DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

Went to the Hollywood Bowl tonight with Matt xxtapemakerxx and Jeremy pb_n_jer for an incredible show with The New Pornographers, Tegan & Sara, and headliners Death Cab for Cutie, who performed part of their set with the LA Philharmonic.

The openers were both awesome -- even better live than I'd heard on album. DCFC was, as expected, completely amazing. As some of you might remember, I had quite a cathartic and moving personal experience with their song "Transatlanticism" on New Years Eve a few years ago. That song was their last one tonight, with full orchestration and synchronized fireworks -- quite possibly one of the most emotionally satisfying concert finales I've ever seen.

After the show, I unexpectedly found myself in the after-party -- and mustered the courage to go up to lead singer Ben Gibbard and gush a little bit. I told him that I'd been lucky enough to have some very important points in my life coincide with discovering their music, especially Transatlanticism, and that seeing & hearing it performed on this scale was particularly mind-blowing. I shook his hand and finished by telling him that I don't know what feelings inspired him to write that song, but I certainly know what feelings will inspire me to continue to listen to it.