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Death Cab For Cutie / Ben Kweller

live in Minneapolis
2004
live show

Review by: Jesse
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Published on March 30th 2004

Due to traffic, I ended up missing the first part of the /- set. From what I did see, I was impressed. Sort of. They reminded me of a mix between Dismemberment Plan and Death Cab For Cutie, only, they just made me respect both bands even more. I think they're worth checking out. They were really tight on stage and sounded great.

Next up was Ben Kweller. He continued to fail to impress me. First of all, every instrument he played was turned up way too loud compared to the rest of the band. When he played acoustic guitar, all you could hear was the pick hitting the strings. His set was boring. You could tell a lot of people were there just to see "Wasted and Ready." He played songs off his upcoming album. Basically, it sounds like he listened to some AC/DC and Neil Young, then tried to incorporate it into his Weezer rip-off shceme. Boo-urns. After sitting through his way too long set, it was time for Death Cab For Cutie.

Now, I never was a big Death Cab fan before. In fact, I used to hate this band. Long story short, I love this band now. My favorite part about this band is that in their live shows, they like to mix things up a little bit. They played "We Laugh Indoors" a bit slower than usual, they played a long extended outro to "We Looked Like Giants," and an amazing version of "Transatlanticism." They only problem with their set was the drummer dropped his stick during "Styrofoam Plates" during the breakdown, and then the bass was off for the rest of the song. They closed with "Blacking Out The Friction" in a way I never heard before. The drums didn't even come in until the second verse, and then after the song, they transitioned it into a slow, really good version of Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Amazing. Here was the set list:

The New Year
We Laugh Indoors
Title and Registration
Photobooth
President of What?
Expo '86
Lightness
Company Calls
Company Calls Epilogue
The Sound of Settling
Transatlanticism
encore:
A Movie Script Ending
Blacking out the Friction/Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

This was my third time seing them live, and absolutely the best.

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 21, 2004 at 3:16 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Ben Kweller is awsome,
You guys suck major cock.

Posted by xmidipunkbastardx on 2004-04-03 13:00:27
My Score:

for more of this "my blabla better than your blabla" pick out the last mclusky record and listen to track 8 :)

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 1, 2004 at 4:41 PM (EST)
My Score:

you forgot my mom can beat up your mom too

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 1, 2004 at 12:14 PM (EST)
My Score:

My God can beat up your God too!

Posted by dignin on 2004-04-01 09:54:27
My Score:

"Ooh look at me! I saw a crappy guy before he got big! I'm cooler than everyone!

Just because you saw a crappy act before it got big doesn't mean it wasn't a crappy act."

I was pointing it out because maybe he just belongs on a smaller stage, and your little "mock" above is probably the lowest form of an insult, only behind, "my dad can beat up your dad."

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 1, 2004 at 3:39 AM (EST)
My Score:

10 stars for dismemberment plan
1/2 star for writing a research paper the night before it's due and being distracted by this damn website

p.s. ben kweller looks a lot like shaun white

Posted by Jesse on 2004-03-31 22:15:09
My Score:

Ooh look at me! I saw a crappy guy before he got big! I'm cooler than everyone!

Just because you saw a crappy act before it got big doesn't mean it wasn't a crappy act.

Posted by dignin on 2004-03-31 21:24:13
My Score:

before ben kweller got popular I saw him in the smallest venue in SLC, and it is easily in my top five concerts of all time, my morning jacket opened and they were great too.

Posted by funkisdead on 2004-03-31 17:58:38
My Score:

Jesse
ben kweller sucks.
everyone else is wrong.
peace
funk

Posted by Carak on 2004-03-31 15:47:10
My Score:

I speak from experience that while BK's live shows are not AMAZING, they are still damn good. I can't believe there are so many people that think he is a bad song writer. I honestly think that his last album was one of the best of the whole year (in the year it came out--not this year) and I know I am not alone in this feeling. While when I saw him the live set was not amazing, it was still entertaining, and I would call this line up of bands/musicians ANYTHING but boring.

