By Norah Lorway
Ten years on and a million heartbreaks later, Death Cab for Cutie is returning to Calgary and they’re wiser for the wear. Their record Narrow Stairs has been a driving force musically and they’ve managed to retain their hard-won reputation as one of indie rock’s most respected bands. Though they’ve been down a long musical road, bassist Nick Harmer says there is still a lot to be excited about.
“This record was a fun one to make,” he says. “[We] wanted to return to an analog environment. The format forces us to be creative with what we have to work with. The limitations fuel the creative process.”
Despite the modesty, their latest effort has a certain intricacy and complexity that’s rarely found in today’s music. The band will be on the same bill as Neil Young for their show, happening at the Saddledome on Oct. 19. They admit they have quite a respect for Young.
“He’s such an icon and a legendary figure in music,” Harmer says. “His career and his music has been very inspiring to us. Neil has had a very strong impact on us, for sure.”
The group is also facing the impact of current event. With the looming U.S. federal election, Harmer says that it’s definitely on his mind.
“I’m personally disheartened and disappointed with the state of American politics,” he says. “I feel we’re about at the worst I’ve seen in my lifetime. I hope it gets better from here. I’m personally excited about Barack Obama. I’m excited to see how his campaign will run.”
Given their staying power in the music scene, the band is quite modest about their impact and takes their success in stride.
“Our goal has been pretty simple,” Harmer explains. “By the time we put our instruments down for the last time, I hope we have a legacy. I hope in 50 years our music will still have the impact it has today.”