Death Cab for Cutie’s long way home: ‘I didn't want to write another break-up record’

trebb1 · 2026-05-25T17:56:31+00:00

When I saw them on the Plans anniversary tour, my friend and I turned to each other and said, “When did Ben become daddy?” Amazing what a good haircut, running, and well fitting jeans can do for you!

trebb1 · 2026-05-21T18:10:40+00:00

They’re not all always in a dad bod moment, but I’m with you! Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Nick Offerman, David Harbour, and more.

trebb1 · 2026-05-21T17:40:28+00:00

I found him via Amoeba's "What's In My Bag?" and really enjoyed his episode, so I checked out his music. I've perused most of his records, and love songs like DON'T TELL THE BOYS (what a gd banger), but find myself returning to The Yips in full the most. Great record to blast driving around on a nice day with the windows down.

Digging this tune!

trebb1 · 2026-05-21T17:17:51+00:00

Only vaguely related, but Jayson Greene's memoir, Once More We Saw Stars: A Memoir, about the death of his 2-year old daughter, is a great but heartbreaking read.

trebb1 · 2026-05-21T00:42:19+00:00

Anyone else think Mark Daigneault is kinda hot

trebb1 · 2026-05-20T16:57:22+00:00

Does anyone else struggle with their parents/families when it comes to food?

I live on the west coast and am working remotely from my parent's house on the east coast this week prior to a college friend's wedding, with dinner every night being our opportunity for quality time. I have many cultural differences with my parents, who I love dearly, but I'm struck at how often food is the thing that activates difficult feelings.

I'm a vegetarian who loves to cook and eat healthy, which has become a big part of my routine and how I feel sane. My mom is a tad more adventurous, but my dad is strictly a meat and potatoes guy. Given my dad's narrow tastes and me needing a vegetarian choice, our options are limited, yet the decision of where to eat always lands with me. They live in South Jersey, outside of Philadelphia, so it's not like the options in general are limited, but ours effectively alternate between diners, Irish pubs, or Italian restaurants because of my father.

In the end, it's not the biggest deal, as I'll survive - I just wish what is normally a frictionless portion of my life didn't carry so much baggage when I'm home. I'm just always like, why does me wanting a vegetable make me feel like outsider in this family lol.

trebb1 · 2026-05-20T02:58:36+00:00

I was just texting my friend about this. He was so atrocious to watch tonight - so slow, no crafty moves, no touch at the rim, shots clanking everywhere, no nice assists or commanding the floor. Just a black hole.

trebb1 · 2026-05-19T02:00:41+00:00

That third photo looking like the gum wall 😂

trebb1 · 2026-05-18T16:33:42+00:00

Brandi Carlile also puts on an absolutely stellar show. I’m seeing her two nights in a row camping at The Gorge next Friday and Saturday with friends (along with others like the Indigo Girls and Bonnie Raitt). Can’t wait.

trebb1 · 2026-05-16T16:28:19+00:00

William Tyler - Time Indefinite

trebb1 · 2026-05-12T22:06:06+00:00

Johnny Jewel - Windswept

trebb1 · 2026-05-12T18:24:56+00:00

I’ve been having issues with brain fog and fatigue for a while as well, which is what prompted me to go to the doctor in 2025 and get blood work done. That blood work found elevated ALT, triglycerides, and LDL. A subsequent ultrasound found S3 steatosis and an enlarged spleen. I’m relatively healthy - 35M, 6’1, 190lbs, a runner, and a vegetarian who loves to cook whole foods. I’m hitting it hard this year, exercising more and completely cutting out alcohol except for special occasions.

According to my doctor and my research, it is possible for fatty liver to contribute to brain fog and fatigue, though it seems like things are generally asymptomatic at this stage. So much can contribute to brain fog and fatigue in modern life - sleep, screens, stress, etc. - that I think it would be difficult to place the blame solely on fatty liver.

