Death Cab For Cutie / The Postal Service

Perfect weather, unbelievable line-up and cheerful vibes concluded the last day of All Points East 2024 on Sunday 25th August 2024. The day was spent alternating from the East and West Stage to catch as many bands as possible from a phenomenal schedule. It was a dream line-up for alternative rockers and indie-lovers, with the likes of Yo La Tengo, Teenage Fanclub, Sleater-Kinney and The Decemberists making appearances.

Throughout the day, we were being warmed up for an extra special co-headline by The Postal Service and Death Cab For Cutie. Their East London performance was part of their “Give Up Transatlanticism” UK tour, celebrating their 20th anniversary of their landmark 2003 albums, “Give Up” and “Transatlanticism”.

They started this double-billing in full daylight and, as planes flew over the East Stage, Death Cab For Cutie – Ben Gibbard, Nick Harmer, Dave Depper, Zac Rae, and Jason McGerr – walked on stage dressed in all black and were modestly introduced by Ben as “a band from Seattle called Death Cab For Cutie”.

From ‘The New Year’ to ‘A Lack of Color’, ‘Transatlanticism’ drew in a palpable moody atmosphere. For us, the main draw was not simply hearing this seminal album played in full. We wanted to see Ben Gibbard in the flesh and immerse ourselves in his consoling vocals. Emotional yet energetic, we witnessed an indie mosh-pit for their rousing ‘Sound of Settling’. On the majestic title-track, the audience sung and swayed along together to Ben’s resonating lyrics “I need you so much closer”.

Ben commanded the audience easily and masterfully. He playfully acknowledged our bank holiday and whether we would be revelling hard (“so you’re going all out tonight?”) and mentioned there had been a North-west family reunion of sorts backstage with the rest of the bands on All Points East's bill. He declared “this song goes out to The Decemberists – a song about having sex in a car”, before playing ‘We Looked Like Giants’. With an acoustic melancholic finish to the album to know so well, we had a 15-minute interlude, before The Postal Service.

Emerging in all white, The Postal Service – Ben, Jimmy Tamborello, and Jenny Lewis – appear in stark contrast to the dark blanket of night. We see a glittering smile on Ben’s face, as he exclaims “Hes/shes/theys, we proudly give you our album ‘Give Up’!” which signalled a start to the sweeping synth intro on ‘The District Sleeps Alone Tonight’. Immediately, it created a festival-wide indie disco! Everyone was caught up in the energy of indie synth anthem ‘Such Great Heights’ and we danced the night away to Jimmy Tamborello’s eccentric-electro glitchy sounds.

Not only delivering an inclusive introduction, it turns out, Ben is pretty solid drummer! Drumming, singing and, throughout the performance, Ben engaged us in lively conversational moments. “East London, I have a question for you, do you believe in love?” to which we shout back with “Yes”. He lovingly referring to actress and band member Jenny as a “Queen”. Jenny Lewis was the star of the show. Her stage presence and angelic backing vocals was centre stage, especially on ‘Nothing Better’.

Before we knew it, ‘We Will Become Silhouettes’ was playing. ‘Brand New Colony’ was dedicated to us as Ben said he was grateful we had come out for them that night and all those years ago. He shared an anecdote about playing this album “in a dump in London” with Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips in attendance. Ending the set with the electrifying ‘Natural Anthem’, the encore was an acoustic version of ‘Such Great Heights’, which Ben mockingly mused upon Iron and Wine covering it and he wanted to take it back. The last song of this memorising set was an infectious cover of Depeche Mode’s ‘Enjoy the Silence’.

What a show! Impressive and pioneering, these two bands and albums are deservedly still held to high esteem by fans. Listening to them live will make you realise just how innovative they were and still are.

Setlists
Transatlanticism
1. The New Year
2. Lightness
3. Title and Registration
4. Expo '86
5. The Sound of Settling
6. Tiny Vessels
7. Transatlanticism
8. Passenger Seat
9. Death of an Interior Decorator
10. We Looked Like Giants
(Dedicated to The Decemberists)
11. A Lack of Color

Give Up
1. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
2. Such Great Heights
3. Sleeping In
4. Nothing Better
5. Recycled Air
6. Clark Gable
7. We Will Become Silhouettes
8. This Place Is a Prison
9. Brand New Colony
(Dedicated to the audience)
10. Natural Anthem

Encore:
11. Such Great Heights (Acoustic)
12. Enjoy the Silence (Depeche Mode cover)

Photo credit: Phoebe Fox