Felt weird leaving my hotel wiythout my backpack. It starts to feel a little like a safety blanket on these solo trips, but it was just after 1PM and I wanted to start making the trek across the bay to Barkeley.

You have a couple options when you have to do this stretch. You can either walk over to the docks and grab a ferry which will take about 30 minutes by ferry to get you to Richmond where you’d transfer to a couple buses to get south to Berkeley, or you can walk down to Market Street (Market Lane?) and take the subway called the BART that darts across and drops you off in downtown Berkeley – the venue is a short walk from there. Or you can skip all that and take a much pricer Lyft.

I wanted to go with the Ferry but the next one didn’t leave until 3PM and I get anxious about time when I’m headed somewhere I’ve never been before, so I took off a little early and grabbed the subway instead. Thanks very much to the employee of the station there that explained I could save the $3USD Clipper card (like Presto for us in Toronto) purchase and just add a digital Clipper card to my phone’s wallet – super easy and fast to load.

The trains aren’t very big on the BART, only 6 cars deep which seemed tiny to me, but it wasn’t very busy and I didn’t have any trouble grabbing a seat. It was fast, too, and they have cell service on the trains which made the trip over the water much more enjoyable. Back home we only just started to get this offer so I’m used to very quiet trains and people staring down at their books or into dead space – here people carry on phone and FaceTime conversations which is at least mildly entertaining.

At one point an antsy smoker stepped in between two cars and started dragging. “Man you can’t even wait until you get off the damn BART?” someone muttered when the smell started wafing through.

By the time I got off in downtown Berkeley it was just after 3PM. A quick jog across the road and you immediately know you’re in a university town. Everyone wears Berkeley gear here – you don’t see that kind of pride and commitment in Toronto, either, generally.

I walked through campus to find the Greek Theatre where Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service would be playing. Some university campuses are really impressive to walk around, but like the city of San Fransisco, even UC-Berkeley seemed to fall short here. The buildings are old and look it, a boring grey texture that just permeats your vision at every turn. Maybe it’s just the time of year but I’ve felt SF and now Berkley very dull looking – I thought they’d have a bit more pizazz.

I could never wholly imagine what its like to attend these types of schools with these massive campuses – my college, comparitively, had about 6 rooms and they were all attached to each other; a couple that fit only 10 people at maximum and our lecture hall for maybe 150. There was no running across the quad to get o the Life Sciences building for college-me.

Nonetheless it was the first time I felt wholly relaxed since landing in SF – there is just absolutely nothing intimidating about a bunch of college kids and it was a welcome change.

In the distance I could hear a heavy bass drum periodically letting out a ring; sound check was well underway and as I exited the university trail I found myself on, there it was – a line of about 20 were already in their places eager for doors to open.

I considered very briefly just jumping in line then but with all the walking I’ve been doing, I haven’t been great about eating – the line could wait.

I googled the nearest pizza spot – La Val’s was about 5 minutes from where I was. Turns out it sits in this cool alley street which also tempts you with all sorts of other great cuisines – tacos and even menchies caught my eye but I couldn’t pass up the slice and soda deal; $5 for the slice if you order before 4PM. A steal in SF.

I made my way back to the Greek Theatre, and joined the now 50+ people in line. At one point the red head behind me waved her parents over – they’d be at Val’s with me and brought her some leftovers and recognizing me, joined us instead of getting stuck 20 people behind.

People in this line were way more prepared to be in waiting than I was used to. They all had food and drinks, little cushions to sit on or folding chairs; most people in Toronto wont show up to gigs until the opener is already halfway through their set so you never have to think about bringing these types of things.

Doors opened at 5PM and we all shuffled in. The first row lining the stage already spoken for, I parked myself at the first opening that wouldn’t be too obstructed by a tall head and laughed at how somehow I was in the same position I was for the Asphalt Meadows tour. Second row, just to the left of where Ben would stand. I guess this is just where I’m supposed to be now.

The Greek Theatre is a lot smaller than I expected it to be but I was glad for that. It’s really an ideal size for any show and amitheatre’s always sound pretty good no matter where you’re watching from.

While waiting I caught bits of conversation from everyone around me and realized there weer so serious die hard fans in the midst. A kid who couldn’t have been more than 12 was asking his dad if his favourite Death Cab concept album was Codes and Keys (it wasn’t), and a woman was telling them her hair salon was named after Kintsugi. This was her 68th Death Cab show and had recently been at the Arizona and Nevada dates, too and would be back at the Greek Theatre for night 2 as well.

Impressive.

I don’t know how some people manage it, honestly. I know it’s a bit easier traveling between states compared to grabbing a plane from Canada like I did, but between the cost of each ticket and presumably a place to sleep for the night alone would rack up some serious coin. 68 shows?! I couldn’t imagine it. There are a ton of bands I’d still love to see live and even when those come around I have to question if I can afford them – and that’s in my own city. But I love the commitment from these types of fans – it really speaks volumes to the bands performances, too.

For me, this was my 4th Death Cab show after splurging out for 2 nights in Toronto earlier this year. The last time before that was like over 10 years ago – and of course I’ve never seen The Postal Service. I think this means this is the band I’ve seen the 2nd most times in my life tied with Canadians The Arkells; Jimmy Eat World sit just ahead of them both.

I told myself when I bought this ticket it would be the last time I do this type of thing, too – travel for a show, I mean. Since it really is tough enough to catch stuff at home, it’s a massive strain mentally and financially to trek out so far for one and on a certain level I feel like its the bands duty to come to you and not the other way around.

But the heart wants what the heart wants and mine could not miss this partricular anniversary tour.

