Hugh Hewitt just told me that right before Obama addressed that huge crowd in Portland, the indie rock band the Decemberists played a free 45-minute concert. Now, I’m sure Obama would draw a big crowd either way, but wasn’t that worth mentioning in the coverage?

From Wikipedia: “Named both in reference to the Russian Decembrist Revolt (which may explain its use of the National Anthem of the Soviet Union as an introduction at many concerts)…” Lovely.

I wonder if they played, “Sixteen Military Wives.” The video depicts a bully named “Henry Stowecroft” (Kissinger and Brent?) representing the United States in a grade school model United Nations who declares war on Luxembourg. I kid you not when I tell you the video begins with the bully putting on a flag pin.

The lyrics:

Sixteen military wives Thirty-two softly focused brightly colored eyes Staring at the natural tan of thirty-two gently clenching wrinkled little hands Seventeen company men Out of which only twelve will make it back again Sergeant sends a letter to five Military wives, whose tears drip down through ten little eyes Cheer them on to their rivals Cause America can, and America can’t say no And America does, if America says it’s so It’s so! And the anchorperson on TV goes… La de da de da Fifteen celebrity minds Leading their fifteen sordid wretched checkered lives Will they find the solution in time Using their fifteen pristine moderate liberal minds?

UPDATE: Looks like the Decemberists can pack them in for free concerts. In a show in Millennium Park in Chicago, one review said 10,000; a diary by one of the band members speculates 20,000. Again, Obama has shown time and again that he can pack crowds into arenas, and he can take pride in the 75,000+ that showed up Sunday. But a free concert by local stars helps…