I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: August 9, 2025] Death Cab for Cutie

When these MCR shows were announced, we had the choice of going to MetLife (which I haven’t been to in decades, before this new stadium in fact) or Wells Fargo in Philly, which I have grown to like a little more in the last year.

But then there was the choice of opening acts–Death Cab for Cutie in NJ or …Alice Cooper [?!] in Philly.  That made the decision so much easier, because there’s no way I would pass up DCFC for Alice Cooper [althouh having seen a recent setlist by Alice, his set is probably fun).

DCFC seems like an odd choice as an opening band.  They’re not bigger than MCR I wouldn’t think, but they sell out their own huge shows pretty easily.  It turns out though that DCFC are on tour and were playing four nights in Brooklyn right around this show.  So, heck, why not play this massive show?  And the crowd seemed really really into them.

My wife and I have seen Death Cab for Cutie four times now.  Their shows are always good–great music, great frontman, and a lot of fun.  This show proved to be something of a greatest hits set, at least greatest for me. 

We wondered if they would play I Will Possess Your Heart and if so, if they would play the full on 8 minute version.  So imagine our excitement when they opened with it!  That recognizable bass line (from Nick Harmer) started and kept going as the song built and built with Ben Gibbard adding piano and then moving on to guitar.  Hearing it so loud and enveloping in the stadium was incredible.

There was a young lady in the row in front of us who stood up and squealed with delight as they played this song.  And when they segued into The New Year she was even more excited.

The whole set was great, with two songs from their most recent (2022) record and the rest some of their most recognizable songs.

There was something about where we were seated (away from so many) and the overall vibe of the set that made this an incredible way to experience them.  Sure, last time we saw them we were about ten feet from the band and this time we were over 100 yards away, but the sound (which was really good for them) just took over the whole stadium and meant that there was nothing to distract.

They ended the set with another really long buildup of a song.  When we saw them in Upper Darby, they ended the set with Transatlanticism and I was utterly blown away by how big and powerful the song got.  The lights and the whole experience was amazing.  It didn’t have quite the same feel tonight (it was still light out and there wasn’t a lot of stage lighting to see) but the way the song continues to get louder and louder as they played.  And the kicker for me was when the big screens would pop in on the drummer (Jason McGerr, their “new” drummer who has been with them for 22 years).  He began tapping everything gently, keeping time.  And by the end, he was smashing the hell out of the cymbals.  Guitarist Dave Depper was leaping in the air to land on the downbeats which was really fun to see (especially for band that’s been around for nearly thirty years.

By the end (the come on’s) were enormous and wonderful.

It was a terrific set.  I thought they might have played one more song (they played for about 45/50 minutes and I assumed they’d get an hour), but I have no complaints.  It was a great set, a great show and a great experience before the main attraction.

ϖ We Have the Facts And We’re Voting Yes (2000)
∏ The Photo Album (2001)
™ Transatlanticism (2003)
¶ Plans (2005)
⇑ Narrow Stairs (2008)
⊗ Codes and Keys (2011)
℘ Kintsugi (2015)
¥ Thank You for Today (2018)
¿ Asphalt Meadows (2022)