(Video and tour dates included) I was first exposed to Death Cab for Cutie through a friend some six years ago. And I didn’t like them for the exact reason why I now find them so appealing – Ben Gibbard. It was his voice that first turned me off because it was something I immediately associated with bubble gum girl rock. Thankfully, I kept an open mind.
Gibbard grew on me. His soothing, but tense and enduring tone tells a story throughout every song. It’s the kind of sound that forces your own emotions, even without knowing a single word.
Death Cab came to Chicago with two solid opening acts in Ra Ra Riot and Cold War Kids. Unfortunately, we missed Ra Ra Riot. It turns out they played for all of 20 minutes. Cold War Kids quickly followed and also played an abbreviated set. But they were good, and displayed the talent that keeps them touring.
Death Cab took to the stage in their normal, unassuming manner and broke into a tour-de-force of some of the best they have to offer. They band played free but tight through a set that included “The New Year,” “My Mirror Speaks,” “I Will Possess Your Heart,” “I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” “The Sound of Settling,” and my personal favorite, “Cath.” There were few lulls, and for fans of the band, it’s hard to imagine that any of them left disappointed.
I found that after a packed set, the encore ended up in a minor disappointment. Maybe it was because I had just heard my favorite Death Cab songs and was quite satisfied, but I felt that maybe some of the earlier songs would have been better as closing material. And, as always, the Aragon Ballroom claimed another victim to its cavernous sound.
But nothing could keep this from being an early 2009 highlight show. Death Cab for Cutie has cemented their status as a premier indie-type band, and one of those music acts that sounds better live than they ever could on record.
They continue to tour this summer, and will play with some other great talents including Ra Ra Riot, Andrew Bird, The New Pornographers, Matt Costa and Tegan & Sara.
Below is a video from the show of “I Will Follow You Into the Dark.” And below that are upcoming tour dates.
Apr 22 2009 Mount Baker Theatre (SOLD OUT) Bellingham, Washington
Apr 24 2009 McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, Washington
Apr 25 2009 The Morrison Center (SOLD OUT) Boise, Idaho
Apr 27 2009 Memorial Auditorium Sacramento, California
Apr 29 2009 RIMAC Arena (SOLD OUT) La Jolla, California
May 1 2009 Austin Music Hall (SOLD OUT) Ausitn, Texas
May 2 2009 Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, Louisiana
May 3 2009 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, Tennessee
May 4 2009 Ryman Auditorium (SOLD OUT) Nashville, Tennessee
May 5 2009 BJCC Concert Hall Birmingham, Alabama
May 6 2009 Fox Theatre (SOLD OUT) Atlanta, Georgia
May 7 2009 Hard Rock Live (SOLD OUT) Orlando, Florida
Jul 5 2009 Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles, California
Jul 11 2009 Greek Theatre Berkeley Berkeley, California
Jul 13 2009 Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre Salt Lake City, Utah
Jul 14 2009 Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, Colorado
Jul 16 2009 Pacific Coliseum Vancouver, British Columbia
Jul 17 2009 Edgefield Amphitheatre Troutdale
Jul 18 2009 Marymoor Park (SOLD OUT) Redmond, Washington
Jul 19 2009 Marymoor Park Redmond, Washington
(Video included) I had heard from other trusted music lovers and friends that Bloc Party put on a rock-solid show, and they blew me away in Grant Park at Lollapalooza in 2008, molding a perfect pre-game performance to the much anticipated set from Radiohead. So, when I heard Bloc Party was making their way to the Big Windy for the beginning of the Spring concert season, I jumped at the chance to hear them live again, on their own tour.
The show was originally set to play at the Riviera but due to popular demand it was moved to the Aragon Ballroom, one of my favorite venues in Chicago, with it’s starry night flair and old-fashioned theme. They started things out with one of the big hits off their newest album which got the crowd screaming and singing right off the bat. Now, I started out liking Bloc Party from listening to their previous albums before they made a switch from their heavy guitar post-punk beginnings to a more electronic rock sound. I wasn’t a huge fan of the change and felt their new album didn’t meet the standards of those previous to it. So, I went into the evening hoping to hear some “oldies but goodies.”
As the show went on I found myself feeling something I have rarely felt at a rock show before – boredom. They failed to play much from their other albums and focused mostly on the new stuff. Along with this disappointment, I was having trouble hearing Kele Okereke’s distinct voice I love so much. I kept wondering if the speakers were too loud and overpowering for him to shine through. It turns out Bloc Party has cancelled their Ultra Festival performance in Miami, along with their Minneapolis and St. Louis shows due to Kele coming down with viral pharyngitis, an inflammation of the throat.
All and all, I came out of the Aragon that night feeling completely unimpressed with the performance. Don’t get me wrong, the band rocks, but the show was less than stellar in my book. I am glad I have fond memories of a phenomenal show from Lolla in ’08. That will stick in my brain but this show, unfortunately, will not. Hopefully, if I catch them again I can have a more enjoyable and satisfying experience along with a 100% healthy lead singer.
- Annie Utter
Annie, I couldn’t agree more.
Now, I’m not a big Bloc Party fan. But, I know a few songs and I heard they put on a great show so I decided it was worth a $28.50 ticket that swelled to $36 with Ticketmaster and city fees. It wasn’t.
The first thing I noticed during the show was noise. Lots and lots of noise. Russell Lissack, the young guitar player for Bloc Party, seems pretty talented, but it was hard to tell because everything seemed to blend together – from the bass, to the synthesizer to Okereke’s unique voice which, as noted, was dreadful. Beats were indiscernible and most songs devolved into a jumbled mess. And looking around, I was hardly alone. The American Eagle clad crowd was tepid, at best, and conversations could be heard taking place during and after songs.
It’s unfortunate that Okereke’s throat wouldn’t cooperate. And that was compounded by the Aragon. It’s an attractive venue, to be sure, but in my experience the acoustics are some of the worst in Chicago. I’d like to blame the Aragon for all of the sound problems, but I just don’t think that’s the case.
I walked away wondering about the attraction of Bloc Party. Then I remembered a few comments from a guy standing next to me. “I love the British, man. They could say [anything] and I would love it.” And that was follwed up with, “Black British guys are the shit! Know what I’m saying?”
Is there something to that? I don’t know. I do know that we Americans seem to have a fascination with the British accent. And ever since the British Invasion of The Beatles, we’ve come to believe that anything from across the pond must be good.
Below is some video from the show, a performance of “Ion Square.”
