The Postal Service & Death Cab For Cutie w/ The Beths
Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
10.08.23

In a homecoming show for the ages, indie rock legends Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service shared twin billing, for two straight nights, at Climate Pledge Arena in celebration of the 20th anniversary of two iconic albums: Transatlanticism and Give Up. Both Ben Gibbard founded bands, whose roots run deep in the Pacific Northwest, have enjoyed sustained reverence over the years across a broad fanbase. Tonight was a celebration of two monumental successes.

With support from the Elizabeth Stokes fronted The Beths (whom Ben Gibbard called the greatest songwriter of her generation), Death Cab for Cutie opened their set with “The “New Year,” the drone of the first note met with enormous applause from the near capacity crowd. The momentum built from one song to the next, as Gibbard’s signature plaintive vocals and poetic lyrics drove through the entire track list of the aforementioned Transatlanticism. The biggest crescendos of the set came from two of the band’s most revered songs: “Transatlanticism” and album closer “A Lack of Color”, each somehow sounding nostalgic and entirely new in the confines of Climate Pledge Arena.  

The atmosphere shifted subtly when The Postal Service took the stage, but the excitement remained. This supergroup was the soundtrack to many a 20-something navigating a world that was rapidly shifting from analog to digital in the early 2000’s. As one might expect, standout tracks “Such Great Heights” and “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” got the crowd roaring and singing along, while the more introspective highlights “We Will Become Silhouettes” and “This Place is a Prison” providing a subtle tone shift. 

Near the end of the set, Gibbard acknowledged the gravity of the moment with gratitude and grace, reflecting “nearly all of the songs tonight were written within a few miles of where we are right now, between 2001-2002, and never in a million years did I think I’d be here 20 years later playing them for all of you wonderful people in this arena. We’re so lucky. Thank you, truly.” 

The night closed with encores of “Such Great Heights” performed exclusively by Ben and indie rock legend Jenny Lewis before Death Cab and The Postal Service joined forces for an unforgettable rendition of the Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence.” It’s hard to believe that 20 years have passed since both Transatlanticism and Give Up released. Tonight’s celebration of both managed the feat of combining nostalgia with a future-facing excitement that ensures the enduring legacy of both albums will be celebrated for years to come, from headphones to arenas.

Photos and review by Sattva Photo