I don’t like the sudden resurgence of anniversary tours – it just so happens that a lot of bands I was getting into 20 years ago are all out on their own versions of this tour, celebrating the records that allowed them to sustain themselves for such long careers. But some of them are doing it after really long absences from the live music scene and to me that feels like a horible cash grab, so I’m skipping a lot of them. At least with Death Cab you know they continue to put the work in and make a genuine effort to make the shows unique and interesting.

A band from Auckland, New Zeland opened called The Beths. It’s always nice to see a female lead and better when they have an interesting sound to go with it. I’d only heard brief bits of two of The Beth’s songs before their 30 minute set, the ones they closed with, so it was mostly new to me.

I don’t really know why they blow up a giant fish at the start of their set other than to emit a couple gigles from the crowd – it’s never spoken about or acknowledged in any way after the fact.

What I really like about this band is the cool harmonies and vocal lines that the bassist (who I think was wearing the same nail polish as me? Twinsies?) and guitarist contribute; it’s really what gives these songs a unique character. If you like lyrically smart pop-rock with a bit of a surf-vibe, The Beths are worth checking out.

A 30 minute set change after them before our main events would start.

I’ve been keeping up with the tour a little bit on social media but I try not to watch or see too much ahead of a show I know I’m going to; I really don’t want to spoil the whole thing for myself and like to be surprised by it.

Death Cab were up first which only seems weird if you don’t think The Postal Service music style is better suited for closing out a show on this type of bill, like ending a gig with a DJ it just works really well.

Transatlanticism is one of my favourite records of theirs if only because it’s the first one that turned me from casual listener into a fan – it’s just too hard now 20 years into our steady long distance relationship for me to choose just one record or just one song that stands above the rest.

I fell in love with the band anew during the Asphalt Meadows tour and last nights set reminded me why. They’re insanely well rehearsed and truly exude the confidence of a pro touring band (I down play it a lot, but often times I catch gigs and I’m a little bewildered at other bands lack of attention to this type of thing, so many of them just feel like hobby projects when you’re wartching and it’s sort of a bummer).

Ben’s quickly become my favourite singers to watch perform, dare I say I’ve even developed this ridiculous high-school-like crush on him in the last couple years. He really has stage presence unlike none other that I’ve seen and seems to have really kicked up the theatrics, getting into character in a authentic way and really working it to the crowd; it makes the songs come alive and makes for a really captivating experience. I often catch myself thinking as I’m watching that I’ve gotta pay better attention to this in my own sets in the future – and then I have to remind myself I’m here to enjoy the show and not take notes for next weeks test.

As great as it was to take in Transatlanticism from start to finish, I was eager for more Death Cab. It feels like a much shorter record when you see it live.

A 15 minute set-break stood in the way before The Postal Service were due to arrive for Give Up.

Here’s the thing about me and The Postal Service; this project was in no way a popular or common sighting among my friend group when it came out or in most of the years that followed. You had to be a BIG Death Cab fan to even know about it in Canada and the only reason I ever turned to it was because my friend Sean told me about it one day; He was from California and it was I guess a much bigger deal here?

The Postal Service appealed to me then because back then the main radio station everyone listened to in my home town was Z103.5 – home to pop, house and trance music that was popular among our largely Italian population. By all acounts, TPS would’ve killed in the Woodbridge scene if we knew about it.

But it’s Ben’s soothing vovals that really lulls you into the songs on Give Up and at this point in my life I think he could sing over rustling sand paper and I’ll call it avante garde or whatever and spend $100 on a ticket to see it anyway.

My honest opinion of The Postal Service and Give Up after immersing myself heavily within it and their entire catalogue? Lyrically it’s some of Ben’s weakest work – not exactly a terrible criticism because even the weakest bit of it is all pretty good still, but it really seems like a lot of the songs that made it onto Give Up were b-sides that he would never have allowed to make the cut on Transatlanticism; they’re a little goofy and more observational than introspective which comes across as a little more immature unlike Ben’s much more recent Asphalt Meadows which really shows how much he’s grown as a songwriter when compared to these earlier works.

I love the Give Up record, I do, but if I’m honest I think I love it more for all the conversations it sparked between Sean and I and others I’ve met through it in some way since, for the way it inspired us to write songs over e-mail and collaborate despite distance, and because it’s Ben and it makes me feel calm and understood. If any other songwriter had written or sang it, I don’t think I would have ever cared much for it. It is a time capsule into a former life that perhaps ended too soon. And it is absolutely the only exception to my general rule that I will not go to an anniversary tour of a band who has not been putting their face in the dirt fighting for their place in this industry to be heard.

It’s why I had to go to this show. This one that pairs itself with Transatlanticism. And presumably, the last time we might ever see The Postal Service emerge.

Without saying much more, it was well worth the trip to San Fransisco. I was overjoyed to watch Jenny Lewis who mostly did not get much press or attention when it came to this album (to my Canadian knowledge) and was a critical part of its sound and therefore success. She sounded great (and has a wicked new solo record out as well!). And it was a great treat to have Jen Wood come in from Seattle to sing as well – completely unexpected and a big highlight to the set for all of us I’m sure.

Forever engraining the image of a Ben Gibbard decked out in white on one knee before me on stage (for personal reasons) and will hold very dear the image of everyone on stage for the final number.

I’ll post a couple clips on Instagram through the day, but right now my tummy is rumbling and I need to get some breakfast and savour this day. I’m only in SF until Friday morning and later I’ll be checking out Alcatraz, so there’s a lot to do still.

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This blog is part 4 in my ongoing series chronicling my trip to San Fransisco.
Catch up with the previous blogs below or jump to the next one: 

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

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In case you didn’t know, I have a couple of side projects inspired by the bands that inspired this trip.

Check out Death Bus for Blondie including my entire Asphalt Meadows cover album (and then some) and Canada Post, everywhere you stream.

Thanks for reading.