The Shins, Crystal Ballroom, May 6, 2009

Sometimes if a band goes two years without touring or two and a half without releasing an album, their fans will lose interest in them. But that band is not the Shins.

While on a short tour of the two U.S. coasts, the Shins are in the middle of a two-night stop in their hometown--Portland. The band made some comments about being rusty and forgetting how to perform live, but it was obvious that their fans had not forgotten them or the notes that blasted from the speakers one bit.

However, as much as the fans remembered their favorite band clearly in their minds, the Shins have changed considerably since they last performed in public in the summer of 2007. The Shins, once a four-person group from Albequerque, New Mexico, added Eric Johnson of the Fruit Bats to their ranks before making their last album. Little did the fans know that the rest of the band was transforming as well. Keyboardist Marty Crandall, who played with the Shins since thir Albequerque beginnings, got bad press for alleged domestic assault of his then-girlfriend in January 2008, and is now mysteriously absent from the lineup. The band has been quiet about this whole blemish. Frontman James Mercer says the alleged crime has nothing to do with Crandall's exit, and it actually sounds more that Mercer was looking for some new talent. Nonetheless, he's gone. Drummer Jesse Sandoval is now also missing, replaced by Joe Plummer, (No joke. This is supposedly his real name, though, and this guy seems a lot cooler than the tax-dodging, famous-for-a-day Joe.) who has played with Modest Mouse in the past.

This was a surprise for me but not as big of a surprise as Mercer's change of demeanor. When I saw the Shins in February of 2007, I barely remember Mercer speaking a word. He might have said "Thank you" once between songs, but Crandall did most of the chatting between songs. I've read interviews with Mercer where he said that he used to barf before concerts because he was so incredibly nervous and shy. He seemed so much happier and more comfortable this time, making the concert more fun to watch. There's no better concert than a good band having a good time.

As a part of a two-night stint (sold out each night at $35 a head. Add that revenue up...), the Shins will be back on stage tonight. But I'm wondering what they're going to play. Yes, they have three flawless albums (I would not call many bands' discographies flawless, and they did some covers (Beach Boys and Neil Young woot woot), but they played nearly all their hits. Maybe I'm underestimating the number of hits the band has, but going off of the blockbuster singles, last night they played "New Slang" (thank goodness. Most beautiful song I know.), "Australia," "Sleeping Lessons," "Phantom Limb," "Caring is Creepy," and on... After some thought, the only single I can find that they skipped over was "Kissing the Lipless." But maybe I'm not giving this band enough credit.

One more point in this scattered review: I have never seen a more excited audience before. Even in a packed stadium to see Counting Crows and Maroon 5, the fans weren't near as excited to see their favorite sell-outs than they were for this small indie band that does very little to promote itself. The pre-show energy was tangible, and the audience was enthralled when the band began. When they disappeared for the illusion of an encore, they didn't do a measily clap then give up. I counted at least 10 consecutive slow claps before I lost count, among other chants as well.

The Shins played a few new songs, all of which were upbeat and promising, but the band has made no clear promises of a release. Early 2010 is being thrown around, but with half of the band rookies, ambiguity is amok.

The Shins have done very little to make themselves as big as they are (besides snatching the luckiest draw of the indie music world when they got into the "Garden State" soundtrack to launch their career), but there's no going back now. They just might be the biggest indie rock band today (yes, that's counting you Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie, and Vampire Weekend), but 50 years from now will prove the same. The Shins' music isn't going away any time soon. Here's for hoping they treat their hometown with some more love in the near future.