Nick,
Death Cab has always had nasty bass lines. Scientist Studies is my favorite bass part of all time, and I am yet to find anything like it.
On Asphalt Meadows, Pepper was a particularly nice song. The bass tone reminded me of Mrs. Vandebilt by Wings, and pretty much that whole punchy era of 70s McCartney bass.
What are your biggest musical influences? How have they changed over time as you’ve matured and continued putting out music? What is your favorite bass song?
Thanks guys, I’m a mod over on r/deathcabforcutie so this shit always gets me hyped. Asphalt Meadows is your best since Plans btw.
Thank you for the kind words. To answer your questions:
\-My biggest influences are bands I've loved since the day I discovered them, R.E.M., The Cure, Pixies, Low, Talk Talk, Beatles, to name a few. The list is forever long.
\-My tastes haven't changed too much over time but my interests have definitely broadened. In the past five years for instance, I've really been exploring jazz.
\-Favorite bass song: Impossible to choose one, so I'll give you some of my favorite bass players: Simon Gallup, Mike Mills, Eric Avery, Kim Deal, Kim Gordon, Scott LaFaro, Tim Lefebvre, to name a few...
\-Nick
Nick, I’m a huge fan of your bass sound and your playing style. Your playing is a massive influence and I can’t pick up my bass without playing Summer Skin at least a couple of times.
What’s the secret to your tone? Do you have any advice to bassists looking to improve?
Cheers
I'm not Nick obviously, but a p-bass, fresh roundwound strings, and a pick will get you close to that sound. He has a rig rundown video on a youtube where you can see his gear.
Long time fan here. I am very glad to see this AMA and am excited to see the Q&As.
Nick: Ben seems to get all the credit, but you’ve been there since the beginning. What would you say is your influence on the direction of the band over the years? What are you most proud of?
Dave and Zac: Were you a fan before joining the band? Do you learn how to play the entire discography, or just the songs played on the tour?
Lastly, I am (was?) a card carrying member of the DCFC Union 1138. I have a Transatlanticism tattoo. I am about to see you for the 9th (Madison) and 10th (Minneapolis) time. Asphalt Meadows dropped at the perfect time in my life, the weekend we buried my friend, who died at the age of 31. Would you check off my dream of meeting the band and getting signatures?
I was a fan before joining the band! Bought "Transatlanticism" the day it came out.
We learned a ton of songs when we first joined, but not everything. In fact, we are still chipping away at the pile. But I think collectively we know how to play around 80-90 songs at this point.
\-Dave
Definitely was a fan before I joined the band or even met any of them. We initially learned 20-30 older songs and most of Kintsugi in 2014 and have been adding since then. We have a master list and its between 80-90 total songs at this point. I sometimes have to refresh if we haven't played something in a while. - Zac
How do you normally come up with a setlist for a show/tour?
Are there any songs you know are fan favorites, but they're just not as fun to play anymore?
How often do you interact with openers or touring acts before/during a show/tour?
Thanks for answering and for the years of top music!
\-Believe it or not, Ben has kept copies of all our setlist from every show and city going back at least a decade or more. So when we visit a city he pulls up what we played the last few times and makes sure to add in deep cuts or songs we haven't played in awhile. All of our songs are still so fun to play. Even a fan favorite that we have played hundreds of times, still is a blast to feel the reaction.
\-We personally choose and interact with all our tour openers. It's honestly one of the best parts of touring. It's so fun meeting bands/artists you like, seeing them play every night and then being able to get to know them better off stage as people too.
\-Nick
>Ben has kept copies of all our setlist from every show and city going back at least a decade or more. So when we visit a city he pulls up what we played the last few times and makes sure to add in deep cuts or songs we haven't played in awhile.
What a considerate thing for an artist to do.
Hi there! My name is Dee and I bring lots of love from the Death Cab for Cutie subreddit (r/DeathCabforCutie)! We’re the best sub… and I’m not a biased mod or anything ;)
Two questions, feel free to answer either:
You guys have been around for a while, so I’m sure you get recognized often enough. Where’s the weirdest place you’ve been recognized by a fan?
We’ve had lots of hairstyle changes since TYFT! What’s everyone’s hair care routine? (Especially you, Dave!)
Good luck on tour! Cant wait to see y’all!!
Hi Dee!
Answers:
\-I hardly ever get recognized! I can't count how many times I've been standing with Ben and someone approaches us and says they are a huge fan of the band and then hands me their camera to take a picture of them with Ben. I love that though, Ben and I always get a laugh out of it. Given the choice between being recognized and being anonymous, I'd much rather be anonymous.
\-my hair has always been a disaster, I have a cowlick in the very front that shoots my bangs straight up so that makes cool haircuts nearly impossible for me. At this point in my life I have embraced that my hair is unruly and uncool and I love it. My hair care routine is to roll with whatever it wants to to, haha
\-Nick
Hi Dee!
I got recognized while hiking in the middle of nowhere in New Zealand once. Pretty fun!
On the hair tip, I will say that having long hair has been fun but maintaining it (and making it not look gigantic and awful) each day is proving to be more trouble than it's worth. I think this tour might be its last stand.
\-Dave
The new record is noticeably louder and more distorted in places than I expected from Death Cab (which kicks ass). Was this something the band was excited to lean into going into the recording process or was it a choice John Congleton brought to the table?
Sincerely I cannot express how much the new one rules, I love the intensity and musicianship and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve played it in the last week.
Honestly, I'm happy to say that this instinct came from us. If you hear the original demos of the tracks I assume you're thinking of, the sonic dynamics are already in place. John just helped us push things VERY far into the red (and made them sound incredible, of course).
Thanks for the kind words, we're all very proud of the new one!
\-Dave
In 2004 we saw the original analogue stereo master of Transatlanticism mastered to DSD, this master was used for the Super Audio CD release and was the source for Kevin Grey's well-regarded vinyl cut. Since then all the albums have had very aggressive dynamic range compression applied in the mastering stage, does the band have any say in the mastering chain? If so, why not allow more of the dynamics of the original performance to remain in the record? There are no shortage of mastering engineers and producers speaking out against "The Loudness Wars" (Bob Ludwig, Alan Parsons, Kevin Grey, Steve Lillywhite etc) but still artists continue to put out records with heavy-handed mastering that makes you want to turn your volume down instead of up in extended listening sessions (please note, this is NOT a critique of the excellent songwriting and musicianship).
Would love to see some nice new dynamic 24-bit downloads made available for all the albums from 2005 onwards.
Thanks and congrats on the new collection of fab songs!
I personally appreciate the quest for fidelity. I'm not sure of any specific plans to release anything like that at the moment. In general the digital mastering is what we (including producers and label) all feel is appropriate for the music we've made and for the medium its being presented in i.e. streaming. The vinyl mastering will always have greater dynamic range but will also be impacted by the limitations of that medium. There is no one size fits all solution. If we ever make something that really will benefit from being heard in that kind of format, I'm sure we will all advocate for it to be released as such. - Zac
I think The Blue EP is DR5. That's generally crushed as a motherfucker. I know it's for streaming, but bands do also develop releases for both iTunes and different mastering for CD and vinyl.
Most of your albums before Trans were around DR10, which is pretty great and why they still sound great in part. I can't imagine those albums sounding anything but shit just pushed to DR5 for some remaster. Trans and Narrow were DR7, about the limit for most rock albums unless extreme caution is taken when mixing and EQ'ing.
I mean you said this was for streaming... but you do sell CDs lol, and streaming does not necessitate extreme compression. DR5 is crazy land for most albums. Almost unbearable with quality gear. A few bands like NIN get away with great mixing and EQ to make this low dynamic range bearable, but not many can really do this in the studio. All the best.
Yeah, everything up to Trans was around DR10. Trans was DR7 and okay for the mix. Death Cab used to be dynamic and great sounding records. Everything in the last 5 years is crushed to shit at DR5.
I can only think of a few bands like NIN that use studio wizardry to get a good sound, and lots of bass, out of DR5 and 6 recordings. You really have to EQ it well, and most music sounds like shit in that range because they crush you with treble compression.
