Results tagged “deathcabforcutie”

Every weekday of December (except for December 25, that is), Phillyist will be counting down to 2009 with our highlights from the past year and our predictions for the next. If you have a list you'd like to submit, let us know!

         

Honestly, we were feeling pretty ho-hum heading into Sunday night's Death Cab for Cutie (MySpace) set at the House of Blues in Atlantic City. The poker table had not been kind to us, dealing us a seemingly endless string of Q-5, 9-2, K-3, etc. type hands. Our meal at the House of Blues restaurant was meh—nothing more, nothing less. And St. Vincent was pretty much dreadful. So we were in need of a pick-me-up, but Death Cab's music isn't exactly cheerful. Fortunately, what the band lacks in sunshine, it makes up for with plain old quality and consistency.

Now that it's the fall, and we won't have to deal with annoying shore traffic, we think it's about high time we made another trip to Atlantic City. All we need is a good excuse to do so, because, frankly, the lure of the blackjack table alone isn't enough to overcome our desire to save the gas and toll money. So we need a little added incentive. Thankfully, we're getting it, and from one of our favorite bands, no less: Death Cab for Cutie (MySpace) will be playing the House of Blues Atlantic City at Showboat on Sunday night.

We had forgotten not all Death Cab for Cutie songs are thisclose to being emo. Our association of the band's music with melancholy proved to be a misnomer. Kicking off the show with an upbeat choice from their new album, Narrow Stairs, Ben Gibbard and the band seemed hell bent on reminding concert-goers that sensitive lyrics do not necessarily lead to a lack of energy. By the second song—the epic "New Year" from Transatlanticism—the entire crowd was on its feet, singing along and punching the air with each blast of the bass drum. The unfurling of the Pollack-esque (we know that's a stretch) album cover whipped everyone into a frenzy.

No matter how much your musical tastes evolve over time, sometimes you can't help but go back to what you liked during your teenage years. When this Phillyist was in junior high, there was one type of music, and only one type of music, emanating from my bedroom stereo: Metal. Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead... you get the idea. Even though the Death CDs have lately collected dust on the shelf in favor of Death Cab for Cutie, the appeal of metal hasn't waned completely. Heck, some of the best non-metal bands out there today have overwhelming metal influences:Coheed and Cambria comes to mind. And really, there's very little that gets the blood pumping like good metal.

The Graduate lead singer, Corey Warning

Bands I Caught: Public Record, Feather Mills, Phil Moore Browne, Hail Social

We know, it's snowing (or something like it) and yes it's still April, but we have a great band for you to go see tonight. Some of you won't want to venture out tonight, but we definitely think it will be worth it. Screw the snow/slush/rain and come out tonight to see the Headlights perform in the middle of two other bands, Page France and The Trolleyvox. All three bands are a mix of infallible...

We're back, people, with your regular steaming hot pile of all our favorite things from around the internets.

Man, are we going to an awesome show tonight. Wolfmother's in town, people. They're playing the Electric Factory with like-sounding "retro-rock" act Dead Meadow and indie pop rock outfit Silversun Pickups. We're putting "retro-rock" in quotes because these bands aren't just retreads; they're starting with some old sounds, yes, but they're making them fresh and new.

No, this isn’t a Halloween post, though it could be. Viva Voce will be playing at Johnny Brenda’s on Friday the 13th (cue sinister music here) with Silversun Pickups and Like a Fox.

Big music night coming up. On Thursday, a slew of acts signed to the Barsuk music label are taking over Philly. World Café Live will play host to The Long Winters with Menomena and What Made Milwaukee Famous, and Mates of State with the Starlight Mints will be playing at the Starlight Ballroom.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Thursday post only collects the latest announcements, so definitely check the Tuesday post for any you may have missed.

- Blinq gives us the latest concert run down, complete with some free MP3s.

Phillyist witnessed a regular indie rock lovefest at the Electric Factory Tuesday night when we stopped in to check out Death Cab for Cutie, who are touring behind their latest disc, Plans. Canadian rockers Stars opened up by playing some mellow, melodic pop, and by gushing about Death Cab. They expressed their esteem multiple times, and even dedicated a song or two to the headliners. Another indie band, Broken Social Scene, was present, apparently still hanging around in Philly after their tour date the night before at the TLA, and their guitarist sat in for a few songs with Stars. Which meant, of course, that Broken Social Scene also had to be thanked profusely and sent much love.

Death Cab for Cutie will perform tonight at the Electric Factory, touring behind their new album Plans. While most fans will be attending because they either (a) love the band or (b) heard the band on The O.C., our motives are entirely different. We'll be the people at Nick Harmer's side of the rail, shouting questions like, "Dude, why does your hair always look like that? Do you use gel or mousse?"