All I can is that the family and I braved awful weather conditions in Bend, Oregon this past May to have seen what is the greatest lineup EVER in my book:

1) Mates of State(whom should have played a shit load longer but due to freezing rain, a mini tornando, hail, and wind they played only like 6 songs.

2)The Decemberists, which were awesome and Colin Meloy charming and funny as always but they really know how to get the audience all worked up BUT when you are front row center with an 8 year old and a 5 year old whose seat was her daddies chest and belly, well even the slightest audience sway againts us was kinda hairy.

3)Death Cab For Cutie............WOW! After the dozens of times the hubby and I have seen them this last time was by far the best, not only the new songs but the passion put forth and not to mention both of our kids are HUGE fans, by choice thank you, well they were so cute in singing every song word for word and dancing along with even the oldest of fans it was quite the most amazing, fun, family bonding experience ever! Our love is the foundation for whom we are as a family unit and music is the glue that keeps us together through our sing alongs and intersts . Ever since this show they make it a point to sit in the livingroom and harmonze with each other and drop everything, including My little Pony and trains to do this, AWESOME!!!!!!!

99% of this was amazing, the only problems were of course the weather, and some 14year oldish "punk rock" teenage girl (how punk rock can you claim to be at a Death Cab show, really......) whom kept making such the stupid remarks as "oh I guess they couldn't find a babysitter" or my favorite, "Did you have to paaayyyy to get them in???" finally most of the people in the front row and quite the few behind us had had enough of her and started to stick up for us and told her if she had such a fucking problem maybe she should fucking leave or they would make her leave, not before my kick ass classy husband snaped at her and got in her face and said to her, "Hey at least they know ever song thus far and they know every Death Cab song word for word just like I am sure you don't! Ya ASS FACE!!!!"

I must say every one laughed at her and it did shut her up for a while, I wonder what did happen to "ass face".

Jesus me and my A.D.D. point of this is that ALONG with Narrow Stairs the new Mates of State is seriously one of the greatest albums ever, so melodic, amazing lyrics, the harmonies....do not even get me started as to how wonderful they are. I only wish they could have played for longer as it seems the set did get cut short due to the weather and I cannot wait for any up and coming shows here in Seattle or any new albums.

HOORAY FOR THEM!!!!!!