Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard Breaks From His Former Life at Danforth Music Hall in Toronto

Words by: Curtis Sindrey | Photos by: Nim Mendoza –

Ben Gibbard at Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. October 14, 2012. (Photo: Nim Mendoza)

Sunday marked the only Canadian stop on Death Cab For Cutie (DCFC) frontman Ben Gibbard’s debut solo tour. Opening for him was formerly Toronto-based, now Moncton-based folk-pop singer-songwriter, Julie Doiron, who brought a strong collection of well-written tracks that provided an intimate portrait into a life that almost quit the music industry.

“I won’t talk a lot because we aren’t here for that,” said the timid Doiron, who recently divided her time between Gord Downie’s backing band, The Country of Miracles, and in the collaborative folk project Daniel, Fred & Julie. Her performance was often laced with anecdotes and Zooey Deschanel-style humour, which quickly inflated the comfort level between her and the audience as she gripped her guitar like a life savor. The extent of her between-song dialogue including a mid-song pause to clarify that in regards to an earlier story about binging on poutine over the past week, and once ordering it via room service, she wasn’t a big-shot musician because she claims she rarely stays in nice hotels with room service.

While she was socially awkward in her humour attempt, often it seemed forced and many snippets of her it could have been left unsaid. What saved her was her effective use of Weakerthans-laced riffs, lyrical honesty and her head-on approach to dealing with themes like motherhood, and once contemplating about quitting the music industry.

While she performed many tracks from her 15+ albums and EPs, including “Will You Still Love Me In December,” Doiron also played several tracks from her upcoming album So Many Days, many of which mark a strong sense of introspective songwriting that binds lyrical intimacy with emotionally depth.

Doiron concluded her set with a French song, and while some may not have fully understood the lyrics, her vocal delivery made it seem like we’ve heard the songs thousands of times before on our iTunes playlist.

With a new album to be released in the coming weeks, Doiron will be in Toronto several times throughout the next few months and it’s highly suggested that you check her out.

Julie Doiron at Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. October 14, 2012. (Photo: Nim Mendoza)

Ben Gibbard, with his debut solo album “Former Lives,” has finally stepped from behind the familiar DCFC banner and has dived into a full-fledged solo career. However, throughout his set Gibbard didn’t forget his roots and often picked songs from both The Postal Service, his one-off album electronic project with Jimmy Tamborello (of Dntel and Headset), and the Death Cab For Cutie catalogues, while lacing in several of his new solo songs and a few hand-picked covers.

The spirit of the short-lived The Postal Service was reignited as Gibbard opened with their single “Such Great Heights,” which translated beautifully into a stripped-down acoustic guitar setting and it was as refreshing change from the electronic fills of the studio track.

Gibbard possessed a Dashboard Confessional-like conviction in both his vocal delivery and songwriting that is difficult to compare to in today’s massive indie rock market.

“The least rock and roll thing to drink on stage is tea,” said Gibbard, as he began with his eighth song “Grapevine Fires.” By the 10^th song, Gibbard retreated from his acoustic guitar for the warm tones of his piano and performed a hauntingly intimate version of “Passenger Seat.” “I roll the window down and then begin to breathe in. The darkest country road and the strong scent of evergreen from the passenger seat as you are driving me home,” crooned Gibbard.

A new song of Gibbard’s called “Duncan Where Have You Gone” contains a similar lyrical intimacy that deals with the themes of finding a place the world, gaining acceptance from others and oneself, as found on John Lennon’s hit “Mother.” As Gibbard sings, “They raised you the best that they possibly could, still you felt unknown and misunderstood and now you’re biggest dream is to be just a stranger to pass on a street.”

Ben Gibbard at Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. October 14, 2012. (Photo: Nim Mendoza)

With the first of two Rush concerts taking place blocks away at the Air Canada Centre, Gibbard said, “this was the largest oversight possible by my agent to book me on the same day as Rush and since I can’t go to that I here stuck with myself.”

One of the highlights of Gibbard’s set was his surprising rendition of The Tragically Hip song “Music At Work.” If Gibbard’s voice could sell anything, he sold this song and it was a beautiful homage to the legendary Canadian band.

“I speak in no hyperboyle that Julie has been one of my favourite artists for over 15 years,” said Gibbard before performing his new single “Teardrop Window.”

Gibbard chose an eclectic mix of songs from his extensive catalogue, which were effectively dismantled and stripped down from DCFC’s frequent producer Chris Walla’s often-intricate production method. While other lead singers have dissipated in terms of their solo career, he has successfully created a bridge to become less associated with his DCFC roots and now can ultimately transform into a stronger and more mature songwriter who no longer writes songs for the Seth Cohens of the world.

Ben Gibbard Set-List

1. Such Great Heights
2. St. Peter’s Cathedral
3. Oh, Woe
4. Willamine
5. Title and Registration
6. Dream Song
7. When The Sun Goes Down On Your Street
8. Grapevine Fires
9. Lady Adelaide
10. Passenger Seat
11. Duncan Where Have You Gone
12. Unobstructed View
13. Soul Meets Body
14. Cowpoke
15. Music At Work (Tragically Hip Cover)
16. Teardrop Windows
17. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
18. You Remind Me of Home

Encore
19. A Lack of Colour
20. I’m Building a Fire
21. I’ll Follow You Into The Dark