It was pure geek chic last night at the Beacon Theatre, where The Decemberists played the first of a three-night engagement.
This indie folk-rock quintet from Portland, Ore., look like extras from “Revenge of the Nerds,” but don’t be fooled — like their name, The Decemberists’ music is wrapped and cool.
Live, the band’s acoustic side blossoms, so they often sound like close kin to American music icons such as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and R.E.M.
Yet their brand of Americana has a youthful contemporary angst that is essential to their hipster appeal. During this two-hour show, the set spanned the band’s 10-year career, but wisely leaned heaviest on the just-released CD, “The King is Dead.” Songs from that record made the best case for why the group should be superstars.
They opened the show with one of those new songs — the R.E.M.-influenced “Down By the Water,” which set the evening’s tone for simple acoustic rock.
Taking a pause that was just long enough to catch his breath and say, “Thanks for the applause,” singer Colin Meloy then launched into “Rox in the Box,” which is as close to a sea shanty as any song in modern music.
Yes, The Decemberists are hard to pigeonhole, but their stylistic range kept the set interesting.
Meloy, wearing a plaid shirt and Buddy Holly specs, is an unassuming frontman.
Reduced to chatter about how cold it was outside, someone in the audience actually yelled out, “Boring!”
Unlike some of the band’s past performances, this show was more concise and direct — with story songs that were very accessible, and even fun, whether you were a hipster or nerd
* The Decemberists continue at the Beacon with performances tonight and tomorrow. Both shows are sold out.