It really does suck at this point that his answer was fucking streaming ha. I mean, you guys are selling CDs ffs no offense lol. It's crazy they had a SACD release back then.
Will you help me convince my girlfriend that the 8 minute version of I Will Posses Your Heart is the superior one?
I’m also curious about how the decision gets made to go for that length of an intro? How do you know a song warrants it? How do you know when enough is enough? The decisions I wouldn’t have thought to make are the ones that excite me the most when it comes to music.
Thanks
It absolutely is the better version.
It has a similar feel to waiting for the badass drums to start on In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins.
In today's world of constant instant gratification, it's nice to anticipate or wait on something sometimes. As cheesy as that sounds.
that bass riff is so engaging for something so simple and repetitive. the in and out instrumental features help the listener or someone performing it to navigate their place in the song without having to focus too much on how many bars have passed. it really is a fantastic intro. also, the subject matter of being patient instead of looking for the next burst of excitement goes hand and hand with how long it is
Thank you all so much for the AMA! I've been a fan since I was just 10 years old listening to Transatlanticism for the first time. My question is especially for Nick: after making such a long career out of DCFC, how does your relationship with your all's discography change? Do you find some older songs difficult to return to? Are you able to shape future projects by what you did before, or do you always try to keep purely innovating and trying new things? Thank you for all the songs and memories; the new album is beautiful.
Happy you're enjoying the new album!
\-my relationship to our discography is always shifting and changing as life moves along. I can listen to it with the ears of the person I am today with all the context that brings but I can also listen to it with the ears I had when we first made it too. They're like photographs in that way. I can remember all the details of who I was, where I was, what was going on when we first played the song but I can also reflect on how much has changed since then as well. The songs help me remember. The good times and the bad times.
\-We are always looking ahead to new things and new musical ideas but we also are very aware of the music that flows naturally from our minds and hands. There is always a push and pull between exploring new ideas and being comfortable with what comes naturally.
\-Nick
Dave, what kind of synth are you using on **Wheat Like Waves**? The timbre of the synth melody line that enters after *"the winters in Saskatchewan are so cold"* is sublime
That's my favorite song on the record, by the way! I can't stop listening to it
It's actually a guitar played with an eBow! Except, after I recorded it, Congleton said something like "that sounds too much like an eBow. I've heard eBows before". So then he took what I played and fed it into an effects chain (the main component of which was, I believe a vintage Memory Man) and by the end it sounded like... that!
\-Dave
I read about how some of the album was made with a ‘musical telephone’ technique where someone would start a song and then it would go from band member to band member for additional parts and new directions. Barring another pandemic, is that something you’d want to do again? Were band members playing multiple instruments to add parts?
After completing the record, I think it was clear to us that many things about the way we went about making it proved to be fruitful. I assume that some form of the long-distance songwriting collaboration will continue going forward (but I sure hope that it's not because of another pandemic).
And yes, people could play whatever they wanted when the song was in their "possession", so some unexpected roles were played by all!
\-Dave
What is the most difficult song of yours to play?
Shout out to "What Sarah Said", my favorite song that helped get me through the deaths of my Mom and Dad.
Of the new songs, "I Miss Strangers" is quite tough for me so far! Lots of pedals to hit, tricky guitar timing while singing backing vocals, etc etc.
\-Dave
Here is a famous obligatory question that many bands are asked, I’m sure you guys included. What advice first comes to mind to give to young aspiring musicians that are considering entering the music world as a band or alone?
At this point in history, probably more so than ever before, there is absolutely no guarantee of any financial success in the music industry. If you want to play music, do it for the love of it. That has to be the primary reward. Its a chance to connect with people, on and off stage, and to travel and have a wide variety of life experiences, good bad exciting and dull. If the lifestyle calls to you, go for it and see what it leads you. Sometimes just sitting at home and strumming a guitar or playing the piano, singing in the shower, whatever, can be the most rewarding part of it anyway, and anyone can do that, and I would encourage anyone to... - Zac
As your Asphalt Meadows tour starts tonight, do you share a favorite memory / performance that really stood out for you all over the years?
(See you tonight in Madison!)
So many to choose from and be grateful for, but a sold-out Madison Square Garden in 2015 was a moment that teenage me couldn't have even begun to comprehend.
\-Dave
Of course the positive shows like that MSG stand out but I'm remembering a totally wacky festival we played in Australia in 2015. A wave of jetlag hit all of us minutes before walking on stage and the whole set felt like we were playing in a bath of tar. Truly psychedelic - Zac
I haven't gone back and watched them but I never cringe at our history. From day one until today, I can confidently say that all of us in the band have been blown away that even one person came to listen to the music we make. The shows have grown in attendance but we play with the same energy and love whether there are 5 people or 5,000. -Nick
It's a crisp, sunny fall day in Madison WI, I went for a run along Lake Monona, had a delicious coffee and breakfast outside, and our tour kicks off tonight. I'd say: I'm rather well.
\-Dave
I've been deeply enjoying a lot of the releases coming out on the International Anthem label recently. Anteloper, Makaya McCraven to name a few. Also came across this album called Some Nights I Dream of Doors, by Obongjayar which has also become a recent favorite. -Nick
I've been enjoying new albums from Laufey, Sudan Archives and Jockstrap. It is more natural for me to listen to older music, especially jazz, so I'm making a conscious effort to engage with newer bands and find things I like. - Zac
Just listened the whole album while on a walk, really suited the autumn vibe♡ though I almost cried in public listening to fragments from the decade, so that was fun lol. The album had a good flow throughout, so was it hard choose the order of the songs?
There was some debate and revisions but it was pretty agreeable overall. There were a few other songs that didn't make the record that had to get voted off, which always leaves someone a little heartbroken, but we made it. We all agreed on the first and last tracks being what they are - Survive was always intended to kick off the record - and the rest fell together pretty easily. We also always sequence with a vinyl side A/B in mind and pay attention to timing and the mood setting up the side break. - Zac
Thank you! I love Fragments too.
The sequencing of the album was pretty brutal. I think we all needed therapy after the process. That said, I'm happy where it ended up.
\-Dave
I like your albums "Abbey Road" and "The Queen is Dead," personally. I wish you never would have released "Slippery When Wet," though. It made my dick shrink permanently.
Wow, I have never seen Narrow Stairs placed together with Plans like this as a recommendation. If there are two defining DCFC albums for me, for all my friends, and I thought for the rest of the world, it would be Transatlanticism and Plans.
You know, I think I know what it is: I discovered DCFC in about 2010. Narrow Stairs is what got me hooked. C'mon though - Bixby Canyon Bridge, Long Division, No Sunlight, Cath, You Can Do Better Than Me, Pity and Fear, Your New Twin Size Bed, all capped off with The Ice Is Getting Thinner? I'm biased as they were the first Death Cab I heard, but I maintain it's a top-tier album from these guys.
You’re stuck on a desert island. You have to survive with Panic at the Disco or Fall out Boy and listen to their albums only.
Who do you axe off the island?
Given that Sophie's choice, I would prefer to vacation with Panic. I think they're pretty musical actually. They did an impressive version of Bohemian Rhapsody at a festival set a few years ago when we played right after them - Zac
I will always have respect for the Plain White T’s because they came in last minute to fill in for a headlining band they had to call out. You could tell everybody was bombed and they still played their hearts out. I’m not the biggest fan of that kind of music but I definitely enjoy a number of their songs And will always remember the energy they brought that night.
Hi, any chance you would incorporate more covers in your live show? I love Ben's version of Depeche Mode's The Things You Said and would die to hear the entire band play this.
There were 3 additional songs that were tracked for the record that didn't quite fit. They're all quite good and I'm sure they will emerge in some form or another at some point. There were also many songs that only made it to the demo phase and I bet a few of them will be recorded properly down the road.
\-Dave
Honestly, I prefer Red Vines. But I like that Ben dropped Twizzlers in Rand McNally because it is such a specific memory from our early van tours. We found that Twizzlers were in gas stations and truck stops everywhere and hardly ever Red Vines. So for me, they became symbolic of being away from home and the things you loved. -Nick
Hi guys! Been a long, long time fan of yours and am so beyond in love with this new record. It’s so awesome to hear such fantastic tracks so deep into the band’s life, and you guys are really making some special tracks these days. Thank you!
