Decemberists Announce New LP Title, Release Date

The band is currently working on the album in their hometown of Portland, Oregon, honing an LP out of the 22 songs they've written, some of which are over 10 (!) minutes long. "This one's going to be really good, though," the email stated. "Undoubtedly the best thing we've done to date. And while that might smack of hyperbole ('didn't they say that about the last record?,' you well may be thinking...), we can guarantee that it, at the very least, will be decidedly above average."

That's comforting to hear.

A fall tour is also planned. For now, the Decemberists only have two live dates scheduled. The first will take place June 16 at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, Colorado. Neko Case, Drive-By Truckers, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, John Prine, Bonnie Raitt, and Barenaked Ladies will also appear, along with bluegrass titans like Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Del McCoury, and Bela Fleck. A jam session involving the Decemberists and other festival participants is in the works.

In an email to a festival organizer, Decemberist Chris Funk wrote, "I'm a big fat bluegrass geek stuck inside a rock band, help!!!...The real reason we're coming is so that I can get Jerry Douglas to sign my square neck [guitar] which I play, as he is one of my heroes!!!"

The second show happens August 23 at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle as part of their ZooTunes series. The Decemberists at a zoo! How cool is that?

Funk also mentioned that he's expecting his first child this summer. The wee Funky one already has a built-in playmate, as frontman Colin Meloy and his girlfriend, longtime Decemberists illustrator Carson Ellis, welcomed Henry Ellis Meloy into the world back in February.