Death Cab For Cutie at The Apollo
Death Cab For Cutie – Hammersmith Apollo – 16 November 2011
Words by Jamie Reynolds / Photos by Marcus Maschwitz
So Death Cab For Cutie released a new album this year and then came over to London and sold out the Brixton Academy … you wouldn’t think that their next move was a smart one by coming back to London less than six months later to play the Hammersmith Apollo … but they proved us wrong and sold tonight out as well.
I’m a huge fan of these guys and have followed their stuff since the early days when everyone else was saying “Death cute what?” and the band themselves would’ve never dreamed of playing such prestigious venues as this. I’ve also seen them live a few times before and always wondered if each live show was as good as I had remembered … without a doubt they were!
The band play the set tonight with very little effort (meant in the best way) and they’re spot on as a unit … it’s almost like witnessing the perfect intimate 2 hour band jam (rehearsal) and I completely forgot how many people there are until the entire 4000 (plus) crowd harmonises along with Ben leading us like a giant choir (with great songs).
The two girls sitting next to me have gone from “I have never really been a big fan because I find their music to become monotonous after too long” to “holy crap, I’m an idiot for not listening to these guys more” and I love that.
Being a virgin-Apollo-goer I’m blown away by how perfectly clear the sound is tonight … probably my favourite sounding show since White Lies played Brixton Academy in 2009 … maybe even topping that.
For me DCFC can never really do any fault and a show like tonight completely reminds me why I am such a big fan. Their setlist is perfect and the crowd all feel it from start to finish. This is really what shows should be like.
Hopefully it won’t be long again until DCFC grace our shores again … until then I will be killing their back catalogue filled with great memories of nights like tonight.
Make sure to get a copy of Codes & Keys which is out now.
