There's yet one more reason for teenage girls to freak out when the "Twilight" sequel hits theaters in November. Death Cab for Cutie wrote the lead single for the soundtrack for "The Twilight Saga: New Moon." The forthcoming new cut is called "Meet Me at the Equinox," and bassist Nick Harmer, a native of Puyallup, issued a statement originally posted at StephanieMeyer.com, reprinted here.

"We are very excited to be a part of this amazing series of novels set in our own backyard. It just seemed a perfect synergy that a band from the Northwest would create a song for a series of novels set in the Northwest. We wrote 'Meet Me On the Equinox' to reflect the celestial themes and motifs that run throughout the Twilight series and we wanted to capture that desperate feeling of endings and beginnings that so strongly affect the main characters. This song marks the first attempt that Death Cab for Cutie has ever made at contributing new, unreleased material for a film and we are proud to be a part of the Twilight legacy." — Nick Harmer

When I last spoke to him, Death Cab for Cutie’s Nick Harmer remarked at how weird it was that his band hadn’t done a proper, headlining Seattle date for "Narrow Stairs," considering how many Washington shows the band played during last year’s touring cycle. (He didn't count Bumbershoot, since it's a festival.)

Well, now Death Cab has got one. Or the band is headlining close to Seattle in Redmond, at least. Seattle Theater Group just announcing that Death Cab will headline Marymoor Park on July 18. Vancouver, BC-based power-pop outfit, the New Pornographers, have been tapped for opening honors.

Tickets are going for $35 beginning 11 a.m. Saturday (March 28). Find out more here.

At least, that's what Rolling Stone and Us are reporting. Sorry, single indie-rock chicks.

As many of you know by now, Death Cab for Cutie is among the main attractions coming to WaMu Theatre for The End's Deck the Hall Ball Tuesday. I’ve already posted a related clip of Death Cab bassist Nick Harmer – the band’s lone South Sounder, from Puyallup -- talking about his band’s forthcoming EP. (Click here if you missed it.) And now you can click on the link below to hear the guy talk about Barsuk Record’s 10th anniversary reissue of Death Cab's debut album, “Something About Airplanes,” the included live recording of the band's first Seattle show and tentative plans to do a proper, headlining Seattle show before this tour cycle ends. Weird to think they haven't done their own headlining show in Seattle this year considering how many times they've played close to home, huh. And in between Nick's bits are clips of familiar song from that live CD, which was recorded at the currently defunct but soon to re-open Crocodile Cafe.

There's exciting news for Death Cab for Cutie fans. This morning, I called up bassist Nick Harmer just before he headed to sound check in Baton Rouge, La. And Harmer, who hails from Puyallup, gave me the skinny on a forthcoming E.P. of “Narrow Stairs” session outtakes that he said will likely be released in Spring 2009.

The just finished and as yet unnamed EP consists of songs that just didn’t quite fit the musical arc the band wanted to create on its last full-length album, Harmer said. “We still wanted them to have a home, and we still wanted them to come out during this album cycle because they are part of this batch of songs,” he said.

Harmer said the EP will feature five to six new cuts, including two called “Diamond in a Tether” and “Loyal Lover” that he named off the top of his head, and a demo of "Narrow Stairs" cut “Talking Bird,” featuring front man Ben Gibbard playing ukulele.

Sadly, none of those songs will be on the set list next Tuesday when Death Cab plays The End’s Deck the Hall Ball at WaMu Theatre. But fans should expect a couple of old school cuts from the band’s Bellingham days to celebrate Barsuk Records’ 10th anniversary reissue of debut album “Something About Airplanes.”

Check back in the next couple of days, and I’ll have some more audio and details posted.

Officially, I took Labor Day off. But you knew I’d check out Death Cab for Cutie’s homecoming show and post a set list for you, right? So here it is, y’all.

