Seven things about The Decemberists' debut performance of The Hazards of Love at SXSW

SXSW is great for discovering new bands, so I try not to see many acts I've seen before. But not only did I check out The Decemberists' set Tuesday night at the IFC party with Gomez, I caught their full concert at Stubbs the next night. But Wednesday night's show marked the band's first public performance of their new concept album, The Hazards of Love. It was like watching an indie rock musical based on some long-lost Shakespearean tragedy. Here are seven random things about the show:

1. Playing the whole album without a break left the usually talkative Colin Meloy without any time to banter from the stage.

2. While Becky Starks sung the role of Margaret, Shara Worden sung the role of the Forest Queen and somebody's iPod played the role of the ghost of the three murdered children, Colin Meloy had double duty as William (the hero) and the Rake (the villain). But there was no way to tell when he was switching roles unless you were paying careful attention to the lyrics or you'd already read the clarifications in the liner notes. He needs an evil hat.

3. My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden stole the show jumping around the stage while Meloy and guitarist Chris Funk played the heaviest guitar of their lives, and reaching down into her lowest registers to give a wicked gravitas to her character.

4. Lavender Diamond's Becky Stark looked like a princess in a simple dress and a crown of flowers in her hair. She also looked like it was her first experience drumming but was able to commendably follow Decemberist Jenny Conlee's cues.

5. Jenny Conlee and her many instruments (piano, synthesized harpsichord, drums, accordion) sat about eight feet above the rest of the band on a giant riser.

6. I'm still confused about whether Margaret gives birth to William's child before getting stolen away by the Rake or if she dies pregnant at the end.

7. NPR broadcast the show live and will likely have it available to watch or listen to today.