For all The Decemberists' wonky prog-folk arrangements and esoteric tales of ancient lands, the band remains well-liked because they're so sincere and accessible. In an interview included on the DVD A Practical Handbook, bandleader Colin Meloy says that after years of pleasant fan interaction, he realized that he doesn't need to put on any "fake coolness"; that's evident from the hourlong 2005 concert that forms the bulk of this disc. The show starts haltingly, with a fairly flat version of Picaresque's rousing opener "The Infanta." But gradually, the band loosens up, as Meloy starts connecting to his intricately filigreed sketches of barrow boys, engine drivers, and mediocre athletes. Halfway through the set, the songs' tempos pick up, the band starts playfully switching instruments, and the crowd sings along. The nerdy communal experience that's part of The Decemberists' appeal—and part of what makes them so annoying to their detractors—manifests movingly.
