Check out this just-released gorgeous stripped down acoustic performance by Ben Gibbard of the classic Death Cab for Cutie tune “405″ filmed at the Crocodile for One Shot Seattle:

Black Eyes & Neckties Play The Comet July 19th ::: Photo by Abbey

Remember when I said not every week would have seven nights of recommended shows…? This is one of those weeks.

However, for most of the night’s that have recommendations, there are numerous pleasing possibilities. Looks like another week for some heated internal debates on which shows to attend.

Who - So Many Dynamos, Police Teeth, Cast Spells
Where - VERA Project
How (Much) - 8$/7$ with Club Card
Why- So Many Dynamos mathematic, energetic, angular, and infinitely danceable approach to indie rock is a perfect way to start the week with momentum.

Who - The Girls Guide To Rocking
Where - VERA Project, 7:30pm
How (Much) - Free
Why - Because in 2009, rock’n'roll is still a boys club. Books like The Girls Guide to Rocking and places like the VERA Project help encourage and teach girls to find their rightful place in rock.

Equally Awesome Alternatives:
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone at HTFC
Team Gina at Chop Suey

Who - Jack Wilson and the Wife Stealers 
Where - The Comet, 6pm  
How (Much) - ?
Why - If you like what bands like The Maldives and Widower are doing, it’s time for you to check out Jack Wilson and the Wife Stealers. Wilson is a pleasant addition to the burgeoning bearded Seattle-Twang song-writer sound.

Equally Awesome Alternatives:
GMK at Nectar Lounge
Tea Cozies, Devices at Tractor Tavern

Who - WE Prom Featuring: We Wrote The Book On Connectors, M. Bison, Tennis Pro
Where - The Crocodile
How (Much) - 10$
Why - Because this is what Sweet Dreams are made of. Or at least, that’s the theme of this prom, which is guaranteed to suck 100x less than your actual Prom. There will be photos, formal wear, a balloon arch, and  few great local bands playing from their own catchy catalogs, as well as the promise of some classic Prom songs. Slow dance, anyone?

Equally Awesome Alternatives:
The Metal Shakespeare Company at The Blue Moon
The Sea Navy at The Comet Tavern
The Decemberists, Andrew Bird, Blind Pilot at Marymoor Park

Who - Laura Veirs, Cataldo
Where - The Crocodile
How (Much) -  15$
Why - To spend a night with one of the Pacific Northwest’s most gifted lyricists and song-writers, Laura Veirs.  2007’s Saltbreakers is a quintessential Pacific Northwest album, so evocative of the surroundings that inspired the album, you can almost smell the damp salty cedar air.

Equally Awesome Alternatives:
What What Now at Cafe Racer
Death Cab for Cutie, the New Pornographers, Ra Ra Riot at Marymoor Park

Who - Helms Alee, Black Eyes & Neckties, Red Fang
Where - The Comet Tavern, 9pm
How (Much) - 8$
Why - You’d be hard pressed to find a stronger all-local hard rock bill. In spite of being on a Sunday, the sheer weight of rock and spectacle of this line up may actually leave The Comet in ruins.

Equally Awesome Alternative:
Death Cab for Cutie, the New Pornographers, Ra Ra Riot at Marymoor Park

The Lonely Forest: Chris Walla loves this band ::: photo by Abbey

Chris Walla and Nick Harmer of Death Cab for Cutie recently sat down and chatted with CNN about music. Once you get over THAT mind fuck — I mean first Brian Williams, and now CNN are trying to become music bloggers?!? Leave a corner of the internet for the little guys!! Right, back to the story at hand, while chatting with CNN Chris Walla gave some major love to Sound on the Sound favorite’s The Lonely Forest and Telekinesis! Glad to hear that Chris Walla and I were kept company by the same great local music  as of late. And a huge congrats to the buzz that will come to both The Lonely Forest and Telekinesis after this Death Cab name drop, it’s well deserved.

Due to large demand for the single show they had planned for Marymoor on July 18, the band has added a second show to happen the next day, Sunday, July 19 at 6:00pm.

Tickets for both shows are available online.

HT: NWMB

Death Cab for Cutie have a Narrow Stairs B-Sides EP coming out titled The Open Door EP, and it arrives on Atlantic Records on March 31 digitally, and in physical form on April 14. This week they’ve enlisted longtime buddy’s Stereogum to premier each song, one each day, of the week, all five songs. Today, day 1, is the first of the five tracks and it’s titled “Little Bribes.”

Death Cab For Cutie at Sasquatch 2008 ::: Photo by Josh

Just announced today, starting April 5 Death Cab For Cutie will take to the college stages of North America as well as some larger ones later for their second tour in support of last years Narrow Stairs, and it’s soon to be released accompanying 5 song EP of songs also recorded during the same sessions. The Open Door EP will be available digitally only March 30 in all the usual places.

In addition to two college dates in Bellingham and Spokane midway through April the band will be finishing a string of amphitheater dates during the month of July with a show at Marymoor Park on July 18, with the New Pornographers and Ra Ra Riot. On July 5th the band plays Hollywood Bowl with the LA Philharmonic. Too bad it wasn’t July 4th with the Fireworks. I guess the LA Philharmonic might be busy that day though.

The complete list of announced tour dates are below the fold.

Read the rest of this entry »

Death Cab posted their latest video this week, this one for the song “Grapevine Fires” from last year’s album Narrow Stairs.

Death Cab for Cutie at Sasquatch 2008 ::: Photo by Josh

Courtesy of an interview that Nick Harmer did with Ernest Jasmin over at “Bring the Noise” we learn that a set of songs recorded during the Narrow Stairs sessions that didn’t make the album will be released on an EP out next spring. More deets:

Harmer said the EP will feature five to six new cuts, including two called “Diamond in a Tether” and “Loyal Lover” that he named off the top of his head, and a demo of “Narrow Stairs” cut “Talking Bird,” featuring front man Ben Gibbard playing ukulele.

Death Cab plays in Seattle tomorrow at 107.7 the End’s Deck the Hall Ball at the WaMu theatre with the Cold War Kids, Aqueduct, Shiny Toy Guns and the Killers. It is sold out.

MTV had Death Cab for Cutie as it’s “Band of the Week,” and as is customary for the title, they got to film some spots to advertise themselves. The above spot finds the foursome in a Whirly Ball grudge match, blowing off some steam and doing some much needed band bonding. It’s hilarious.

Tonight, I myself will be hitting up the Whirly Ball with my band to celebrate our drummer Jason’s birthday. I suspect our match will be nearly as chaotic. We won’t have our own baby blue customized uniforms with our names in bubble letters on them though.