Death Cab for Cutie set list
Bumbershoot, Sept. 1, 2008

Bixby Canyon Bridge
The New Year
Why You’d Want to Live Here
Crooked Teeth
Long Division
Grapevine Fires (Ben Gibbard: “Sometimes beautiful things happen. They do happen.”)
Movie Script Ending (Ben dedicates to anyone from Bellingham)
Company Calls
Summer Skin
Soul Meets Body
I Will Follow You into the Dark (Ben dedicates to previous main stage band, Superchunk: “This band would not be here today without Superchunk.”)
I Will Possess Your Heart
Cath
Expo ‘86
Sound of Settling
Marching Bands of Manhattan

Encore:
Title & Registration (Nick Harmer: “Not to get all heavy here. But I want everyone to keep New Orleans in their thoughts.”)
No Sunlight
Tiny Vessels
Transatlanticism (with spark shower finale)

I already knew Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla was a political nut (kind of like me, when I'm not talkin' rock.) But I just noticed the guys is covering the Democratic National Convention for Rolling Stone. Take that, Tom Morello!

Note the update to my previous blog post on the Neil Young show.

Yesterday, the folks at One Reel posted the complete Bumbershoot 2008 lineup, including a performance by Seattle's Death Cab for Cutie. You can see it here. And you can listen to my last interview with Death Cab here.

I’m back in Tacoma, I’ve scrubbed off the layers of camping grime and sun screen, and I finally have a quiet place to write and reliable wifi. So I thought I’d give you my take on the five best bands from Memorial Day weekend's Sasquatch festival.

Crudo: I’m a huge fan of Mike Patton’s hip-hop oriented projects. And during his new band’s second performance, it came across as an amped up version of Peeping Tom and Lovage.

Dengue Fever: This L.A. band delivered nice blend of psych-pop, jazz and other styles, with lyrics sung in Cambodian and English. Afterward, singer-guitarist Zac Holtzman confessed that he’s been the drunk dialer depicted in my favorite Dengue cut, “Sober Driver.”

The Cops: I’ve slept on this Seattle band for the past couple of years. But now that I’ve seen it, I’m a believer. These guys rock! “Modern Black Flats” was my favorite cut from their new album “Free Electricity.” But I’ll have revisit the rest after an explosive, crowd pleasing performance.

Death Cab for Cutie: The new songs sounded great, and the quartet delivered one of the most energized performances I’ve seen from them. “Pity and Fear” and a couple of set staples they left out would have put this set over the top.

The Mars Volta: One of the most mercurial and unpredictable bands in rock added to its reputation, as singer Cedric Bixler tossed a cymbal stand into the audience at the beginning of the set, and tried to wrestle gear away from the photographers shooting them to do the same thing. Are these guys a-holes? Sure. But pompous, antisocial behavior and rock go together like chocolate and peanut butter, right? And though it wasn’t the best performance I’ve seen these guys deliver, I loved this rowdy, jazz fusion-inflected set.

But enough of what I think. With dozens of bands and comedians on site, I couldn't catch everything. And maybe you thought Death Cab and the Mars Volta sucked. If you went, leave your best band picks in the comments section. Back in a bit with some more photos.

Death Cab for Cutie back in 2005, when they were the official house band of “The O.C.” Hear them play the new tunes Sunday at Sasquatch.
AP

If you’re reading this blog, chances are you know who the big bands playing the main stage at Sasquatch this weekend are. R.E.M., the Cure, Modest Mouse, M.I.A., blah blah blah. And also among those big shots is Death Cab for Cutie, the band I caught up with for my festival preview for this coming Friday’s GO section.

Or rather, I called guitarist, keyboard player and producer Chris Walla, who his band mates – singer-guitarist Ben Gibbard, bassist Nick Harmer and drummer Jason McGerr – on the big stage on Sunday night, right before the Cure. And here are a few more clips from that interview; clips that actually deal with Death Cab’s new album “Narrow Stairs” and not shallow, tabloid-worthy topics, like which band member can out-bench Dave Matthews. Chyuh! What kind of jackass would ask vacuous questions like that?)

Clip 1: How recording live and in analog shaped the new album’s aesthetic

Clip 2: The new direction vs. old school Death Cab

Clip 3: Uh, “Pity and Fear” wasn’t supposed to end like that

Clip 4: Unplugged talk inspires a funny radio rant

I've finally gotten a chance to start pulling clips out of my latest interview with Death Cab for Cutie guitarist, keyboard player and producer Chris Walla. And while our first exchange had little to do with the band's actual music, there were some funny bits related to playing with Dave Matthews and seeing the Dalai Lama at the Seeds of Compassion concert last month at KeyArena. Something about a "trained monkey" ruining his backstage experience.

Click here to listen. And check back later this week to hear what Chris had to say about "Narrow Stairs."