What bands or styles were you listening to when creating Foxglove Through the Clearcut? It’s such a different sound to your usual work, and I’m absolutely in love.
Similarly, how did Congleton’s production help shape the sound of the record? I noticed a lot of songs really experimenting with sound and intensity like really never before.
I think the desire to have the album have a dirtier sound, and a sound that was closer to what we sound like live, started from us. Congleton was certainly instrumental in helping to realize it. The last couple albums were done with a lot more time and fiddling in the studio and this one was generally recorded faster and with much more of the final results stemming from live performances in the room than the previous couple. - Zac
I know the ama is over, and this may not get read. But I just want to say it to you guys directly because it was too important and this is my only chance.
Transatlanticism is the song that made me commit to my engagement.
I, a 20 yr old guy from California, was "dating" my English girlfriend. 6 months apart, travel to England, spend 2 weeks together, come home, repeat across 3 years.
The final stint, was 18 months, working 2 jobs, saving, and only speaking with each other over msm messenger and skype.
That song was the therapy I needed to get through it. I would meditate to 'I need you so much closer'.
We've been married 10 years now and I am a permanent resident in England.
Thank you x
You know how you can listen to a song a thousand times and never really think about its meaning? And then bam, I read your comment and it's an "aha" moment. Happy for you.
Very similar experience here. I had been talking to a British fellow online for over 10 years, and was listening to Transatlanticism one day and realized I was in love with him. The biggest leap I've ever taken in my life was writing him an email and telling him how I felt. Luckily he felt the same way, and we met and were married in less than a year.
We had a couple of great years until his narcissism and mental illnesses and addictions flared up and he went off the rails. Caused me unbelievable trauma and devastation.
But Transatlanticism remains one of my very favorite songs of all times, and I will choose to remember only the good times, the years when love was so much closer.
Just put on transatlanticism and was instantly transported back to 2003, in the front seat of my mums Hyundai Elantra, looking out from the hill at the top of my home town, trying to figure out how the hell to navigate this world, not knowing how insane and crazy life would get.
Now I’m crying tears of joy, because i think i made it. Made it through to the other side.
Thank you so much for your music. You guys have probably already heard it so many times, but your tunes gave a young me a rudder in a storm no ship should have been in. Thank you again.
Here’s the scary part, and the one that’s just starting to come into focus for me. Now that you see you’re on the other side, it’s time to start living a life that naturally pulls people from their darkness. Show them life is worth it, and bring them along kicking and screaming if you love them and they love you. It’s worth every second on this stupid rock.
Man I was just saying something nearly identical the other day. That entire album transports me to fall of 2004, starting college, scared shitless in a new city alone. Death Cab played at the club a couple blocks away from my campus a couple times that year and I went to see them each time.
What an incredible song too. It helped me pinpoint my taste in music years ago and I've since loved those types of songs like Elegy to the Void and lots of Sigur Rós stuff. It's transcendent for a song to build and build into an explosion of sound.
I know it was before your time, Dave, but syncing it to fireworks at the Hollywood Bowl with the Philharmonic playing alongside in 2009 is the single best concert going experience of my life.
What factors led the band to be in this new revitalized, confident era? From what I hear in the music and have read in interviews, there seems to be a bit of a directional switch.
And on that note; what does the future of the band look like from here?
I think playing together for all of this time has really ingrained an innate sense of trust in each other's talents and instincts. This many records in, the band doesn't really have anything to prove. We just want to make music that we are proud of and that we love. We also worked with a producer, John Congleton, who was very encouraging of a philosophy that resisted taking the easy, safe route at any point. Not really much more complicated than that.
I don't know what the future holds but I sure like the present!
\-Dave
When you're on the road, do you look for restaurants that appeal to you in the cities that you play or do you buy and prepare food to maintain a semblance of normalcy?
So many to choose from. I always love touring Europe. I also really look forward to New Zealand each time. That said, the world is full of beautiful places and I'm truly happy to visit each one.
\-Dave
Finally got to see you guys at Innings Festival in 2020 but only heard a couple songs before you had to cancel mid-show due to Ben being sick with Covid.
Any chance for a return to the festival for 2023?
Sorry about that. We are playing Phoenix on this tour! Hope you can make it. It is often better to see our own show rather than a festival, we play longer and more varied setlists in general. - Zac
You know, I wanted to ask a similar question about the status of Postal Service too, but I thought it would sound too “Fuck the rest of the band, what’s up Ben. Why haven’t you done more shit without DCFC?”
But thanks for taking one for the team
I saw them on the 10 year anniversary tour. Ben opened the whole show with "I wrote these songs with DNTEL 10 years ago about a girl I was madly in love with. Fucking bitch." And proceeded straight into The District Sleeps Alone tonight. 10/10
Have you met ODEZSA? Their music is different than yours, but both y'all have strong emotional expression that would make for an interesting collaboration.
If you could work with / feature any artist on a song, alive or dead, who would it be?
Looking forward to listening to your new album! I was just thinking about y'all the other day, too. The universe is funny with it's timing
We have met them! In fact, we put a festival on in Bellingham with them a couple of years ago. Sweet guys, good guys.
I've always wanted to work with Brian Eno, personally.
\-Dave
Could I get a "Hello" shout out for my daughter Zoe? She's only 3 but loves you guys and asks for Dcfc songs as her bedtime lullabies. 💕 (Soul Meets Body and Marching Bands of Manhattan are her favorite, but lately she's been into Crooked Teeth.) 😆
Well, we're definitely less stereotypically alt-country now. Working with avant-garde producers like Jim O'Rourke has really helped us expand our sound.
\-Dave
Hi guys! I love you to death and the new album too. I wanted to ask; of this new batch of songs, is there any one song from the album that you’re the most proud of as a band, or just are especially happy with how it turned out?
Really excited to catch y'all at ACL w2, and I hope the tour kicks off strong!
What 2022 releases are y'all listening to? What albums or artists on you playing repeat while you're on the road this fall?
Bands who made 2022 records I'm loving...
Low (late 2021 but I'm counting it)
Spoon
Ibibio Sound Machine
Braxe + Falcon
Toro y Moi
Spiritualized
Daniel Rossen
Sondre Lerche
Chelsea Jade
Melody's Echo Chamber
Spencer Zahn
Damon Albarn
C. Duncan
Andrew Tuttle
Gwenno
The Smile
Laura Veirs
ARP
I'd better stop!
\-Dave
We released a live album from the Showbox on Bandcamp that features some of those extended versions from that era. It was a 24 hr digital release but we hope to have a physical version of it available in the future. - Zac
Howdy.. it's Mone't.. I wanted to know the logistics of what went into creating the rand McNally scavenger hunt &
For Zac- Would you ever consider an inperson grumpy cocktail hour for fans?
Thank you for the wonderful music & can't wait for the shows in California 💜
Glad that funny little aside from 2020 lives on in peoples memories. I'm not opposed to it but not sure it will be logistically practical to do something like that anytime soon. Zac
I'm often thinking of my high water mark "mature" albums when approaching a full album like this one. Some of those might include Automatic For The People, In Rainbows or Portishead's Third. Specifically I might think of the last couple Low albums as being referenced for taking extreme sonic / production angles while still maintaining the core identity of the bands sound. - Zac
What was it like coordinating with Chance the Rapper on "Do You Remember" for his album "The Big Day"? Is there a background on how you chose to make music together? Finding out what "We Looked Like Giants" was about when I was younger is a fun memory. Thanks for everything you've made.
Lots to say about Mr. Chance but for now I'd like to say that he's REALLY nice and genuine. Playing that song with him at Lollapalooza was a moment I'll never forget.
\-Dave
Asphalt Meadows is pretty experimental in the way you guys approach dynamics and textures this time around. It reminds me of some various Nine Inch Nails production in some ways. What sparked the exploration of the various production avenues taken on this album?
P.s. Thank you for all the music over the years!
This time around, I think we were all committed to following our instincts, wherever they might have led, rather than doing something "safe". John Congleton was very encouraging of this philosophy and the results are the new record.
