The Decemberists Return to The Ryman with Ratboys in Support of Upcoming LP Tonight, May 24

Formed nearly 25 years ago in Portland, Oregon, folk and baroque pop infused indie rock outfit The Decemberists have, over many years, cemented their legacy as one of the smartest, most prolific, most enduring and endearing bands of modern era. Led by bookish troubadour Colin Meloy, the group established a knack for crafting poetic, imaginative, history-referencing, and layered songs with their fan-favorite debut, 2002’s Castaways and Cutouts, and have largely built on that foundation with their numerous EPs and LPs that followed, adopting a wide range of traditionalist instrumentation, wavering between self-reflective and story-driven songs and outright concept albums, and managing to explore new depths of their wide-ranging influences without straying so far as to become unrecognizable. That is, until their 2018 eighth album I’ll Be Your Girl, which, save for Meloy’s unmistakable voice, contained several songs you’d be hard-pressed to recognize as The Decemberists, eschewing their typical folk or Americana informed indie rock base in favor of straight up synth-driven new wave and post-punk, inspired, apparently, by the 2016 elections and the dismal and weird general state of the world. A would-be 20th anniversary tour was announced, postponed, then canceled during the pandemic, and though the band have since resumed touring, they took their time crafting a new album, with ninth LP As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again set to arrive June 14. New singles “Burial Ground,” “Joan in the Garden,” “All I Want Is You,” and “Oh No!” suggest that while they’ve ditched the synth sound of I’ll Be Your Girl, this also isn’t quite a full-on return to their previous sound, instead leaning more into influences of progressive and indie rock, and less overt folk, for what is being described as their most sprawling and accessible work yet.

No strangers to Nashville, The Decemberists have made regular stops at their apparent Music City venue of choice, The Ryman Auditorium, over the years (they’ve played there 7 times in 15 years), and they’ll return to the Mother Church once again tonight, May 24 in support of their latest! The group have a knack for always choosing exciting openers as well, and this time is no different, with Chicago indie rockers Ratboys set to open the show. Tickets are still available right here, and you can preview both performers below!

The Decemberists and Ratboys will perform tonight, May 24 at The Ryman Auditorium. The show is all ages, begins at 8 p.m., and tickets are available for $49.50-89.50.