If you were one of the 100 people lucky enough to grab a ticket to Ben Gibbard at the Actors’ Gang in Culver City last night, you may have walked away thinking that this was one of the best shows you’ve ever seen. That’s how I feel about it anyway. Ben covered all the bases, from Death Cab For Cutie songs, solo record songs, Postal Service songs, songs from his Kerouac project with Jay Farrar, and even a cover of Nirvana’s All Apologies. The show featured two special guests, the “singer of his favorite band (/wife)” Zooey Deschanel and a surprising appearance by David Crosby who insisted that he was only there because Ben had married into Zooey’s family. Zooey backed up Ben on a few classic covers, and then harmonized on a few Everly Brothers songs with Ben and David Crosby.
Halfway through the show, Ben told the crowd that he now lives in Los Angeles and then proceeded to play the Death Cab song “Why You’d Want To Live Here.” This was an interesting moment as the lyrics include lines like this:
It’s a lovely summer’s day
And I can almost see a skyline through a thickening shroud of egos.
(Is this the city of Angeles or demons?)
Here the names are what remain…
Stars encapsulate the gold lame
And they need constant cleaning for when the tourists begin salivating.
The show had a great and appropriate local theater company vibe, and was hosted by Tim Robbins, a man who I talked to for 5 seconds just so I could tell my mom about it. Rebecca De Mornay was also there but I didn’t get the “sure she wants to talk to a wine swigging blogger” vibe so I left her alone. She was with a guy that played one of Kramer’s friends on Seinfeld.
For me it was the best show of the year. It’s great to see one of your favorite singer songwriters in such an intimate setting and for such a great cause. Cheers to Tim Robbins for putting together such a great festival, and cheers to me for not getting arrested after running on stage to hug Zooey Deschanel.
Here’s the setlist (via Atlantic Records message board)
Passenger Seat (piano)
Soul Meets Body (piano)
All Apologies (Nirvana cover)(piano)
Title & Registration
Cath
These Roads Don’t Move
You’re Running Wild (Emmylou Harris cover)(with Zooey)
Cuddly Toy (Harry Nilsson cover)(with Zooey)(piano)
Why You’d Want to Live Here
This Place is a Prison
Little Bribes
Grapevine Fires
One Fast Move or I’m Gone
You Remind Me of Home
Everybody’s Been Burned (Byrds cover)(with David Crosby)
Cathy’s Clown (Everly Bros. cover)(with Zooey & David)
All I Have to Do is Dream (Everly Bros. cover)(with Zooey & David)
Such Great Heights
_______
I Will Follow You Into the Dark
A Lack of Color
Brand New Colony