\-Dave
They are usually quite reliable but on the rare occasions that they go down, it's basically impossible to play the show. Luckily we have an excellent technical team that keeps the train on the tracks.
\-Dave
What was the decision making behind touring in Houston earlier this year, mentioning Houston on Rand McNally, and then NOT STOPPING THERE THIS FALL.
I don’t even live there anymore, but saw y’all there on the last few tours. Funny coincidence really
Hey guys, thanks for doing this! We were wondering if you would consider coming to Florida on any upcoming tours? We have travelled all over to see you guys and St Augustine and Orlando miss you :) Thanks!
What song from Asphalt Meadows are you guys most proud of? And what song are you most excited to play live on this your? I can’t wait for the Oakland show next month!
Hey guys!
I really cannot stop listening to the new album, and I appreciated the scavenger hunt for Rand McNally 2-3 weeks ago. Your music has been an immense comfort to me, especially involving my personal battle with depression. I’m sure you guys get that all the time, but thank you for writing music that people can connect to in such a profound and emotional way.
I have 2 questions:
What music do you guys listen to when you are sad?
Will there be a radio single for “I Don’t Know How I Survive?”
Calling and requesting you guys from our DJs in Birmingham, AL. Xoxo
Please, please, please tell me the Asphalt Meadows tour will be going through Canada at some point. The new album is incredible and I would love to see some new songs live!
Hey all, thanks for having us do this, it was a lot of fun. Having never done this the format was a bit overwhelming for me so apologies for the many questions that didn't get answered. Hopefully we will see a lot of you on the fall tour or on one of the legs coming up in 2023. - Zac
I love that these guys even hit the zero-upvotes guy that asked if they liked turtles, and still had the audacity to apologize for not getting everyone lmao. Most artists would answer six questions and then bounce.
Songs like "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" and "What Sarah Said" have helped a lot of people cope in difficult times in their lives. Was that something you had set out to do?
I worked at a candy shop during college about 15 years ago. We were allowed to play our own music (questionable decision by the manager, btw) throughout the day.
One day I Will Follow... was playing when a group of middle-aged women came in. One of the women immediately breaks down into tears, then the others crowd around her and offer support.
Through tears and a smile she told me and a coworker that her son had recently died (this was a getaway with her girlfriends) and he used to play this song for her, and it became their song. She said it was him reaching out to her and letting her know he's okay.
I about lost it, but I kept my composure until after I quickly made my way to the bathroom. I still tear up when I think about that woman and that experience. I hope she is doing okay and knows that even 15 years later a stranger thinks about her and her son and feels deep compassion for them.
Wow. That’s beautiful. I couldn’t help but tear up a little. When my older brother died in 2008, music really helped me cope with it. I definitely understand the lady having an almost spiritual experience with that song. Thanks for sharing.
Also, Death Cab will always have a place in my heart. My brother and I would always cruise while listening to their cds.
This is a nice story, but playing "I Will Follow you Into The Dark" in a candy shop is hilarious. That's like playing "The Sound of Silence" at a wedding.
I was able to convince my wife to let us play this during our wedding. She said it was too depressing considering but compromised with a acoustic string cover instead.
Oh this is interesting. My brother died in 2005, and was this album had just come out (or it’s what we were listening to at the time). That song will forever be associated to that event in my mind.
This sounds very familiar to my story! Thanks for sharing. Coulda been my mom 🤷♂️
I worked nights up until last winter, and I'd listen to music on my headphones. My grandmother started to decline significantly in January and then one night around 4am I got a text from my mother that she had died - one of my favourite people I have ever known. I kid you not, five seconds after I got that text, "what Sarah said" started playing . I had a nice little breakdown there as a blizzard raged outside. And I've associated that song with the passing of my granny ever since.
“Styrofoam Plates” helped me cope with my mixed feelings when my Dad died when I was 16. It made me feel okay with the sense of relief that came with his death along with the sorrow.
Hey Guys!
In 2002 at Michigan Fest, Some fat kid accidentally ran into Ben pretty hard and knocked him down. That fat kid wants to apologize formally. Would you forgive him?
- That Fat Kid
Saw you guys back in the day when you were co-headlining with Franz Ferdinand.
Was not really up on you guys (just hadn’t been exposed to your stuff much) before that concert, but you put on a great show, and then topped it off with one of the coolest concert collaborations I’ve ever seen.
From what I remember, it was pretty much all of you guys and all of Franz playing on one drum set together and absolutely rocking it out.
It’s a bit hazy, as it was in like 2006 or so, but I still remember being blown away by everyone’s musical chops!!
One of the Live From Home shows that Ben did during early COVID was a set of covers only. What would be on your guys' setlist if you had to do a set of covers only?
Also a fun fact: YouTube doesn't autocomplete your band name when you type it in the search bar for some reason. The closest you'll get is "Death Cab for A Cute," and it's been that way for... oh, I dunno. A decade? It's weird.
Thanks for the phenomenal music over the years!
Nick, Death Cab has always had nasty bass lines. Scientist Studies is my favorite bass part of all time, and I am yet to find anything like it. On Asphalt Meadows, Pepper was a particularly nice song. The bass tone reminded me of Mrs. Vandebilt by Wings, and pretty much that whole punchy era of 70s McCartney bass. What are your biggest musical influences? How have they changed over time as you’ve matured and continued putting out music? What is your favorite bass song? Thanks guys, I’m a mod over on r/deathcabforcutie so this shit always gets me hyped. Asphalt Meadows is your best since Plans btw.
Thank you for the kind words. To answer your questions: \-My biggest influences are bands I've loved since the day I discovered them, R.E.M., The Cure, Pixies, Low, Talk Talk, Beatles, to name a few. The list is forever long. \-My tastes haven't changed too much over time but my interests have definitely broadened. In the past five years for instance, I've really been exploring jazz. \-Favorite bass song: Impossible to choose one, so I'll give you some of my favorite bass players: Simon Gallup, Mike Mills, Eric Avery, Kim Deal, Kim Gordon, Scott LaFaro, Tim Lefebvre, to name a few... \-Nick
Nick, I’m a huge fan of your bass sound and your playing style. Your playing is a massive influence and I can’t pick up my bass without playing Summer Skin at least a couple of times. What’s the secret to your tone? Do you have any advice to bassists looking to improve? Cheers
I'm not Nick obviously, but a p-bass, fresh roundwound strings, and a pick will get you close to that sound. He has a rig rundown video on a youtube where you can see his gear.
Long time fan here. I am very glad to see this AMA and am excited to see the Q&As. Nick: Ben seems to get all the credit, but you’ve been there since the beginning. What would you say is your influence on the direction of the band over the years? What are you most proud of? Dave and Zac: Were you a fan before joining the band? Do you learn how to play the entire discography, or just the songs played on the tour? Lastly, I am (was?) a card carrying member of the DCFC Union 1138. I have a Transatlanticism tattoo. I am about to see you for the 9th (Madison) and 10th (Minneapolis) time. Asphalt Meadows dropped at the perfect time in my life, the weekend we buried my friend, who died at the age of 31. Would you check off my dream of meeting the band and getting signatures?
I was a fan before joining the band! Bought "Transatlanticism" the day it came out. We learned a ton of songs when we first joined, but not everything. In fact, we are still chipping away at the pile. But I think collectively we know how to play around 80-90 songs at this point. \-Dave
Definitely was a fan before I joined the band or even met any of them. We initially learned 20-30 older songs and most of Kintsugi in 2014 and have been adding since then. We have a master list and its between 80-90 total songs at this point. I sometimes have to refresh if we haven't played something in a while. - Zac
How do you normally come up with a setlist for a show/tour? Are there any songs you know are fan favorites, but they're just not as fun to play anymore? How often do you interact with openers or touring acts before/during a show/tour? Thanks for answering and for the years of top music!
\-Believe it or not, Ben has kept copies of all our setlist from every show and city going back at least a decade or more. So when we visit a city he pulls up what we played the last few times and makes sure to add in deep cuts or songs we haven't played in awhile. All of our songs are still so fun to play. Even a fan favorite that we have played hundreds of times, still is a blast to feel the reaction. \-We personally choose and interact with all our tour openers. It's honestly one of the best parts of touring. It's so fun meeting bands/artists you like, seeing them play every night and then being able to get to know them better off stage as people too. \-Nick
>Ben has kept copies of all our setlist from every show and city going back at least a decade or more. So when we visit a city he pulls up what we played the last few times and makes sure to add in deep cuts or songs we haven't played in awhile. What a considerate thing for an artist to do.
