Interview with Death Cab for Cutie


In indie circles, Death Cab for Cutie has had a healthy buzz for a number of years. With the release of Transatlanticism (their best record to date) and the help of some prominent endorsements (such as on The OC), the band's mainstream profile is now bigger than ever. Having just signed up alongside Pearl Jam for a quick jaunt through swing states on the Vote for Change tour, Death Cab will have another chance to take their music to a very large audience. Guitarist/producer Chris Walla, who has also done a slew of notable behind-the-boards work for some of the better bands in the Pacific Northwest (The Long Winters, The Decemberists and Carissa's Wierd among them), takes some time to catch us up on all the progress.

ADAM: Thanks for doing our interview, Chris. How's life?

CHRIS: Life is quite good, thanks for asking. It's hot in Seattle this week, and my windows are painted shut, but that's a minor complaint.

ADAM: So...please bring us up to speed. What's been going on with the band since Transatlanticism had its release?

CHRIS: Lots of touring and very little of anything else. Nick went to Comic Con in San Diego last week. Jason got married and turned 30. Ben bought a house. I've been recording rock records for other bands. These things have eaten all of our spare non-touring seconds.

ADAM: The record continues to do well and, as you mentioned, you guys seem to be on the road non-stop. Is there a sense within the band that you guys are going to be around awhile? You're already approaching "veteran" status in indie-rock terms.

CHRIS: Funny, I feel like a veteran now; I'd have scoffed at that concept a year ago, I think. We've done a lot of things, many of them inspiring and good. I see no reason for us to stop anytime soon. We're all dying, however, to be done with the touring cycle for this record so we can write / record the next record.

ADAM: Death Cab co-headlined tours with Ben Kweller and The Dismemberment Plan. A lot of bands I've talked to have had bad experiences with these 50/50 sorts of ventures-and not just the Hole/Marilyn Manson pairings, although it does seem like it gets more complicated as the bands get bigger. Is that just an ego thing, do you think? And what are the best aspects of this sort of tour for your band?

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