City Arts & Lectures presents Ben Gibbard In Conversation & Song September 11, 2007

Ben Gibbard
In Conversation & Song Hosted by Daniel Handler
Co-presented with Noise Pop
Tuesday, September 11, 2007 | Palace of Fine Arts, 8pm

Ben Gibbard is the singer and principal songwriter of Death Cab for Cutie. Formed in the early nineties, Death Cab for Cutie was arguably the most popular and critically successful independent rock band in the country before the band signed to Atlantic Records in 2005. The Seattle quartet, whose name references a song performed by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band in the Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" film, gradually built a large fanbase with their moody, introspective sound. Gibbard's dexterous songwriting can be kaleidoscopic, erupting into jaunty rhythms or wistful melody. Gibbard is also the frontman for two other bands. One of his side projects, a collaboration with laptop innovator Jimmy Tamborello called The Postal Service, recorded an album of electropop songs released to hugely successful sales. Gibbard will make his acting debut in the forthcoming film "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men," an adaptation of David Foster Wallace's short story collection. In addition to songwriting, Gibbard is known for his support of veganism and animal rights.

Author Daniel Handler's novels include The Basic Eight, Watch Your Mouth, and Adverbs. Under the alias "Lemony Snicket," he is the author of the thirteen celebrated and macabre children's novels collectively known as A Series of Unfortunate Events. A San Francisco native, Handler is also a screenwriter whose films include "A Series of Unfortunate Events," "Kill the Poor," and "Rick." As an accordionist and accomplished musician, Handler has played with The Magnetic Fields, The Mountain Goats, and Stars. He recently collaborated with composer Nathaniel Stookey on "The Composer Is Dead," with the San Francisco Symphony.

Noise Pop has championed new music since 1993 through its annual music festival, spotlighting local talent and bringing nationally known, independent artists to San Francisco stages. For more information, visit www.noisepop.com.

Official Website: http://www.cityarts.net/n.gibbard.html