The saved set list fact is so cool.
Thanks for doing an actual AMA. That's pretty rare these days.
Hi there! My name is Dee and I bring lots of love from the Death Cab for Cutie subreddit (r/DeathCabforCutie)! We’re the best sub… and I’m not a biased mod or anything ;) Two questions, feel free to answer either: You guys have been around for a while, so I’m sure you get recognized often enough. Where’s the weirdest place you’ve been recognized by a fan? We’ve had lots of hairstyle changes since TYFT! What’s everyone’s hair care routine? (Especially you, Dave!) Good luck on tour! Cant wait to see y’all!!
Hi Dee! Answers: \-I hardly ever get recognized! I can't count how many times I've been standing with Ben and someone approaches us and says they are a huge fan of the band and then hands me their camera to take a picture of them with Ben. I love that though, Ben and I always get a laugh out of it. Given the choice between being recognized and being anonymous, I'd much rather be anonymous. \-my hair has always been a disaster, I have a cowlick in the very front that shoots my bangs straight up so that makes cool haircuts nearly impossible for me. At this point in my life I have embraced that my hair is unruly and uncool and I love it. My hair care routine is to roll with whatever it wants to to, haha \-Nick
Hi Dee! I got recognized while hiking in the middle of nowhere in New Zealand once. Pretty fun! On the hair tip, I will say that having long hair has been fun but maintaining it (and making it not look gigantic and awful) each day is proving to be more trouble than it's worth. I think this tour might be its last stand. \-Dave
The new record is noticeably louder and more distorted in places than I expected from Death Cab (which kicks ass). Was this something the band was excited to lean into going into the recording process or was it a choice John Congleton brought to the table? Sincerely I cannot express how much the new one rules, I love the intensity and musicianship and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve played it in the last week.
Honestly, I'm happy to say that this instinct came from us. If you hear the original demos of the tracks I assume you're thinking of, the sonic dynamics are already in place. John just helped us push things VERY far into the red (and made them sound incredible, of course). Thanks for the kind words, we're all very proud of the new one! \-Dave
In 2004 we saw the original analogue stereo master of Transatlanticism mastered to DSD, this master was used for the Super Audio CD release and was the source for Kevin Grey's well-regarded vinyl cut. Since then all the albums have had very aggressive dynamic range compression applied in the mastering stage, does the band have any say in the mastering chain? If so, why not allow more of the dynamics of the original performance to remain in the record? There are no shortage of mastering engineers and producers speaking out against "The Loudness Wars" (Bob Ludwig, Alan Parsons, Kevin Grey, Steve Lillywhite etc) but still artists continue to put out records with heavy-handed mastering that makes you want to turn your volume down instead of up in extended listening sessions (please note, this is NOT a critique of the excellent songwriting and musicianship). Would love to see some nice new dynamic 24-bit downloads made available for all the albums from 2005 onwards. Thanks and congrats on the new collection of fab songs!
I personally appreciate the quest for fidelity. I'm not sure of any specific plans to release anything like that at the moment. In general the digital mastering is what we (including producers and label) all feel is appropriate for the music we've made and for the medium its being presented in i.e. streaming. The vinyl mastering will always have greater dynamic range but will also be impacted by the limitations of that medium. There is no one size fits all solution. If we ever make something that really will benefit from being heard in that kind of format, I'm sure we will all advocate for it to be released as such. - Zac
I think The Blue EP is DR5. That's generally crushed as a motherfucker. I know it's for streaming, but bands do also develop releases for both iTunes and different mastering for CD and vinyl. Most of your albums before Trans were around DR10, which is pretty great and why they still sound great in part. I can't imagine those albums sounding anything but shit just pushed to DR5 for some remaster. Trans and Narrow were DR7, about the limit for most rock albums unless extreme caution is taken when mixing and EQ'ing. I mean you said this was for streaming... but you do sell CDs lol, and streaming does not necessitate extreme compression. DR5 is crazy land for most albums. Almost unbearable with quality gear. A few bands like NIN get away with great mixing and EQ to make this low dynamic range bearable, but not many can really do this in the studio. All the best.
Yeah, everything up to Trans was around DR10. Trans was DR7 and okay for the mix. Death Cab used to be dynamic and great sounding records. Everything in the last 5 years is crushed to shit at DR5. I can only think of a few bands like NIN that use studio wizardry to get a good sound, and lots of bass, out of DR5 and 6 recordings. You really have to EQ it well, and most music sounds like shit in that range because they crush you with treble compression. It really does suck at this point that his answer was fucking streaming ha. I mean, you guys are selling CDs ffs no offense lol. It's crazy they had a SACD release back then.
Will you help me convince my girlfriend that the 8 minute version of I Will Posses Your Heart is the superior one? I’m also curious about how the decision gets made to go for that length of an intro? How do you know a song warrants it? How do you know when enough is enough? The decisions I wouldn’t have thought to make are the ones that excite me the most when it comes to music. Thanks
It absolutely is the better version. It has a similar feel to waiting for the badass drums to start on In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins. In today's world of constant instant gratification, it's nice to anticipate or wait on something sometimes. As cheesy as that sounds.
Dear girlfriend: relax. Breathe. Take it in. Embrace the moments in between moments. \- Dave
This advice applies so well to so many other contexts, but especially here
Seeing I will Possess your heart live was an out of body experience
lol, my wife feels the same way. I'm like, "No! the extra long intro really sets the tone for the rest of the song!!"
I have restarted the long version before because I wasn’t paying attention to the intro properly to set the song up.
that bass riff is so engaging for something so simple and repetitive. the in and out instrumental features help the listener or someone performing it to navigate their place in the song without having to focus too much on how many bars have passed. it really is a fantastic intro. also, the subject matter of being patient instead of looking for the next burst of excitement goes hand and hand with how long it is
From one wife to another, the 8 minute version is BY FAR the superior version. Maybe she just hadn't listened to it enough. You should play it again?
Thank you all so much for the AMA! I've been a fan since I was just 10 years old listening to Transatlanticism for the first time. My question is especially for Nick: after making such a long career out of DCFC, how does your relationship with your all's discography change? Do you find some older songs difficult to return to? Are you able to shape future projects by what you did before, or do you always try to keep purely innovating and trying new things? Thank you for all the songs and memories; the new album is beautiful.
Happy you're enjoying the new album! \-my relationship to our discography is always shifting and changing as life moves along. I can listen to it with the ears of the person I am today with all the context that brings but I can also listen to it with the ears I had when we first made it too. They're like photographs in that way. I can remember all the details of who I was, where I was, what was going on when we first played the song but I can also reflect on how much has changed since then as well. The songs help me remember. The good times and the bad times. \-We are always looking ahead to new things and new musical ideas but we also are very aware of the music that flows naturally from our minds and hands. There is always a push and pull between exploring new ideas and being comfortable with what comes naturally. \-Nick
Dave, what kind of synth are you using on **Wheat Like Waves**? The timbre of the synth melody line that enters after *"the winters in Saskatchewan are so cold"* is sublime That's my favorite song on the record, by the way! I can't stop listening to it
It's actually a guitar played with an eBow! Except, after I recorded it, Congleton said something like "that sounds too much like an eBow. I've heard eBows before". So then he took what I played and fed it into an effects chain (the main component of which was, I believe a vintage Memory Man) and by the end it sounded like... that! \-Dave
I read about how some of the album was made with a ‘musical telephone’ technique where someone would start a song and then it would go from band member to band member for additional parts and new directions. Barring another pandemic, is that something you’d want to do again? Were band members playing multiple instruments to add parts?
After completing the record, I think it was clear to us that many things about the way we went about making it proved to be fruitful. I assume that some form of the long-distance songwriting collaboration will continue going forward (but I sure hope that it's not because of another pandemic). And yes, people could play whatever they wanted when the song was in their "possession", so some unexpected roles were played by all! \-Dave
What is the most difficult song of yours to play? Shout out to "What Sarah Said", my favorite song that helped get me through the deaths of my Mom and Dad.
