Ariel Smith Photos
Two-thirds of indie-pop greats The Postal Service graced the stage on Friday night at College Street Music Hall, albeit performing under separate monikers. Jenny Lewis and Death Cab for Cutie made for an electric pairing, drawing a mixed crowd of stalwart fans and new additions to enjoy two new albums and relive years of hits and collaborations.
Jenny Lewis opened on the piano with songs from her fourth album, On the Line, released in March of this year. Her presence fed into a larger theme of the night, of longevity — of bands and singers that have been around for decades, who have stayed relevant and entertaining through the process of consistent stylistic evolution.
Over time, and especially with the latest album, Lewis has achieved the status of a contemporary troubadour, and songs such as “Wasted Youth” held true to form. Upbeat indie tunes belied a more complex story about interpersonal relationships and drugs. Most of the songs she performed came from the new album (“Heads Gonna Roll,” “Little White Dove”), but she obligingly threw in “Just One of the Guys” and “Silver Lining” for longtime fans and Rilo Kiley listeners.
Death Cab for Cutie needed no introduction to the sold-out CSMH crowd . Thank You for Today is their latest effort of this decade and the first one since producer and guitarist Chris Walla’s departure
However, the set list dipped into songs spanning more than a decade of releases, with pickings from Transatlanticism and Plans, and even “Photobooth,” off of 2000’s Forbidden Love EP. Other selections came from Codes and Keys and a languid rendition of “60 & Punk” off the latest release.
Ben Gibbard and Dave Depper were especially high-energy, leaping around the stage with palpable excitement. The packed crowd began to dissipate only at the very end of the set, everyone unwilling for it to be over.