The Wilshire Ebell Swoons Over Benjamin Gibbard

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Whether it is through Death Cab For Cutie, The Postal Service, All Time Quarterback or his solo project, Benjamin Gibbard has a way of wooing his fans. It may be his soothing, reassuring timbre or his relatable lyrics, but there’s something about him that exudes charm, and he showed off this trait on Wednesday night at Los Angeles’ Wilshire Ebell.

Before embarking on a tour to support his recently released debut solo record, Former Lives, one of Gibbard’s main requests was intimacy. He wanted to make sure his fans were comfortable and close, and the quaint, cushy theater was the perfect venue for a night with the heralded singer/songwriter.

Usually backed by a band, it was interesting to see the Death Cab For Cutie front man standing on a stage with nothing but a guitar and a piano by his side. He began his set with “Shepard’s Bush Lullaby,” the short intro track off his solo record. From there, he eased into “Such Great Heights,” one of the highlights off The Postal Service’s 2003 album, Give Up, which recently went Platinum. Though the crowd was sure Gibbard would play songs from his main project, this was a little more surprising (in a good way). The venue’s acoustics picked up every fan’s voice as the crowd softly sang along, knowing all the words but not wanting to disturb the pleasant croons coming from the stage.

Though many songs of the night came from Former Lives, at least half of the set list was derived from Gibbard’s expansive repertoire. He played Death Cab For Cutie’s classics like “Grapevine Fires,” “Soul Meets Body,” and “Crooked Teeth;” “Recycled Air,” and “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight,” off Give Up, and reached deep for “Cleveland,” a song off his ‘90s one-man-band All Time Quarterback.

Between songs, the charismatic musician engaged with his audience, able to hear everything his fans yelled from the their seats, including “Retweet me.”

“Did you just say, ‘retweet me?’” Gibbard asked back. “You know what, I will retweet you, just because I have never had anybody ask me that before.” This type of banter continued throughout his 70-minute-long set; a refreshing way to see a performer that normally plays in front of thousands of people.

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Gibbard ended his set with “I Will Follow You Into The Dark,” and when he strummed his last chord, he was rewarded with a standing ovation. As he bowed to his audience, he thanked everyone for coming out with a smile drawn across his face. “I’ll be back,” he said. I’m sure I was not the only person in the crowd who hopes he meant that.

Photos by Katrina Nattress

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