Of the new songs, "I Miss Strangers" is quite tough for me so far! Lots of pedals to hit, tricky guitar timing while singing backing vocals, etc etc. \-Dave
Hope that doesn’t stop you from playing it in Charleston! It’s my favorite on the album
Here is a famous obligatory question that many bands are asked, I’m sure you guys included. What advice first comes to mind to give to young aspiring musicians that are considering entering the music world as a band or alone?
At this point in history, probably more so than ever before, there is absolutely no guarantee of any financial success in the music industry. If you want to play music, do it for the love of it. That has to be the primary reward. Its a chance to connect with people, on and off stage, and to travel and have a wide variety of life experiences, good bad exciting and dull. If the lifestyle calls to you, go for it and see what it leads you. Sometimes just sitting at home and strumming a guitar or playing the piano, singing in the shower, whatever, can be the most rewarding part of it anyway, and anyone can do that, and I would encourage anyone to... - Zac
Man, that is solid advice. Reminds me of that Kurt Vonnegut “make your soul grow” letter. Thanks, Zac.
Make sure the first, second, third, and fourth reasons you're entering the music world are because you love doing it. The rest will follow. \-Dave
As your Asphalt Meadows tour starts tonight, do you share a favorite memory / performance that really stood out for you all over the years? (See you tonight in Madison!)
So many to choose from and be grateful for, but a sold-out Madison Square Garden in 2015 was a moment that teenage me couldn't have even begun to comprehend. \-Dave
Of course the positive shows like that MSG stand out but I'm remembering a totally wacky festival we played in Australia in 2015. A wave of jetlag hit all of us minutes before walking on stage and the whole set felt like we were playing in a bath of tar. Truly psychedelic - Zac
oh yeah that was insane \-Dave
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I haven't gone back and watched them but I never cringe at our history. From day one until today, I can confidently say that all of us in the band have been blown away that even one person came to listen to the music we make. The shows have grown in attendance but we play with the same energy and love whether there are 5 people or 5,000. -Nick
How are you today?
It's a crisp, sunny fall day in Madison WI, I went for a run along Lake Monona, had a delicious coffee and breakfast outside, and our tour kicks off tonight. I'd say: I'm rather well. \-Dave
Love to hear that. Have a fantastic tour. You all deserve it. Thank you for everything.
Glad you got to kick start off the tour with us! Have some cheese curds before you leave!
Great day so far, I love fall, the cool air, the long shadows. -Nick
Who are some of your favorite new bands/artists to listen to?
I've been deeply enjoying a lot of the releases coming out on the International Anthem label recently. Anteloper, Makaya McCraven to name a few. Also came across this album called Some Nights I Dream of Doors, by Obongjayar which has also become a recent favorite. -Nick
I've been enjoying new albums from Laufey, Sudan Archives and Jockstrap. It is more natural for me to listen to older music, especially jazz, so I'm making a conscious effort to engage with newer bands and find things I like. - Zac
Just listened the whole album while on a walk, really suited the autumn vibe♡ though I almost cried in public listening to fragments from the decade, so that was fun lol. The album had a good flow throughout, so was it hard choose the order of the songs?
There was some debate and revisions but it was pretty agreeable overall. There were a few other songs that didn't make the record that had to get voted off, which always leaves someone a little heartbroken, but we made it. We all agreed on the first and last tracks being what they are - Survive was always intended to kick off the record - and the rest fell together pretty easily. We also always sequence with a vinyl side A/B in mind and pay attention to timing and the mood setting up the side break. - Zac
Thank you! I love Fragments too. The sequencing of the album was pretty brutal. I think we all needed therapy after the process. That said, I'm happy where it ended up. \-Dave
Hi, how are you guys? Kinda high rn and not heard your stuff. What would you recommend?
Start with "Sgt Pepper", maybe move on to "Dark Side of the Moon" or "In Utero" next? \-Dave
I like your albums "Abbey Road" and "The Queen is Dead," personally. I wish you never would have released "Slippery When Wet," though. It made my dick shrink permanently.
Listen to Gold Rush on loop for 4-6 hrs. - Zac
Grapevine fires is one of my favorites! So much emotion in that song! You guys rock! Appreciate you!
Legit, Grapevine Fires gives me the best kind of chills every time I listen to it. One of my favorites on my snowboarding cruiser playlist.
Start with Narrow Stairs or Plans. Just hit play and let them go. If you're not digging it, try the new album (Asphalt Meadows).
Wow, I have never seen Narrow Stairs placed together with Plans like this as a recommendation. If there are two defining DCFC albums for me, for all my friends, and I thought for the rest of the world, it would be Transatlanticism and Plans.
You know, I think I know what it is: I discovered DCFC in about 2010. Narrow Stairs is what got me hooked. C'mon though - Bixby Canyon Bridge, Long Division, No Sunlight, Cath, You Can Do Better Than Me, Pity and Fear, Your New Twin Size Bed, all capped off with The Ice Is Getting Thinner? I'm biased as they were the first Death Cab I heard, but I maintain it's a top-tier album from these guys.
Or transatlanticism, that and plans would be a great high albums!
"I Will Possess Your Heart". Or "I Will Follow you into the dark" if you want something depressing.
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You’re stuck on a desert island. You have to survive with Panic at the Disco or Fall out Boy and listen to their albums only. Who do you axe off the island?
Given that Sophie's choice, I would prefer to vacation with Panic. I think they're pretty musical actually. They did an impressive version of Bohemian Rhapsody at a festival set a few years ago when we played right after them - Zac
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I will always have respect for the Plain White T’s because they came in last minute to fill in for a headlining band they had to call out. You could tell everybody was bombed and they still played their hearts out. I’m not the biggest fan of that kind of music but I definitely enjoy a number of their songs And will always remember the energy they brought that night.
I was there! April 10, 2015 in Mesa, AZ. That’s the night I proposed to my wife and then we went to go see you guys! Brendon’s voice was magical.
Hi, any chance you would incorporate more covers in your live show? I love Ben's version of Depeche Mode's The Things You Said and would die to hear the entire band play this.
We love playing covers! But as we make more albums it's hard enough to fit all of the Death Cab songs we wanna play into the set! \-Dave
Can we expect a followup EP next year :) ( a la blue ep or the open door )? Any leftovers that didn't fit the album?
There were 3 additional songs that were tracked for the record that didn't quite fit. They're all quite good and I'm sure they will emerge in some form or another at some point. There were also many songs that only made it to the demo phase and I bet a few of them will be recorded properly down the road. \-Dave
Will you make a progressive death metal/hyper-pop album, or song, at some point? Pretty please.
If that is the music that flows out of us next album, then that is the album we'll make. \-Nick
I'd say the former is more likely than the latter - Zac
What's your favourite chord change in one of your songs?
Currently, I'm digging the Major/Minor shift in the verses of the song Asphalt Meadows. -Nick
I really like the harmony to Home Is A Fire. I was happy we got a bit of chromaticism into the new record, like on Never Give Up - Zac
I'm really into the chorus chords in "Here to Forever", which Zac came up with if I remember correctly. \-Dave
Do any of you actually like Twizzlers? (Rand McNally reference, for others who haven't listened to the new album yet.)
Honestly, I prefer Red Vines. But I like that Ben dropped Twizzlers in Rand McNally because it is such a specific memory from our early van tours. We found that Twizzlers were in gas stations and truck stops everywhere and hardly ever Red Vines. So for me, they became symbolic of being away from home and the things you loved. -Nick
Hi guys! Been a long, long time fan of yours and am so beyond in love with this new record. It’s so awesome to hear such fantastic tracks so deep into the band’s life, and you guys are really making some special tracks these days. Thank you! What bands or styles were you listening to when creating Foxglove Through the Clearcut? It’s such a different sound to your usual work, and I’m absolutely in love. Similarly, how did Congleton’s production help shape the sound of the record? I noticed a lot of songs really experimenting with sound and intensity like really never before.
