Shred to the Death

The Stephen Colbert-Decemberists showdown continues apace with the announcement that the host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" has formally accepted a counter-counter challenge from the Oregon-based pop collective to participate in a winner-take-all guitar duel, to take place during Colbert's Dec. 20 broadcast.

A bit of background: On Nov. 29 Colbert lambasted the Decemberists for ostensibly stealing his concept for their "Re-Animate the Decemberists" contest. "Let's see how well they perform their trademark brand of hyper-literate prog-rock when I'm slicing off their legs at the knee," said a light saber-weilding Colbert during the debut segment of "Look Who's Riding My Coattails Now." The band responded on the Pitchfork music site with a vehement defense and a provocative guitar solo challenge: "Put down the pen, Colbert, and pick up the axe."

Colbert is taking the bait and is, we can only assume, shredding as we speak.