Death Cab For Cutie
Thursday, April 16, 2009
“Soundstage” Studio/ Chicago, IL

Review by Andy Argyrakis

For those who think PBS’ “Soundstage” is only a platform for heritage acts, the program’s latest taping proves its just as plugged in with the modern rock scene as it is the living legends. Sure the series is best known for hosting the lauded likes of Robert Plant, Steve Winwood, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Stevie Nicks and B.B. King, but its current production calendar also includes red hot pop/punkers Fall Out Boy and enduring indie rockers Death Cab For Cutie.

The latter were on display in the intimate and acoustically flawless studio, which based upon the up close and personal feel, recalled the band’s early days of playing clubs as opposed to massive theatres, arenas and festival. Outside of giving fans an incredibly rare opportunity to get right down in front, the foursome also seemed quite at home and were definitely in full-tilt performance mode across a mostly solid, though just a shy too short 65-minutes.

While the band’s been blasted by indie purists for selling out to the major label system, the group can still connect on stage, ironically, pulling a major chunk of its 14-song set from 2003’s Barsuk breakthroughTransatlanticism. Granted, that was long before the band had radio hits, but the early insertion of “The New Year” found Death Cab recalling a creative peak and seamlessly blending its momentum building alternative appeal with shoegazing simplicity.

The brand new track “My Mirror Speaks” (off the Atlantic EP The Open Door) was one of the few current tracks to recall that classic synthesis, finding front man Ben Gibbard teetering the ledge between pensive and powerful. On album, last year’s “I Will Possess Your Heart” suffered from sterile production and a lackluster presentation, but in concert, it exploded like an entirely different entity, thanks in part to a several minute psychedelic build-up anchored by bassist Nick Harmer.