The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy doesn't have to busk on the streets of Brooklyn to make a few bucks, but it does help him announce a new album. Today (Oct. 24), Meloy surprised city-dwelling Decemberists fans and those who just happened to get off the Bedford Ave. subway stop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, by debuting three new songs and announcing a new album What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World for Jan. 20, 2015.
Music Times was on the scene as roughly 40 Decemberists fans and passerbys gathered to watch Meloy debut two new Decemberists songs, fan favorites and a couple of covers.
A photo posted by Music Times (@themusictimes) on Oct 10, 2014 at 10:08am PDT
Meloy enchanted the crowd by kicking things off with a Jackson C. Frank cover "Blues Run the Game" before debuting two new songs, "Make You Better" and an untitled track that some fans call "Lake Song" in front of a painted mural of the new Decemberists album cover. Watch a snippet of "Make You Better" below:
Colin Meloy performs #makeyoubetter #decemberists #busking #williamsburg A video posted by athousandmph (@athousandmph) on Oct 10, 2014 at 11:07am PDT
The new music moves away from the country influence of The Decemberists' last album, 2011's The King Is Dead and brings the band back to its folk and guitar-driven roots.
After debuting the new material, Meloy took crowd requests, playing Decemberists favorites "The Crane Wife," "Carry It All" and "Engine Driver"
Though he joked that the cops would come to shut down the guerilla sidewalk show, Meloy breezed through a seven song set with no police intervention. Though a lot of confused subway riders got off the train to a massive crowd and there were, of course, honking car horns and a barking dog or two to shake up the set.
What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World will be released on Jan. 20, 2015.
Check out Music Times' video of "Blues Run The Game" below:
