Death Cab for Cutie rocked out to a sold-out house at the Black Cat last Monday night, wowing the audience with a stellar live performance. The foursome from Seattle satiated the crowd with a lengthy set, making sure to represent each of its four full-length albums, while also including some rare songs from EP releases. Opening with the first track on its sophomore release "We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes," the band proceeded to mix the old with the new, playing pairs of songs from each record.
The band's live performance completely lived up to and, at times, surpassed its recorded sound. Death Cab did whatever it took to perform its songs intact, with band members moving around the stage and switching or trading instruments. Guitarist Chris Walla often retreated to the keyboard, filling in key piano melodies with precision.
Playing all but three songs off "Transatlanticism," Death Cab focused strongly on its latest release. A perfect combination of slow, ambient songs and upbeat rock tracks, "Transatlanticism" is the best effort yet from Death Cab. The subtle intertwining of guitars and piano along with the complex crescendo of emotion on this album make it an astounding listen. Lead singer Ben Gibbard's eloquently reflective lyrics and stirring melodic vocals cut right to the heart. He creates intimacy on this record with personal, sentimental songs like "We Looked Like Giants" and "Tiny Vessels." Death Cab finished its set with the title track from "Transatlanticism." The building, passionate ballad was a poignant end to the band's set.
By the end of the night, both the band and the audience were feeling the love, as Death Cab played covers of the Cure's "Lovesong" and Bj?rk's "All is Full of Love" for its encore.
Between songs Gibbard alluded to upcoming collaboration between Death Cab and Washington D.C.'s the Dismemberment Plan, joking about a wedding between the two bands.
Be on the lookout for a combined Death Cab for Cutie and the Dismemberment Plan effort, and pick up "Transatlanticism," in stores now.
