Pitchfork

The Decemberists are usually road warriors, but 2008 has been a quiet year on the touring front for the band. It makes sense; Colin Meloy had that whole solo album business to attend to, and if their forthcoming release schedule is any indication, the band has been holed up in the studio for a very long time.

Meloy and his merry men and women will return to the stage this fall, playing their first shows since rocking with Barack back in May. The tour, dubbed "Bridesmaid Revisited", will feature fellow Portlanders Loch Lomond as the opening act.

The trek is in support of the previously reported digital/vinyl singles series Always the Bridesmaid, headed our way in three installments this fall. Volume I features "Valerie Plame" and "O New England" and comes out October 14. Volume II features "Days of Elaine", "Days of Elaine [Long]", and "I'm Sticking With You" and comes out November 4. Volume III features "Record Year" and "Raincoat Song" and comes out December 2.

In the U.S., Capitol will release Always the Bridesmaid digitally, and the Decemberists' own Y.A.B.B. Records, in conjunction with Jealous Butcher Records, will handle the 12" releases via the band's online store and select independent shops. In the UK, Rough Trade will release Always the Bridesmaid digitally and as a series of 7"s.

The band is also currently working on its next full-length.

And don't forget-- the band will play spy love song "Valerie Plame" on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" on November 3, aka the day before Election Day.

The Decemberists (all dates with Loch Lomond):

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
11-24 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