Death Cab for Cutie Rework New and Classic Songs for Tiny Desk

Tiny Desk is one of my favorite video series, and Death Cab for Cutie just made their second appearance behind the famous desk.

More than 11 years after their first visit, the band returned as a five piece with Ben Gibbard, Nick Harmer, Jason McGerr, Dave Depper, and Zac Rae. The group reworked the songs for the intimate setting with Rae even adding a nearly 100 year old zither to the mix.

Harmer is playing his Serek Lincoln bass for the session and the stripped down arrangements give his melodic lines plenty of room to shine.  The band kicked things off with “Pep Talk” and “Stone Over Water,” both from their new album, I Built You A Tower. They then reached back into the catalog for “Title and Registration” from Transatlanticism and “Soul Meets Body” from Plans.

I Built You A Tower was released June 5th on ANTI Records and marks Death Cab’s return to an independent label after 20 years with Atlantic. The album was produced and engineered by John Congleton and came together following the band’s anniversary tours celebrating Transatlanticism and Plans.  Harmer recently shared that his current bass arsenal includes the Serek Lincoln, fitted with a Novak Grabber pickup. He also revealed that Congleton helped the band push toward a more aggressive bass sound while making the new record.

Check out Death Cab for Cutie’s latest Tiny Desk Concert below.