Photo by Perri Cassie. Check out the full gallery HERE.
Playing their first Australian show since the departure of founding member Chris Walla, Death Cab for Cutie show no signs of abandoning their beloved roots.
Now closing in on their 20th anniversary as a band, Death Cab’s loyal following is quite remarkable considering their little commercial success in Australia. Not even Triple J has managed to produce significant Death Cab hits, with just two songs (“I Will Possess Your Heart” in 2008 and the Twilight soundtrack's “Meet Me On The Equinox”) appearing in a Hottest 100 countdown.
Death Cab’s sound continues to evolve with each album, but the defining elements of their music remain constant– catchy bass lines and crisp vocals, set to lead singer Ben Gibbard’s poetic lyrics.
While the band’s new tracks cover the same signature heartache material (reportedly inspired by Gibbard’s divorce from Zooey Deschanel), Death Cab appear to have no issues drawing on their much-loved back catalogue. Songs from 2003 album Transatlanticism and 2005 Plans garner the most praise of the night, with “Soul Meets Body,” “I Will Follow You Into The Dark,” “Your Heart Is An Empty Room,” “Crooked Teeth,” and “What Sarah Said” all making the setlist.
Often switching between heavy guitar-centric songs and slower piano tracks, it’s these latter ‘softer’ songs that most impress, allowing Gibbard’s tone and lyrics to truly shine.
Finishing on “Transatlanticism” (for the third Australian tour in a row), Death Cab consistently delivers, time after time.