Death Cab for Cutie with Nation of Language

July 26, 2026 – Stir Cove – Council Bluffs, IA

It was a hot night at Stir Cove in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Sunday, July 26, 2026, but it was also a great night for live music as Death Cab for Cutie brought their summer tour to town with their opener Nation of Language.

Before this show, I had never heard of Nation of Language. I was talking with my friend Spencer, who was also there covering the show for Stories From The Crowd, and I told him that as soon as they started playing, I was an instant fan.

Nation of Language is an American indie pop band that formed in Brooklyn, New York in 2016. The band consists of Ian Richard Devaney on lead vocals, guitar, synthesizer, and percussion, Aidan Noell on synthesizer and backing vocals, and Alex MacKay on bass guitar.

The band released several singles between 2016 and 2019 before putting out their debut album, Introduction, Presence, in 2020. That album helped them reach a much wider audience, especially during the pandemic, when a lot of people were discovering new music from home. Their second album, A Way Forward, came out in 2021 and helped establish them as one of the stronger modern synth-pop acts of the decade.

In 2023, they released Strange Disciple, which topped Rough Trade’s 100 Albums of 2023 list. Their fourth studio album, Dance Called Memory, came out in 2025.

These guys sounded great. Their set had a cool, polished, synth-driven sound that felt fresh but still familiar. It had a little bit of that throwback new wave feel, but it never felt dated. It felt like the kind of music you want to hear outside on a summer night.

After talking with a few people in the crowd, it was clear that Nation of Language already has a strong following. They currently have over 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and their latest singles, “The Conversation” and “Tougher Than the Rest,” are both worth adding to your indie pop playlist.

They were such a great way to kick off the show.

After a brief intermission, it was time for Death Cab for Cutie, and from the time they took the stage, they had the crowd locked in.

Death Cab for Cutie formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997 and has become one of the defining indie rock bands of the last few decades. The band is made up of Ben Gibbard on vocals, guitar, and piano, Nick Harmer on bass, Jason McGerr on drums, Dave Depper on guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals, and Zac Rae on keyboards and guitar.

Their sound blends indie rock, indie pop, and alternative rock, with lyrics and melodies that have connected with fans for years. Early albums like Something About Airplanes, We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes, and The Photo Album helped build their foundation, while Transatlanticism in 2003 and Plans in 2005 pushed them into a much bigger spotlight.

Plans became one of their biggest albums, featuring songs like “Soul Meets Body,” “Crooked Teeth,” and “I Will Follow You Into the Dark.” Narrow Stairs followed in 2008 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, continuing their run as one of the most important bands in indie and alternative music.

Over the years, Death Cab for Cutie has earned several major award nominations, including multiple Grammy nominations for albums and songs such as Plans, Narrow Stairs, Codes and Keys, Kintsugi, “I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” and “I Will Possess Your Heart.” They also won an MTV Video Music Award in 2008 for Best Editing for “I Will Possess Your Heart.”

After all these years, these guys still know how to put on a show.

Their set had the kind of easy confidence that comes from a band with decades of experience. Ben Gibbard sounded great, and the whole band felt locked in from the beginning. There’s something really special about hearing Death Cab songs live because so many of them feel personal to people. They are the kind of songs that remind you of a certain time, a certain place, or a certain version of yourself.

The crowd seemed to feel that too. People were singing along, swaying, and fully locked into the moment. Even with the heat, everyone seemed happy to be there.

The band currently has over 3.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify and recently released a new full-length album, I Built You a Tower. Their ability to keep creating new music while still honoring the songs that longtime fans love is a big reason they have stayed so relevant.

This was another great night of music at Stir Cove. Nation of Language made a strong first impression and definitely gained at least one new fan in me, and Death Cab for Cutie delivered a set that was exactly what fans came to hear.

Such a great show!

Death Cab for Cutie Setlist: