u/thislifetoday

-This is specific to their actual tour setlists — no one-off shows or festivals. Just the 21 shows performed in North America this summer, along with how many times each song was played.

-So much of record sounds great live — plenty of these cuts have the potential to fall into regular rotation.

-15 songs never left the nightly setlist once:
Black Sun
Cath...
Crooked Teeth
The Ghosts of Beverly Drive
How Heavenly a State
I Built You a Tower (a)
I Will Follow You Into the Dark
I Will Possess Your Heart
The New Year
Punching the Flowers
Riptides
Roman Candles
Soul Meets Body
Stone Over Water
Trap Door

-Really enjoyed the diversity in song choices, especially in the encores. I want to say nearly every show had either 23 or 24 songs — yet 44 songs found their way onto the setlist at some point on this leg of the tour. In this age, you tend to know the setlist of a show long before it gets to your area. But this tour had anywhere between 6-8 songs that could surprise you, which is saying something for a band with as many “must plays” as Death Cab.

-Much respect to them for abandoning Envy The Birds after the first night. I’m firmly in the camp that it is both the weakest song on the album, and that it wouldn’t work live. It was dropped after opening night for Pep Talk (a song that was played almost every night since) and they never looked back.

-This was the North American Leg, but I doubt this is the final North American Leg for this album. Can think of quite a few areas that didn’t get the chance to see them promote this fantastic record live. I guess we’ll see in 2027.

-They’re still packing the same size venues they always do. Just incredible.

With the tour right around the corner, take a crack at the setlist! (What you think it will look like, not necessarily what your dream setlist would be).

-They usually play between 18-22 songs.

-They usually heavily support their new record.

We’ve arrived.

**EDIT**

Basic rational—

Indie Era: if you owned these records and knew their material, you were a fan *before* it was cool. You knew something the rest of country didn’t and were ahead of the curve.

Golden Era: they go big time and the cat is out of the bag. Massive increase in listeners. People who don’t even like indie music are suddenly fans. The music is on TV and film. The general public is put on notice. They sign to a major label. Narrow Stairs enters the Billboard 200 at #1. Maybe more aptly titled “The Mainstream Era”.

Wilderness Era: they search for new ways in which to express themselves. Results are mixed. Each album contains excellent songs, yet each also contains cuts that water down the effort overall. Reviews are at times harsh. Albums seem directionless.

Modern Era: a new producer clicks. Asphalt Meadows sounds cohesive. The high highs are there as with the previous albums, but the low lows are not. The production quality is fantastic, and the storytelling and lyrical makeup is on point. It feels fresh while also reminding you why you like them to begin with. I Built You A Tower confirms this new era is indeed in full swing.

After a few listens, what cut is the crown jewel?