I have heard his new album already, too, and it is also quite excellent. I really don't know how you can think that his last album is all crap except for one or two songs. In my opinion, at least a handful of them could have been hit singles--and GOOD hit singles, I am not talking crappy pop songs. I think you will be eating your words before long. BK rules! (and so does Death Cab, one of my all time favorite bands)

Posted by Eddie on 2004-03-30 23:14:24
My Score:

Ben Kweller rules. know it

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at 10:24 PM (EST)
My Score:

this show was like watching paint dry!

Posted by Imposs1ble on 2004-03-30 14:36:13
My Score:

How boring would this show be? I mean, Death Cab is good and Ben Kweller is good, but where's the energy. Throw in some Cradle of Filth and you got a good show on your hands.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at 1:44 PM (EST)
My Score:

I agree with the reviewer. I saw this show in Milwaukee and, unfortunately Ben Kweller headlined. Death Cab put on a fantastic show. Ben Kweller, who I like, played to loud for the system. I wasn't impressed.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at 12:48 PM (EST)
My Score:

BK was great at this show, great performer... especially compared to Ben Gibbards swaying back and forth, potty dance he does through the whole frickin show. Ben Kweller was definitely more entertaining and i had no problem with the sound. Maybe you were in a bad spot. Overall Death Cab bored me and BK's extra long set was kickass.

Posted by Jesse on 2004-03-30 11:57:00
My Score:

Please realize that I drove 93 miles to see this show. I don't really have control over the traffic. And lying makes Baby Jesus cry.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at 11:39 AM (EST)
My Score:

this was a shitty review. you don't go to a show you're going to review and miss the first band. even if you do, you adlib and find out how their performance was and insert that in there.
my journalism professor would be all over your ass. haha.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at 11:00 AM (EST)
My Score:

Ben Kweller is a midget.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at 10:17 AM (EST)
My Score:

kweller is overrated

completely

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at 9:58 AM (EST)
My Score:

i'm sorry, but ben kweller is an awful song writer. he's not fucking reinventing the wheel or anything, so please feel free to slice your lips away from his fucking balls.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at 3:01 AM (EST)
My Score:

Kweller is the man. I saw him on the Bens tour and he almost upstaged Folds. Poor guy still looks like a 12 year old though

-bemused-

Posted by CallingLondon on 2004-03-30 01:52:44
My Score:

yeah fuck off, kweller is a killer song writer, and i'm sure his live act is top notch. i'm sure his new album will be great. transatlantacism is also a phenomenal album.

Posted by Jesse on 2004-03-30 01:48:21
My Score:

Somehow, when I wrote this review, I knew exactly what was coming to me for denouncing Ben Kweller. But there's got to be those who agree with me, right? Right? C'mon now...the song "In Other Words" sounds like it could be a Bonnie Tyler cover..."turn around, bright eyes."

One big fat boo-urns for Ben Kweller.

Except the song "How it Should Be." Which I foolishly bought the album for. Or that acoustic track. Nevertheless, he was still terrible live.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at 1:32 AM (EST)
My Score:

I'm seeing this in Chicago with Pedro the "motherfucking" Lion (I hope those religious fucks don't beat me up for swearing).

Ben Kweller is keeping it real. Recognize.

Posted by thebouncingsoul on 2004-03-30 01:29:10
My Score:

kweller's new record is awesome...get with it

i'll be attending this in 2 weeks...i can not wait to see death cab, i've never seen them before...looks like a solid setlist

Posted by maverick on 2004-03-30 01:26:17
My Score:

Jesse, you're drunk. Ben Kweller is one of the best singer/songwriters out there right now. Deal.

-Scott

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at 1:15 AM (EST)
My Score:

oh yeah....first

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at 1:15 AM (EST)
My Score:

daaaa!!!...i missed the STL show....that wasnt the first time i was thwarted by my small stature