here in the buffet car...

I first heard of Colin Meloy when he posted on the Fegmaniax list about a Robyn Hitchcock tribute show he was organizing in my newly adopted hometown of Portland. Back in those days he was a mere wandering troubadour, playing his hurdy-gurdy on the street corner for pennies. My friends and I formed an ad hoc band called the Spacecats and performed along with Colin, his uncle Paul, and a variety of other local artists. Five years later, Colin Meloy and his fellow Decemberists are globehopping superstars, but I always associate him inextricably with Robyn Hitchcock. Thus, it was fitting (and very exciting) that last month at Portland's annual MusicFestNW, the two finally performed on the same bill. The event was sufficiently momentous that several Robyn/Colin fans flew across the country to witness the grandeur.

The first act was Eric Bachman of Crooked Fingers - an artist I enjoy to a certain extent, but whose music always depresses me deeply. We arrived halfway through his set, which was just him solo, and were a bit too excited to pay much attention to him. Robyn himself was playing second - which seemed totally wrong to me... the guy who's had a 25-year career and influenced everyone from REM to Rhett Miller, was opening for Colin? But I remembered that he had played an early show the last time he was here - maybe he just wants to go to bed early.

At any rate, the grand old man of the absurd hit the stage wearing his usual incredibly loud shirt, his now-silver hair for once not hanging in his eyes. He played a variety of his old hits, including several I'd never heard live before. In the chorus of "I Often Dream of Trains," instead of singing, "I'm waiting for you, baby," he sang, "I'm waiting for you... Colin." I imagined Colin wetting himself backstage. Halfway through the set, Robyn was joined by three other grand old men - the members of the Minus 5, namely Scott McCaughey of the Young Fresh Fellows, Bill Rieflin, formerly of Ministry (!), and none other than Peter Buck of REM. Peter added his signature jangly guitar arpeggios to "Birdshead" and a few new songs, while Scott sang harmony and played the bass rather badly. Naturally, being in the Pacific Northwest, they had to play "Viva SeaTac," which was received joyfully by the crowd.

During the interval, Colin's uncle Paul, who'd been hobnobbing with the rock stars backstage, came out to say hi to us and I asked him for permission to release the recordings of that long ago Robyn tribute show. He said that was OK, so hopefully soon you'll all get to hear Colin singing "Flesh Cartoons" and other Robyn favorites.

Colin came out, looking a bit nervous, and confessed that sitting backstage with Robyn, Scott, and Peter was his "fifteen-year-old wet dream." He put on an admirable show, though, including a rapturous performance of "On the Bus Mall" (written about Portland, by the way) and a cover of a Brian Jonestown Massacre song, since Anton Newcombe and co. were performing across town at the same time. He was, as always, extremely charming onstage, with a dry, rather arch manner which I believe he picked up from Mr. Hitchcock. My well-travelled friends were very satisfied by both sets.

After the show, I asked Colin if he had gotten an opportunity to change his trousers yet. He replied, "I'll never change them again."