Ben Gibbard Juggles Two Roles in the Hottest Indie Rock Tour

Towards the end of last year, Ben Gibbard found himself standing at the crossroads of two significant milestones. The iconic album 'Transatlanticism' by Death Cab for Cutie and 'Give Up,' the sole full-length collaboration between Gibbard and electronic maestro Jimmy Tamborello under the moniker 'The Postal Service,' were both on the brink of turning 20 in 2023. Death Cab's management suggested separate 20th-anniversary tours, but Gibbard had a more ambitious vision – a double-dose of nostalgia in a single tour.

"I thought, 'People will go wild if this is one tour,'" he reminisces. "And I believe the initial response and ticket sales were certainly a validation of my idea."

Indeed, the Give Up/Transatlanticism dual tour is set to bring these indie classics to arena and theater audiences starting on September 5th. The tour boasts 31 scheduled dates, a significant expansion from the initial 17 announced in December. Ben Gibbard will gracefully take on a dual role, performing 'Transatlanticism' from start to finish with Death Cab and the entirety of 'Give Up' alongside Tamborello and Jenny Lewis, who contributed backing vocals to six album tracks.

This tour, for Gibbard, is a return to the most transformative year of his career. Death Cab, formed in 1997, teetered on the brink of dissolution in late 2001, having toured and recorded tirelessly. This period of relative calm allowed the 25-year-old Gibbard the breathing room to lay the foundations of 'Transatlanticism' and collaborate with Tamborello on an indie-pop side project, facilitated by mailing CD-Rs back and forth – thus, 'The Postal Service' was born.

"I suddenly had ample creative space," reflects Gibbard, now 47. "I felt confident, perhaps a touch arrogant. I could wander musically and explore this creative realm, and it bore fruit."

'Give Up' transformed into a cult classic adored by blogs, while 'Transatlanticism' catapulted Death Cab from "indie-rock popularity" to simply "popularity," as Gibbard puts it. While 'Give Up' reached No. 45 on the Billboard 200 and 'Transatlanticism' reached No. 97, they've racked up 1.8 million and 1.1 million equivalent album units, respectively, according to Luminate.

In retrospect, Gibbard is grateful for the timing of his breakthrough with these two albums. "We had already weathered some very tough times together and emerged stronger," he explains. "I can't say with certainty that if things were as they are today – a band releases a three-song EP, sells out shows, and has cameras thrust in their faces – we would have survived."

While Death Cab was recently on the road in support of their 10th album, 'Asphalt Meadows' (released in 2022), this upcoming tour marks The Postal Service's first live shows in a decade, commemorating the 10th anniversary of 'Give Up.' For Gibbard, these Postal Service performances will hold a special place. Unlike in 2013, this time 'Give Up' will be played in its entirety, sans B-sides or covers. Nevertheless, the prospect of reuniting with Tamborello and Lewis for these shows fills him with joy.

"These are two of my dearest friends, and I get to spend extended time with them on this journey," says Gibbard. "We get to celebrate this record we created, which became a revered moment in indie rock – but, more importantly, it's a celebration of our friendship."