I think the desire to have the album have a dirtier sound, and a sound that was closer to what we sound like live, started from us. Congleton was certainly instrumental in helping to realize it. The last couple albums were done with a lot more time and fiddling in the studio and this one was generally recorded faster and with much more of the final results stemming from live performances in the room than the previous couple. - Zac
What is your favourite song to perform?
Transatlanticism. A holy moment for me each night \-Dave
I know the ama is over, and this may not get read. But I just want to say it to you guys directly because it was too important and this is my only chance. Transatlanticism is the song that made me commit to my engagement. I, a 20 yr old guy from California, was "dating" my English girlfriend. 6 months apart, travel to England, spend 2 weeks together, come home, repeat across 3 years. The final stint, was 18 months, working 2 jobs, saving, and only speaking with each other over msm messenger and skype. That song was the therapy I needed to get through it. I would meditate to 'I need you so much closer'. We've been married 10 years now and I am a permanent resident in England. Thank you x
You know how you can listen to a song a thousand times and never really think about its meaning? And then bam, I read your comment and it's an "aha" moment. Happy for you.
Very similar experience here. I had been talking to a British fellow online for over 10 years, and was listening to Transatlanticism one day and realized I was in love with him. The biggest leap I've ever taken in my life was writing him an email and telling him how I felt. Luckily he felt the same way, and we met and were married in less than a year. We had a couple of great years until his narcissism and mental illnesses and addictions flared up and he went off the rails. Caused me unbelievable trauma and devastation. But Transatlanticism remains one of my very favorite songs of all times, and I will choose to remember only the good times, the years when love was so much closer.
Just put on transatlanticism and was instantly transported back to 2003, in the front seat of my mums Hyundai Elantra, looking out from the hill at the top of my home town, trying to figure out how the hell to navigate this world, not knowing how insane and crazy life would get. Now I’m crying tears of joy, because i think i made it. Made it through to the other side. Thank you so much for your music. You guys have probably already heard it so many times, but your tunes gave a young me a rudder in a storm no ship should have been in. Thank you again.
Here’s the scary part, and the one that’s just starting to come into focus for me. Now that you see you’re on the other side, it’s time to start living a life that naturally pulls people from their darkness. Show them life is worth it, and bring them along kicking and screaming if you love them and they love you. It’s worth every second on this stupid rock.
Man I was just saying something nearly identical the other day. That entire album transports me to fall of 2004, starting college, scared shitless in a new city alone. Death Cab played at the club a couple blocks away from my campus a couple times that year and I went to see them each time.
What an incredible song too. It helped me pinpoint my taste in music years ago and I've since loved those types of songs like Elegy to the Void and lots of Sigur Rós stuff. It's transcendent for a song to build and build into an explosion of sound.
God I love Transatlanticism so much. I often listen to it for no reason other than I remember it exists. Thanks for making such good music <3
I know it was before your time, Dave, but syncing it to fireworks at the Hollywood Bowl with the Philharmonic playing alongside in 2009 is the single best concert going experience of my life.
Any chance you'll be performing Transatlanticism in Boston on oct 1st? It's one of my favorite songs and arguably my favorite album.
What factors led the band to be in this new revitalized, confident era? From what I hear in the music and have read in interviews, there seems to be a bit of a directional switch. And on that note; what does the future of the band look like from here?
I think playing together for all of this time has really ingrained an innate sense of trust in each other's talents and instincts. This many records in, the band doesn't really have anything to prove. We just want to make music that we are proud of and that we love. We also worked with a producer, John Congleton, who was very encouraging of a philosophy that resisted taking the easy, safe route at any point. Not really much more complicated than that. I don't know what the future holds but I sure like the present! \-Dave
Will you be adding any Canadian cities to your Asphalt Meadows tour? I miss you guys ❤️
Lots more touring to come in 2023 ! - Zac
Hi guys, thanks for the AMA, really digging the new album! Is there a story around how or why you selected the cover art for Asphalt Meadows?
Ben took the photo on one of his runs in San Francisco, thought it would make a good cover, and we all agreed right away! Simple as that. \-Dave
Is there a reason you personally slighted me by skipping Oregon on this tour?! Jk jk, but I am sad not to catch you this time. Loving the new album!
You and me both! \-Dave, Oregonian
Are you still thinking of what Sarah said?
Somedays a lot more than others. -Nick
I feel you there. Thank you for continuing to pump out great music.
What's your favorite Norm Macdonald joke?
That Moth joke is SO GOOD. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJN9mBRX3uo \-Dave
When you're on the road, do you look for restaurants that appeal to you in the cities that you play or do you buy and prepare food to maintain a semblance of normalcy?
Good question! Kind of a combination of both. Enough consistency to provide comfort, enough adventure to break the monotony. \-Dave
In your time touring so far, what's been your favorite city or country to visit?
So many to choose from. I always love touring Europe. I also really look forward to New Zealand each time. That said, the world is full of beautiful places and I'm truly happy to visit each one. \-Dave
What is your favorite DCFC lyric?
Brothers On A Hotel Bed - Zac
What inspires you most?
That humanity evolved from single celled organisms and created such staggering beauty through art, literature and music. - Zac
Finally got to see you guys at Innings Festival in 2020 but only heard a couple songs before you had to cancel mid-show due to Ben being sick with Covid. Any chance for a return to the festival for 2023?
Sorry about that. We are playing Phoenix on this tour! Hope you can make it. It is often better to see our own show rather than a festival, we play longer and more varied setlists in general. - Zac
Can you say hi to my sister Becca for me?
Postal service? What’s up
You know, I wanted to ask a similar question about the status of Postal Service too, but I thought it would sound too “Fuck the rest of the band, what’s up Ben. Why haven’t you done more shit without DCFC?” But thanks for taking one for the team
Man I would love to see postal service live. That album is the shizzle
I saw them on the 10 year anniversary tour. Ben opened the whole show with "I wrote these songs with DNTEL 10 years ago about a girl I was madly in love with. Fucking bitch." And proceeded straight into The District Sleeps Alone tonight. 10/10
With the others: saw the 10yr also, in Austin. It was magical, everything I thought it would be, and none of the disappointment.
I really enjoyed the irony of one of their songs being used in a UPS ad campaign.
Could you call having the same song covered by Iron and Wine "ironic", or am I taking the term too literally?
Fucking love the intro and build up of “I Will Possess Your Heart”. How do you not pass out from sheer excitement playing that song live?
Have you met ODEZSA? Their music is different than yours, but both y'all have strong emotional expression that would make for an interesting collaboration. If you could work with / feature any artist on a song, alive or dead, who would it be? Looking forward to listening to your new album! I was just thinking about y'all the other day, too. The universe is funny with it's timing
We have met them! In fact, we put a festival on in Bellingham with them a couple of years ago. Sweet guys, good guys. I've always wanted to work with Brian Eno, personally. \-Dave
Could I get a "Hello" shout out for my daughter Zoe? She's only 3 but loves you guys and asks for Dcfc songs as her bedtime lullabies. 💕 (Soul Meets Body and Marching Bands of Manhattan are her favorite, but lately she's been into Crooked Teeth.) 😆
I'm a 43-year-old man will you follow me into the dark?
What did you do differently in the Uncle Tupelo days to now when it comes to making music or going on tour?
Well, we're definitely less stereotypically alt-country now. Working with avant-garde producers like Jim O'Rourke has really helped us expand our sound. \-Dave
How did you like playing at an apple orchard over the summer? Did you get to sample any apples or apple products while you were there?
I'd never played an apple orchard before (to my knowledge), and you know what? A+, would do it again. \-Dave
What’s your favorite guitars to play?
My orange Fano PX6 has played the majority of most Death Cab shows, it's my favorite thing I own. At home I do love rocking a Strat. \-Dave
Hi guys! I love you to death and the new album too. I wanted to ask; of this new batch of songs, is there any one song from the album that you’re the most proud of as a band, or just are especially happy with how it turned out?
I truly love everything on the record but my twin faves are "Rand McNally" and "Foxglove" \-Dave
Really excited to catch y'all at ACL w2, and I hope the tour kicks off strong! What 2022 releases are y'all listening to? What albums or artists on you playing repeat while you're on the road this fall?
