Washington state's rock band Death Cab for Cutie played in front of a packed crowd at The Armory in Minneapolis on Friday, July 10, 2026. [Photo credit: Matt Norris]
MATT NORRIS | Go Venue Magazine
Jay Som, opening artist of Death Cab for Cutie’s “I Built You A Tower” tour, gives way to the first sounds coming off the stage. Mellow guitars and soft vocals immediately draw my attention. Melina Duterte’s voice, dreamy, laid-back, and, well, objectively good. The scene felt intimate, the audience fully engaged. The whole band was visibly engaged with one another for the performance, and at the conclusion, I’m left wanting more. I can’t wait to grab a ticket the next time Jay Som is back in town.
Death Cab For Cutie.
Kicking off with a song off thew new album, I Built You A Tower, titled “Riptides”. The band springs to life, and Ben Gibbard’s iconic voice comes over the stage. The energy is palpable as the song builds. Visuals behind the band are lit up with five square displays a couple feet taller than the members, and eight tall rectangles that extend from stage to ceiling, equidistantly spaced to display other accompanying graphics. The dynamic lighting was at times almost too much — the square panels almost like portals for each member; the strobe-like effects that came and went or even the high-noise visualization of sound that stretched across each of the eight tall panels.
If this were any other band, I’d believe it unintentionally overwhelming — not Death Cab for Cutie. The visual overwhelm came with instrumental intensity and lyrical complement as well: “There’s too many riptides in this ocean to proceed”. Although I found the visuals at times over-the-top in a messy way, more often they acted as functional dynamic lights to color the performers.
From new to old — “The New Year”, a throwback to 1997, was expertly transitioned into, as if it were always meant to be. Gibbard’s high-energy dancing around the stage between (and with) other members is expressive as ever. Passion in his voice, perfection in the band’s execution. Nick Harmer and Dave Depper looking sharp as ever on Gibbard’s Right and left respectively, played in tight precise movements. Jason McGerr on drums, sounding off at the perfect volume and time in back, and to his left, Zac Rae, who sounded fantastic and appeared focused on perfection.
What would it would be like to go to a show, where the setlist is an expertly designed mixtape of a band’s work stretching nearly 30-years? It would be an experience exactly like what Gibbard and Death Cab For Cutie have to offer. Mid performance, the titular track “I Built You A Tower (a)” brought a celebration of the present day band. An icon from Narrow Stairs, “I Will Possess Your Heart”, was performed to an audience bathed in dynamic gradients of red light. The sound-forward show filled The Armory with sonic perfection throughout every corner I could get to; so well that little embellishments (like keyboard trails) happening on stage manage to stand out in the crowds.
“I Will Follow You Into The Dark”, dedicated to the people of Minneapolis and St Paul for this concert, with pride in the twin cities for setting an example, across the country, on fighting fascism.
The band played 20 songs in the main set, letting echoes ring out as they walked off the stage. After continuous cheering, they returned to reward the crowd four more tracks spanning across thee decades, finishing the evening with a stunning performance of Transatlanticisim.
Death Cab for Cutie is a band that’s been performing for nearly 30 years. Their music has influenced countless artists, featured in television and films, and seldom does one find an adult who hasn’t listened them in some capacity. Ben Gibbard and the band continue to deliver immaculate, energetic performances like tonight and I look forward to seeing them again.
Death Cab for Cutie Jay Som All images © Matt NorrisFollow our socials, only take a second and is free by finding us on:
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