"Mark my words: these guys will be HUGE one day." Ok, so recommending Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists, or Stars is about as cool as referring to band members as "kids" ("I totally toured with that band. They're really cool kids." Man, I hate that). So yeah, these "indie" heavyweights aren't exactly "under-the-radar" or "the next big thing." But I shouldn't ignore this show simply for the sake of snobbery. I mean, it's not their fault they're popular. Death Cab are bigger than Tim Harrington's paunch simply because they play really good songs. Who really cares if your latte-loving co-workers like them too?

This is the first Death Cab tour since the Seattle band left Barsuk (sort of, the vinyl version is still coming out on the indie label) for the mighty shores of Atlantic. It probably won't make that much of a difference in their sound considering Transatlanticism was one of the most accessible records on ANY label, major or indie, in 2003. It's not like the band is going to feel pressure to tone down their angularly distorted f*ck-ups in order to have a hit single. "Hey guys, recording sounds great... but would you mind making the chorus a little less catchy? Maybe not so many major chords? And Gibby, can you make your tone a little less pure? I'm afraid right now it's just a little too singable. That may work for an indie, but it won't work with the big boys." Nah, the label transition should be seamless. Like Modest Mouse, they were never really "ours" anyway. These guys were meant for the big stage.

Wanna talk about poppy? Opening is Australia's Youth Group. If ever there was a band destined to be background music on The O.C., it's Youth Group. As a matter of fact, they were just featured on that delightful, wonderfully wacky show that I've never seen (seriously! I left my heart at The Peach Pit years ago and have nothing left to give). Youth Group are another one of those bands that you're not sure if you should feel guilty for liking. But being too cool for sweet indie pop is so two years ago. They sound a lot like that old band James (you know, they had that song about getting "Laid.") meets, oh, let's say Coldplay. It's only a matter of time before they are all over the radio and their video is being played in H & M as you shop for extra-long shorts (back in the day we called them "Jams"). Chris Walla from Death Cab really likes these guys (so their CD cover says...), so maybe that'll take some of the guilt away... maybe. Death Cab For Cutie and Youth Group play the Riviera, Wednesday, October 12th.