Last seen in town the same night as Super Bowl XLV in 2011 – few other bands could've gotten away with that scheduling conflict -- the Decemberists will make Minneapolis the first stop outside their native Portland, Ore., on their U.S. tour next spring, playing Northrop Auditorium on March 24. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon for one (reasonable) price, $36, through the University of Minnesota's ticket system or by phone at 612-624-2345.

The poetic folk-rockers' first album since 2011, "What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World," will drop two months before the gig on Jan. 20. Frontman Colin Meloy -- who memorably told his non-jocky crowd, "I think it's time they go for a free-throw," as the Super Bowl played out off stage last time – worked on many projects outside the band during its hiatus, including a children's book, Kinks cover album and a fun spot in a Bob Mould video.

A co-vocalist on the band's 2009 "Hazards of Love" tour, Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond is in town tonight to perform at the Cedar Cultural Center (click here for our interview with her). Worden and fellow Diamond gal Becky Stark were the ones who belted out "Crazy on You" when the Decemberists headlined Rock the Garden that year.

Here's the first track issued from the new Decemberists album, "Make You Better."