New Years Eve with The Decemberists and Friends

Fully realizing we’re two weeks into the new year, we’ve finally found some time to upload some photos and share what a wonderful night Team Marmoset encountered on December 31st, 2008. Better late than never, right? It was definitely one of those rare, yet classic Portland music experiences, where there was just a special vibe in the air that you simply cannot find anywhere else in the world. We were at the Laurelthirst Public House on NE Glisan for a special night of P-town music…

Who was there? Who wasn’t there is a better question. Along with all of Team Marmoset and our better halves, we joined forces with Northwest Noise, which made it plenty fun. The night was billed as Two Beers Veirs – rumor has it that Laura Veirs can only drink two beers before she has to pee. lol

The “house band” for the night was none other than Chris Funk, Nate Query, Jenny Conlee, John Moen (all of the Decemberists), plus Annalisa Tournfelt of The Builders and The Butchers, and Jon Neufeld of Jackstraw. Not a bad house band, huh? But it doesn’t stop there. Here’s who joined them on stage…one by one, each leading about five or six songs before inviting the next artist to the stage – for what seemed like the world’s greatest little blue grass folk rock jam of all time:

John McDonald (King Wilkie) and Annalisa Tournfelt (The Builders and The Butchers)
Casey Neil
Ashleigh Flynn
Little Sue
Kevin and Anita Robinson (Viva Voce/Blue Giant)
John “Spider” Moen (Decemberists)
Scott McCaughey (Minus 5, R.E.M.)
Laura Veirs

…and not performing, but there with the rest of us to take it all in included the likes of James Mercer of The Shins and at least one or two of the other Shins guys and Colin Meloy.

As a side note, I will say that I had to keep my eye on James Mercer throughout the night… The first time or two I caught him checking out my wife, Jeana, from afar, I really didn’t think much of it. But then he kept on and I swear, I caught him pointing her out to a friend of his. I thought to myself, “fair enough – Jeana’s a hot girl.” And then towards the end of the night, I heard him say to her, “you’re too cute” and then he complimented her on her clogging as she danced across the room. Hmmm…. I thought to myself, “what is this guy upto?”

However, in all honesty – Mercer was simply enjoying himself and enjoying the fun, festive atmosphere like the rest of us. While it gave me some good material for my Twitter feed, I’m sure he meant no harm. Again – what a fun night. Note to self: One hard cider is good. Two hard ciders is plenty. Three hard ciders is too much!

Here are some photos I caught with my iPhone and the last is a video of Casey Neill ringing in the New Year – right after the countdown with Auld Lang Syne. Check it out.

Happy New Years, y’all.

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