Yes, that is who you think it is
I can't recall enjoying myself any more than I did at the Death Cab for Cutie show Friday. As if it weren't enough already that I finally had the opportunity to see my favorite band of all time play live, I also got to meet the man of my dreams. Ben Gibbard. John and I were at the venue incredibly early, so we walked around it while the roadies were unloading all the merchandise and equiptment. I looked behind me and saw Ben, and I swear the world stopped for 5 seconds. I awkwardly called him "Mr. Gibbard" and asked if I could take my picture with him. He said, "Absolutely." Then as he was walking away he said, "By the way, call me Ben. Mr. Gibbard is my dad." I vaguely heard what he said, John had to repeat it. For anyone who doesn't know me that well, and thinks it is odd that I got so worked up over meeting Ben Gibbard, my myspace listed only four people I would like to meet, and he was the first on the list.
I took home the set list, this is it:
Marching Bands of Manhattan
The New Year
Why You'd Want to Live Here
Title and Registration
Photobooth (much to my surprise and delight)
Soul Meets Body
Summer Skin
For What Reason
Company Calls
Crooked Teeth
Different Names for the Same Thing
Amputations
A Movie Script Ending (also much to my delight)
What Sarah Said
Brothers on a Hotel Bed
Expo '86
The Sound of Settling
Encore:
I Will Follow You Into the Dark (John's favortie song)
Tiny Vessels
Transatlanticism (one of my favorites)
Before the show started, a few people looked through the glass doors to see Death Cab rehearse, so I went over to have a peek, and Nick, the bassist, was sitting down on the stage and he saw me and started laughing, and then he pointed, so I waved. A little while later, they shut the doors. The show itself was incredible. They played so many of their old songs. I had cold chills when they played "What Sarah Said" because when Ben was singing "So who's gonna watch you die?", they were slowly moving a blue spotlight throughout the entire auditorium, across all the people on the balcony. It was beautiful. Everything was beautiful and perfect. I danced through almost every song, especially "The Sound of Settling." They are even better live. Ben's voice is so pure and not once out of key. My only disappointment was that they didn't play "Company Calls: Epilogue," which is by far my favorite song, but maybe next time. The opening band was really good too, and I didn't expect them to be with a name like "Stars". I expected a typical pop-punk band, but they had a violinst, trumpet player, keyboardist, and male and female lead singers. They were dancey/atmospheric/folk, and I really enjoyed it. I was so glad that my pictures turned out as well as they did. The picture lady at Wal-Mart asked me if Ben was my dad, and I laughed a lot. I don't care if he is twice my age. I think he is the greatest man on Earth, second only to John for taking me to see them. I cannot thank him enough for taking me. I felt so optimistic and so revived during the show. I cannot wait to go to college. I cannot wait to make new friends. And I cannot wait to act. It was nice to be able to shake off the monotony of school and routine. It was so beautiful. I will never forget it.
chris walla
I was in the second row, right in front of Ben
Stars joined Death Cab in Transatlanticism with "I need you so much closer"