Finally, Ben Gibbard jumped onstage to start his set. It was a fast moving set, and I was really enjoying the setlist. He opened with an even bleaker and more stripped down version of Steadier Footing from The Photo Album. From there we got to hear some of the best songs from the Death Cab catalog as well as a couple from the Postal Service. The highlights for me were You Remind me of Home from the split that he did earlier this year with Andrew Kenny, Champagne from a Paper Cup, I Was a Kaleidoscope, and Such Great Heights.

His voice was stronger than I remember it ever being during the band's tours together. With the band, I think he has to project too much to really hear the way his voice is supposed to be heard when playing with the full electric band. In a setting where his acoustic guitar and the occasional clanking glass is the only sound, he really let the true dynamics of his vocal range show. Did everyone catch that? This audience was perfectly silent when he was playing. It was the most respectful crowd I have ever seen. A wonderful night all the way around, if I ever have the chance to see a show like this again, it will still be worth all the driving and some more if it is required.