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January 13, 2005

Portland Moosic Noose!

Please don't tell me David Largeheartedboy or Paul "The Rub" has posted this first—I'll just die. Anyway, I just read from donewaiting.com that there's been some musical chairs going on in the Decemberists, with their drummer Rachel leaving, and the new additions of John Moen and Petra Haden. From Mr. Meloy, I assume:

Changes do happen! We here at Decemberists HQ are very sad to announce that Ms. Rachel Blumberg, Decemberist drummer since 2002, has decided to leave the group. While this is sad for us - we will certainly miss her - it makes us happy to know that she'll be able to spend more time with her sweetheart, Adam Selzer, and they both will be able to focus more on their collaborative music project, Norfolk and Western. (In fact, Norfolk and Western will be touring the universe this spring in support of fellow Portlander, M. Ward - which everyone should go see.)

It makes us also very happy to welcome two new members to the family: Mr. John Moen and Ms. Petra Haden. Mr. Moen has been a man about town in Portland for quite a while and has contributed his not-unconsiderable drumming and singing abilities to a panoply of unquestionably seminal NW rock outfits, notably the Minus Five, the Maroons, and Steve Malkmus and the Jicks. Ms. Haden practically needs no introduction; daughter of Charlie, Ms. Haden is an erstwhile member of That Dog and the Rentals and has carried on a very impressive solo career in the meantime. Her talents grace many a track on the upcoming Decemberists record, and we're really pleased as punch to have her singing and violin playin' follow us on the road.

This left me wondering how this would leave the Moen-less Jicks in 2005, with jack of all trades Mr. Moen joining the 'rists and Mr. Malkmus releasing a new album in the near future.

Mr. Malkmus (reporting from Nashville—maybe the Joos album is really happening??) informs us from his site that he will be playing SXSW this year to support the new joint with a hastily assembled back-up team:

we did indeed finninsh the danish record before xmas. its the best yet they say and its going by the title "Hamburger Serenade" right now. it could change. there are very little plans for touring. i plan to play at sxsw in march with some sort of weird unit-john moen has other commitments.

So, let's recap. Blumberg out. Moen and Haden to the Decemberists. Malkmus finishes another badly titled album and looks for cover art. To play SXSW with back-ups. Joos album probably in progress as we speak. This closes this farm report. Until next time, I'll be dezane.

Posted by timothompson at January 13, 2005 01:27 PM