NPR Music to host, webcast SXSW showcase featuring the Decemberists

In a twist on its “exclusive first listens” to new releases, NPR Music will present the first live performance of the Decemberists’ forthcoming release on the opening night of this year’s South by Southwest Music conference and festival, March 18. The Portland-based band will perform all 17 songs from The Hazards of Love, a concept album that tells the story of a woman who is ravaged by a shape-shifting animal. NPR’s Bob Boilen will cohost the live webcast, which also is offered for broadcast by NPR stations, with NPR Music blogger Carrie Brownstein and David Brown of Austin’s KUT-FM. More details on this week’s edition of All Songs Considered and here.