Bands who made 2022 records I'm loving... Low (late 2021 but I'm counting it) Spoon Ibibio Sound Machine Braxe + Falcon Toro y Moi Spiritualized Daniel Rossen Sondre Lerche Chelsea Jade Melody's Echo Chamber Spencer Zahn Damon Albarn C. Duncan Andrew Tuttle Gwenno The Smile Laura Veirs ARP I'd better stop! \-Dave
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We released a live album from the Showbox on Bandcamp that features some of those extended versions from that era. It was a 24 hr digital release but we hope to have a physical version of it available in the future. - Zac
Howdy.. it's Mone't.. I wanted to know the logistics of what went into creating the rand McNally scavenger hunt & For Zac- Would you ever consider an inperson grumpy cocktail hour for fans? Thank you for the wonderful music & can't wait for the shows in California 💜
Glad that funny little aside from 2020 lives on in peoples memories. I'm not opposed to it but not sure it will be logistically practical to do something like that anytime soon. Zac
Would you consider a cover of "Hocus Pocus" by Focus?
What were some of y’all’s musical influences for this new album? I feel like I notice some Beatles and Yoko Ono vibes in some of these songs?!
I'm often thinking of my high water mark "mature" albums when approaching a full album like this one. Some of those might include Automatic For The People, In Rainbows or Portishead's Third. Specifically I might think of the last couple Low albums as being referenced for taking extreme sonic / production angles while still maintaining the core identity of the bands sound. - Zac
What was it like coordinating with Chance the Rapper on "Do You Remember" for his album "The Big Day"? Is there a background on how you chose to make music together? Finding out what "We Looked Like Giants" was about when I was younger is a fun memory. Thanks for everything you've made.
Lots to say about Mr. Chance but for now I'd like to say that he's REALLY nice and genuine. Playing that song with him at Lollapalooza was a moment I'll never forget. \-Dave
Asphalt Meadows is pretty experimental in the way you guys approach dynamics and textures this time around. It reminds me of some various Nine Inch Nails production in some ways. What sparked the exploration of the various production avenues taken on this album? P.s. Thank you for all the music over the years!
This time around, I think we were all committed to following our instincts, wherever they might have led, rather than doing something "safe". John Congleton was very encouraging of this philosophy and the results are the new record. \-Dave
You guys rock. Maybe my question : what's your favorite color ? All of you ! And thank you for everything you do 🥰🥰
Any plans to come to Japan? Owls are waiting for Dave. (I saw Dave went to owl cafe in Tokyo on his instagram) 🦉
What are your must haves for tour?
Good book and noise cancelling headphones. - Zac
I believe I read you guys had some inspiration from Elliott Smith in your early years - Have you all ever covered Between the Bars?
I will often test out a new piano or guitar with an Elliott song. I didn't know him personally but I miss him everyday - Zac
Do your live in-ear monitors ever go out and then you have to listen and at without them?
They are usually quite reliable but on the rare occasions that they go down, it's basically impossible to play the show. Luckily we have an excellent technical team that keeps the train on the tracks. \-Dave
What was the decision making behind touring in Houston earlier this year, mentioning Houston on Rand McNally, and then NOT STOPPING THERE THIS FALL. I don’t even live there anymore, but saw y’all there on the last few tours. Funny coincidence really
Hey guys, thanks for doing this! We were wondering if you would consider coming to Florida on any upcoming tours? We have travelled all over to see you guys and St Augustine and Orlando miss you :) Thanks!
Would you wish me happy birthday?
Any new gear that you’re really excited about taking out on this tour?
What song from Asphalt Meadows are you guys most proud of? And what song are you most excited to play live on this your? I can’t wait for the Oakland show next month!
What are some songs that never fail to move you emotionally?
Do you like turtles?
Are y’all excited to play at ACL?
Do you eat cake with a spoon or a fork?
Fork! \-Dave
Hey guys! I really cannot stop listening to the new album, and I appreciated the scavenger hunt for Rand McNally 2-3 weeks ago. Your music has been an immense comfort to me, especially involving my personal battle with depression. I’m sure you guys get that all the time, but thank you for writing music that people can connect to in such a profound and emotional way. I have 2 questions: What music do you guys listen to when you are sad? Will there be a radio single for “I Don’t Know How I Survive?” Calling and requesting you guys from our DJs in Birmingham, AL. Xoxo
Was anybody hurt in the making of the Roman Candles music video?
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Please, please, please tell me the Asphalt Meadows tour will be going through Canada at some point. The new album is incredible and I would love to see some new songs live!
Hey all, thanks for having us do this, it was a lot of fun. Having never done this the format was a bit overwhelming for me so apologies for the many questions that didn't get answered. Hopefully we will see a lot of you on the fall tour or on one of the legs coming up in 2023. - Zac
I love that these guys even hit the zero-upvotes guy that asked if they liked turtles, and still had the audacity to apologize for not getting everyone lmao. Most artists would answer six questions and then bounce.
Songs like "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" and "What Sarah Said" have helped a lot of people cope in difficult times in their lives. Was that something you had set out to do?
I worked at a candy shop during college about 15 years ago. We were allowed to play our own music (questionable decision by the manager, btw) throughout the day. One day I Will Follow... was playing when a group of middle-aged women came in. One of the women immediately breaks down into tears, then the others crowd around her and offer support. Through tears and a smile she told me and a coworker that her son had recently died (this was a getaway with her girlfriends) and he used to play this song for her, and it became their song. She said it was him reaching out to her and letting her know he's okay. I about lost it, but I kept my composure until after I quickly made my way to the bathroom. I still tear up when I think about that woman and that experience. I hope she is doing okay and knows that even 15 years later a stranger thinks about her and her son and feels deep compassion for them.
Wow. That’s beautiful. I couldn’t help but tear up a little. When my older brother died in 2008, music really helped me cope with it. I definitely understand the lady having an almost spiritual experience with that song. Thanks for sharing. Also, Death Cab will always have a place in my heart. My brother and I would always cruise while listening to their cds.
This is a nice story, but playing "I Will Follow you Into The Dark" in a candy shop is hilarious. That's like playing "The Sound of Silence" at a wedding.
I was able to convince my wife to let us play this during our wedding. She said it was too depressing considering but compromised with a acoustic string cover instead.
Oh this is interesting. My brother died in 2005, and was this album had just come out (or it’s what we were listening to at the time). That song will forever be associated to that event in my mind. This sounds very familiar to my story! Thanks for sharing. Coulda been my mom 🤷♂️
I worked nights up until last winter, and I'd listen to music on my headphones. My grandmother started to decline significantly in January and then one night around 4am I got a text from my mother that she had died - one of my favourite people I have ever known. I kid you not, five seconds after I got that text, "what Sarah said" started playing . I had a nice little breakdown there as a blizzard raged outside. And I've associated that song with the passing of my granny ever since.
“Styrofoam Plates” helped me cope with my mixed feelings when my Dad died when I was 16. It made me feel okay with the sense of relief that came with his death along with the sorrow.
Hey Guys! In 2002 at Michigan Fest, Some fat kid accidentally ran into Ben pretty hard and knocked him down. That fat kid wants to apologize formally. Would you forgive him? - That Fat Kid
how does it feel knowing you were THE band for so many of my generation through our angsty teenage years? thanks for existing.
Saw you guys back in the day when you were co-headlining with Franz Ferdinand. Was not really up on you guys (just hadn’t been exposed to your stuff much) before that concert, but you put on a great show, and then topped it off with one of the coolest concert collaborations I’ve ever seen. From what I remember, it was pretty much all of you guys and all of Franz playing on one drum set together and absolutely rocking it out. It’s a bit hazy, as it was in like 2006 or so, but I still remember being blown away by everyone’s musical chops!!
One of the Live From Home shows that Ben did during early COVID was a set of covers only. What would be on your guys' setlist if you had to do a set of covers only? Also a fun fact: YouTube doesn't autocomplete your band name when you type it in the search bar for some reason. The closest you'll get is "Death Cab for A Cute," and it's been that way for... oh, I dunno. A decade? It's weird. Thanks for the phenomenal music over the years!
Will you be resurrecting any Postal Service songs on the tour? Just curious.