Death Cab for Cutie
Five minutes, thirty-eight seconds. That’s how long the eager crowd at the Enmore Theatre applauded for an encore by Death Cab for Cutie. Now, I’m no serial concert-goer, but that’s a bloody long time to clap your hands together. And I have to admit that I was reduced to a squealing schoolgirl when lead singer Ben Gibbard emerged from the shadows to play, ‘I Will Follow You Into The Dark‘, a beautiful song about a promise to a dying lover or a song about a severe case of stalking, whatever floats your boat.
The Enmore is an impressive venue: carpet that hasn’t yet turned to bitumen, a warm glow illuminating the buzzing crowd and, most importantly, it created an intimate space that captured the magic of Death Cab for Cutie. If you have ever heard someone say, ‘They sound so much better live,’ this was certainly one of those occasions.
Ben Gibbard’s swaying from side to side whilst playing the guitar was bizarre, but strangely mesmerizing when coupled with his ethereal voice. He showed his musical prowess by regularly switching from the guitar to the keyboard, while the rest of the band chimed in by swapping guitars after every song – seriously.
Playing older tracks like ‘Transatlanticism’ and many from their new album, Narrow Stairs, Death Cab for Cutie solidified their Sydney fan base, both young and old. Gibbard summed it up perfectly when he told the audience, “This is why we love coming back here…we love you guys”; and the love was mutual. The most disappointing part of the night was supporting act Youth Group not performing ‘Forever Young’.
