Live Review: Death Cab For Cutie - Troxy, London 26/09/2026
Death Cab For Cutie enrapture Troxy.
Exploding intro an edgy East London crowd, Death Cab For Cutie’s first song sings :”Too tied to talk, too tired to ever walk’ which sharply combines with their upbeat drum driven intro. Their lyrics alluding to toxic tension are spot on: ‘Im too tired to talk, I’m too tired to end the war’. Somehow these seemingly aggressive yet sentimental lyrics disarm you, with second song lyrics: ‘They disappear like sugar in my coffee’ encapsulating the shallow sugar rush of young romance -both fast and fleeting yet heavy.
Lively support Sun Kids provide a moody ride with their Nirvana soaked set that clearly strikes a chord with moody East London hipsters. Like their grungier Seattle counterparts, they take a dirtier, grungier turn - and Brian Malko esque vocals with looping guitar and dense bass and an irresistible drum loop is superb.
In a lovely and rare exchange, the lead singer quips that a fan yesterday said his twelve year old son is forming a band: “This song is about exactly that - a flood of memories of f being in the band playing every night!”.A wave of warmth surges through the the room, the hand shroud a refreshing humility. In the edgy Eadt London grime, the and show they’re prime, and we’re all massively here for it.
As their ores lonely state: ‘ In recent years, celebrating the 20th anniversary of their albums: ‘Trancsentalism’ and ‘Plans’ ,the band have rocketed into the live scene once again.Their past at Ally Pally prove their lasting powerI Built You A Tower’ is an album of reconciling with past selves in order to locate a new future. This was true for Death Cab for Cutie as much as it was for Gibbard himself. After 20-odd years in the major label system, the band returned to their indie roots and signed with ANTI- Records.
The move coincided with Death Cab embarking on a writing and recording process more akin to their initial run of albums in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, filtered through lessons learned through the textural experimentation of their ‘10s records and a decade-plus with their current quintet lineup: Gibbard, bassist Nick Harmer, drummer Jason McGerr and multi-instrumentalists Dave Depper and Zac Rae. and prove their curious inability to appear when they were seemingly lost.
In an age of uncertainty, the need for meaning is burning. According to the band’s astute view,
‘’Built You A Tower’ is an album of reconciling with past selves in order to locate a new future. This was true for Death Cab for Cutie as much as it was for Gibbard himself. After 20-odd years in the major label system, the band returned to their indie roots and signed with ANTI- Records.
This move was seismic, and ultimately proved their nous: ‘The move coincided with Death Cab embarking on a writing and recording process more akin to their initial run of albums in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, filtered through lessons learned through the textural experimentation of their ‘10s records and a decade-plus with their current quintet lineup: Gibbard, bassist Nick Harmer, drummer Jason McGerr and multi-instrumentalists Dave Depper and Zac Rae.
Their enthralling anthem: ‘I Will Follow You Into The Dark’ is shattering, the Troxy audience bellowing every word with l their sheer passion, a touching exchange with the crowd the lead singer opens up “Nothing lives long onto the earth’ - and we are aptly reminded of our place here with the music.
Words by Brendan Sharp
Photography by Sam Strutt
