankle" for the first song of the band's encore, the Decemberists pulled another rabbit out of the hat for the act's closer, Castways and Cutout 's "A Cautionary Song." As Meloy and accordionist Jenny Conlee began the song onstage, the rest of the group entered through the back doors of the venue and made their way towards the middle of the crowd, all playing percussion along the way. Once there, Meloy illustrated his love for history, directing a re-enactment of the Dutch naval victory at Chatham Harbor in 1667. Surrounded by a chain of British warships--audience members led by John Loen--the Dutch ships, led by Dutch Admiral Chris Funk, broke through the barrier and defeated the British fleet. With that, Paradiso erupted. Like the night's performance, it was a victory for all.