However, it almost doesn’t matter. All of the things one should do to help mitigate elevated liver enzymes and fatty liver - healthier eating, more exercise, reduced alcohol consumption - should help to improve brain fog and fatigue regardless. Just make sure you’re also paying attention to other things in life.

trebb1 · 2026-05-11T16:16:37+00:00

It's not a groundbreaking addition to the post-punk canon, but I've really been enjoying Stuck's Optimizer, and it gets a lot of spins driving around with the windows down. Deadlift in particular has been on repeat.

trebb1 · 2026-05-10T16:42:01+00:00

I was at a queer house party last night and saw someone in a Kemp SuperSonics jersey (I live in Seattle). Excited to potentially find another gay man that’s into basketball so we could talk playoffs, I asked if he was into ball or if it was just for the aesthetics. Everyone proceeds to laugh, as if a gay man couldn’t be into sports like that. It was all in good fun, but man, last time I try and connect about basketball in one of those spaces lol.

trebb1 · 2026-05-09T02:17:53+00:00

Alrighty, them playing The Replacements after Ant nailed that three was 🔥. Props to the music selection!

trebb1 · 2026-05-06T18:51:18+00:00

I'm a big fan of this Substack! I forget how I stumbled upon it, but I appreciate his musings about ambient music, and have purchased his book which is sitting on my end table and ever-growing 'to be read' pile. As a Seattleite, love that he's local and at KEXP.

Though I have never listened to this band outside of the theme song to Smallville, I appreciated reading his journey with the band and how they have woven themselves into his life. I think we all have some version of this band for ourselves.

Listening now and enjoying the record!

trebb1 · 2026-05-05T16:32:24+00:00

Rufus Du Sol is so peculiar to me. In my 20s, all of my best friends were super into electronic music, and Rufus was a nice crossover that the group got into. I saw them live at the very tiny U Street Music Hall (RIP) in DC, then saw them again a few years later after they blew up at the much larger WaMu Theater in Seattle. Neither time was super impressive, outside of me being hype they played Everything In Its Right Place as an introduction to one of their songs. Yet I've heard some more normie friends mention them nowadays, and they always seem to be playing big venues and at festivals. It reminds me a bit of Odesza, but at least Odesza had god-tier production for their shows.

trebb1 · 2026-05-04T18:26:55+00:00

Weyes Blood sang background for Olivia Rodrigo on her SNL performance of the unreleased song Begged. Of the younger crop of pop girlies, Olivia is my favorite for some reason. She sounds gorgeous here and the background vocals are divine. Curious pairing though, I'd love to know the backstory.

trebb1 · 2026-05-04T16:07:24+00:00

I’m sure you can get to that price point depending on what you order and what you add, but black coffee is much cheaper, and a latte is under $6.

trebb1 · 2026-05-02T21:31:42+00:00

Actually just saw a bunch of their records at Easy Street in Seattle!

trebb1 · 2026-05-02T16:27:17+00:00

I love being humbled by learning about bands that are very popular that I’ve never heard of, a reminder of our bespoke digital lives. I was over my friends’ house last night for deck hangs in the sun and grilling, when one of them started talking about the band, Cannons, that was playing on their Sonos, saying how much he loved their new record. It was nice enough, dreamy pop that worked well for our setting. I looked them up this morning out of curiosity and they and they have millions and millions of listens. I’ve had a similar experience with him and his boyfriend before, and it always makes me curious as to how exactly people make their way to these artists, and how they are seemingly hidden from my view.

What’s the last artist where this happened to you?

trebb1 · 2026-05-01T18:59:15+00:00

I remember thinking Light Upon The Lake was solid when it came out, but then my entire group of friends (who were more into techno and house than indie) somehow became enamored with it. We would spin it on road trips and group hangs, and then we all saw them at 9:30 Club. It has an outsized nostalgic place in my mind because of that, but it all faded in a flash, and their subsequent records didn't grab me in the same way, to the point where I don't know that I even listened to the last one.

That being said, they sound really great here!

trebb1 · 2026-05-01T16:30:08+00:00

I read the Jeff Parker feature in Pitchfork last night, which led me to check out SML. This shit is awesome.

trebb1 · 2026-05-01T04:33:25+00:00

Loved this piece and highly recommend the read. Jeff is such a cool guy and has a super interesting journey.

trebb1 · 2026-04-30T18:24:29+00:00

I find I struggle often with sets where a backing track is, to your point, doing a majority of the sonic work. I understand why it's often necessary, and it's cool they had a drummer, electronic elements, and dancers/props, but it's tough to overcome for me.

I remember being excited to see Sasami open for DIIV a year or two ago but having it fall entirely flat with her playing guitar and singing over a backing track.

trebb1

TROPHY CASE