Death Cab :: DAR Constitution :: April something...

Saw Death Cab several weeks ago, and thought both the opening bands were excellent. Ra Ra Riot was the first opener and seemed to be a very young group of extremely talented "kids" with instruments. I admit, I haven't done my research on them yet, but while watching them I had the feeling I was at a late high school or early college talent show (a very very impressive talent show where you think, damn...my kid needs to hang out with those guys more...)...and these guys perfectly clicked when on stage together. The range of instruments was impressive and the lyrics were quite intelligent. That said, I'm probably way off and they're all actually 27 and have degrees from Berklee.

The other opener was The Cold War Kids. Now I feel completely out of the loop on these guys. Everyone I've mentioned them too is like, "Oh yeah..they're great, be sure to listen to their first album cause its way better than the new one....oh, and come out of the cave every now and again." The bands sound is really...well....I've been trying to figure out how to describe it, but I feel like they've really been able to define themselves. They have a sound that is very much them...though it's not a far stretch from other emo, alternative, indy bands that have pianos, these guys leave you with an impression. At the show they opened with the impressive "We used to Vacation" and they really caught my attention with the reference to Dylan's "Ballad of a Thin Man"....then later they came crashing in with "Something is not right with me", which includes the brilliant line "I tried to call you collect, you said you would not accept, your friends are laughin cause nobody uses payphones"...I was crackin up...such a great character sketch. However, when I got home and bought all their albums, I have to say that the most impressive songs on the albums for me where the gentle and reserved tracks like "Golden Gate Jumpers" and "Robbers". In concert, the power behind the instruments in the other songs were so strong and obvious, and it's there as well on the album, but those calm jazzy tracks escaped me while they were on stage.

Both were great bands, and I highly suggest them. Death Cab was incredible as well...even better than expected.  When they closed with Transatlantisicm....well...it couldn't have been a better way to end the evening.