7.10.26 - Minneapolis, MN

Death Cab for Cutie kicked off their I Built You A Tower World Tour in Minneapolis on July 10. After 4 years, the band finally released new music and are excitedly showing their fans how proud they are of this album. Coming off their 20th anniversary tour, Death Cab for Cutie are seasoned professionals at performing and curating setlists, but they were doing much more than just going through the motions of a live show. Their setlist combined the old and the new for a show that appealed to everyone.

Jay Som, the solo project of Melina Mae Cortez Duterte, opened the show surrounded by a live band. Although she produces and writes the music largely by herself, including a live band added a rich musical element to her set. Duterte’s dreamy vocals and laid-back sound had an air of coolness that kept everyone engaged and set the stage nicely for Death Cab for Cutie.

As the lights dimmed and the melody began to escalate, lead singer Ben Gibbard opened the show with one of the songs off their latest album, “Riptides.” Exchanging smiles with his band mates, Gibbard looked at the top of his game. “The New Year” and “Roman Candles” followed, which elicited screams of “we love you” from the fans and kicked off what would be an enchanting first night of tour.

Since it was the first show for this tour (excluding a few secret, surprise shows), no one knew what to expect from the setlist. There were guesses, but the anticipation of not knowing made the night even more enjoyable. With such an expansive catalogue, there were endless possibilities. Before playing the title track, “I Built You A Tower (a),” Gibbard quipped that the band was so stoked to actually play new music instead of the songs they’ve been playing for years, but they would, of course, incorporate older songs.

The heavy bass, guitar riffs, and over a minute-long intro of “I Will Possess Your Heart” began the transition into a slower part of the set. One of their most recognizable and popular songs, “I Will Follow You into the Dark," was next. What was usually dedicated to couples in the audience turned into a dedication to the people of Minneapolis and St. Paul, who not only endured a heavily publicized takeover within their cities but also came together as a community to regain control and fight back. Gibbard made his support for their actions very clear as he cheered everyone on.

One of the loudest cheers of the night came from their performance of "Cath...”. I saw fans who were idly chatting from the back sprint closer to the stage and others who were acting out the lyrics. The 2008 hit and second single from their album Narrow Stairs clearly maintained staying power over the years.

Closing out the set, Death Cab for Cutie sped things back up. Before their four-song encore, they finished with the last song from their new album, “I Built You A Tower (b).” Death Cab for Cutie are exactly who they think they are: strong performers who know how to entertain while creating an intimate performance that makes it seem like they are singing just to you.