Pitchfork

The Secret Garden's Colin is a spoiled wretch who bitches incessantly about an invisible hump in his back and refuses to get out of bed. The Decemberists' Colin is a hyper-literate songsmith who weaves micro-epics about mariners, engine drivers, gymnasts, and bagmen, and seemingly refuses to sleep. They have precisely nothing in common beyond the name, but we at Pitchfork often like to invoke literature in order to appear savvy. Anyhow! The latter, healthier Colin will embark on a nine-date solo tour kicking off in mid-January, with only his surname Meloy in tow. And a Laura in lieu of a Mary.

Behold:

01-18 Seattle, WA - Showbox *
01-19 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater *
01-20 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *
01-21 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey *
01-23 Chicago, IL - Park West *
01-25 Boston, MA - Paradise *
01-26 New York, NY - Town Hall *#
01-27 Philadelphia - TLA *
01-28 Alexandria, VA - Birchmere *

* with Laura Veirs
# with Amy Annelle (The Places)

The Decemberists' internet HQ gauges the likelihood of a tour-only Meloy release at a teasing "likely". The last Meloy tour having spawned the exclusive covers EP Colin Meloy Sings Morrissey, we at Pitchfork have started a betting pool for those who wish to guess this year's icon-to-be-Meloyed: our resident high-rollers are banking on Perry Como at 26-1.

Meloy and his loyal Decemberists commence their march across Europe next week, with the tour winningly titled "A Jaunt 'Cross the Pond". Two Gallants, which could very well be a Decemberists song, but is in fact a Saddle-Creek-signed duo, open all dates:

11-14 Nottingham, England - Rescue Rooms *
11-15 Manchester, England - Academy 3 *
11-16 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC 2 *
11-17 London, England - ULU *
11-19 The Hague, Holland - Crossing Border Festival *
11-20 Berlin, Germany - Magnet *
11-21 Köln, Germany - Gebäude 9 *
11-22 Hamburg, Germany - Knust *
11-24 Bilbao, Spain - Antzokia *
11-25 Madrid, Spain - Aqualung *
11-26 Valencia, Spain - Republica *
11-27 Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz *
11-29 Paris, France - La Boule Noire *
11-30 Brussels, Belgium - Botanique *

* with Two Gallants

Like every other band we love, many we like, and plenty we don't, the Decemberists will soon make their contribution to the music DVD hysteria of the moment. Having filmed the final performance of this autumn's "Flight of the Mistle Thrushes" tour at the Roseland Theater in their hometown of Portland, Oregon, the Decemberists have hinted at a release sometime next year. The disc will also contain an animated video for their 18+ minute mega-opus "The Tain". Now get yr arse out of bed, hunchback, and scurry on outside.

href="http://pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/d/decemberists/picaresque.shtml">The Decemberists: Picaresque
* The Decemberists: