No more results on this page
Ben Gibbard's solo show at the Wilshire Ebell was an experience I'll never forget. Just Ben, a mic, his guitar, and a piano. Intimate setting - he told jokes all night and engaged in witty banter with the crowd. Some of the best singing I've ever heard, and very good sound at the venue. He's the Lennon/McCartney of our times, in terms of songwriting. HIGHLY recommended.
I have loved Ben Gibbard ever since I heard the Postal Service album. I have most of the Death Cab albums and enjoy his solo work. Seeing him by himself was a treat. He did a nice combination of his current solo work, Death Cab, and Postal Service. He reacted to the audiences comments with little quips, which was fun. It was an overall laid back show and would recommend seeing him to any fan.
The Ben Gibbard show was excellent. The opener, Damien Jurado, was very endearing. From his quiet, melancholy melodies to his playful banter with the audience, he was a pleasure to witness. I will definitely be picking up some of his music after seeing him live. And then there was Ben. His performance was great. The set list was to die for. He played THREE Postal Service songs! Plus a bunch of Death Cab songs. Plus a good handful of songs from his solo album. AND, a few others for good measure. This was a dream come true for any real fan. This was also the happiest and healthiest that I've ever seen him. He seemed to be having fun with it all. Just Ben and a guitar. The show was spectacular.
It was the perfect venue to hear Ben. What a great set list even though he didnt play one song we were hoping for :)
I usually don't write reviews, but this concert warranted one. What an amazing show! Gibbard is a one of a kind talent who can literally carry the entire show on his own, which he did! Great venue as well!
I expected the Ben Gibbard show to be a night of hearing his new solo album played with a band. I was thrilled when I took my seat and saw nothing but a piano, an acoustic guitar, and a few monitors on the stage. Ben played his solo songs, Death Cab For Cutie and Postal Service favorites, and some other fine tunes, all acoustically!!! A real blessing for any Death Cab fan. The venue was perfect for the event, and you could hear a pin drop through each song only to be followed by a huge roar at the conclusion. Listening to Ben finish the night with I Will Follow You Into the Dark and actually hear the song without every yahoo in the place singing along was a true joy. The best buzz moment of the night though was Ben's rendition of Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flower's In Your Hair)". McKenzie just passed away this August and Ben's tribute was the perfect way to say thank you for such an incredible song. I hope that Death Cab For Cutie never splits up but if they do, it's nice to know that a solo show with Ben can be just as amazing.
We got there early and got seats in the front row, about 50 feet from the stage. Ben performed completely solo, accompanied by only his piano an guitars. He was super charming and played all my favorites - alternating between Death Cab songs, Postal Service songs, and songs from his new solo album. What a fantastic way to spend 2 hours!
Ben does an amazing job producing a whole lot of sound for a 1 man show. His voice live is the exact same as his recordings. He didn't really choose anything real exciting for his setlist; it was pretty much a collection of hits and tracks from his new album. I was a little bored as I felt like I was listening to a cd, although there is no way to say the show was at all disappointing. The chicks in the crowd certainly all had their panties melted.
awesome show. Ben & his guitar/piano...playing songs from solo records, Death Cab...and POSTAL SERVICE!
I love the music the simple presentation, such a honest song writer.
The event was amazing! The Synagogue itself was beautiful and was such a cool experience. I had read Ben was going to be doing his folk-ier music and how others were not that impressed before I bought the tickets, and so I was worried it wouldn't be a good show. Well, Ben blew it out of the water and while it was folky(it was acoustic), it was amazing. His songs were still incredible minus the synthesizers and other instruments on his CDs. He played some of his Postal Service/Death Cab songs as well. Amazing.
Amazing show with new originals as well as acoustic set of Death Cab songs. Venue was perfect for this show!
I was a little worried about the venue but the sound was awesome and of course the artist always rocks!
One of kind songwriter, brilliant performer. With awkward endearing chit chat between songs. A great Sunday night.
This was my second time seeing Ben Gibbard. I had high expectations because the first concert I saw (DCFC) was incredible. Seeing Ben G. at the Keswick was totally worth it. Although it didn't have the high energy of a DCFC show and wasn't as electrifying in that regard, the setlist was great and I enjoyed the chance to hear laid-back acoustic renditions of old and new songs. Ben's musicality was great, and this concert really showcased him as an accomplished singer/songwriter (a nice contrast from DCFC frontman). My only disappointment was with the opener; while humorous and quirky, Advance Base didn't seem to fit with the atmosphere of the evening, and lost the crowd pretty quickly. I think another opening act would have been better; perhaps something more in line with the rest of the show. An opening band (as opposed to a single person) could have also been a nice touch; since the show itself was Ben G. alone, a band preceding him could have offset his act nicely. Wish I could give the concert 4 1/2 stars for that! About the venue: the Keswick Theater is a charming space, but what other reviewers say is correct-the chairs are REALLY uncomfortable and kind of old/grimy. Didn't detract from the show for me, but worth mentioning. Arrived early and found a parking spot very easily, which was a plus.
Just Benjamin and his bevy of acoustic guitars in this lovely theatre made for a fantastic show. It was so great to see him play Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie songs along with songs from his solo album. It was definitely a treat!
Ben is a truly prolific artist and his solo set did not disappoint. He played a 2 hour set that had music from his new album, a few Postal Service songs, Death Cab for Cutie classics, and other side projects of his. He is very engaging with the audience and really puts on an amazing show. Strongly recommend!
Ben Gibbard is simply amazing! Played songs from his new album, death cab, and postal service. Excellent show! Advance Base was great too!! Owen and I could be BFFs.
Perfect night! As usual, Ben was spot-on musically, but the intimacy of the venue coupled with his acoustic set made this an unforgettable evening. It felt as if he was lounging in my own living room, just hanging out and talking between songs in a private concert.
Ben Gibbards's solo performances are extremely special and very intimate. He arrives alone on a relatively bare stage; just him, with acoustic guitars and a personal piano. The song selection he decided to utilize ranged from among a handful of tunes from his recent solo effort "Former Lives", as well as a respectful mix of earlier material ranging from the Death Cab for Cutie catalog, as well as a collection of uniqely special material from the seminal Postal Service record. His performances were emotional and touching, and he utilized any and all down time by relating humorous and poignant tales of life both on and off the road. In my humble opinion, he really should make every effort to schedule occasional solo tours much like this one, because they offer his audience a rare and unique glimpse into the inner workings of a complex and fascinating artist such as himself.
