The Decemberists

For some, the precociousness of baroque-pop outfit the Decemberists might be hard to swallow. Frontman Colin Maloy’s heavy-handed vocabulary — paired with obscure folklore and the warbling vocals — has solidified the Decemberists as indie’s favorite nerds. The five-piece will be on the road in support of their eighth studio record I’ll Be Your Girl, which finds our wayfaring eccentric pioneers wielding synth sounds and a simplified lyrical toolbox. Maloy says the band’s recent effort is an accumulation of post-election anxiety, despair, and absurdity which, for the Decemberists, follows suit with what they do best — captivating audiences with their whimsy.