Ben Gibbard spits on the stage, and I don't like it. I saw Death Cab for Cutie at the Showbox the other night, and while initially it was great to see them up close in a small place, and they are good performers who sound amazing live, I became increasingly distracted and turned off by the spit wads intermittently hawked up there. I've seen them once before from a great distance at a large venue, and I thought I noticed it then, but I wasn't sure. Now I'm sure.

A. That's just gross.
B. I feel sorry for the clean-up crew. Ewwwwww.
C. Spit is slippery, and a pile of phlegm lying on stage is a potential hazard to the other band members when they rock out. It's best to avoid a Phlegm Incident.

We all know I've been to lots of shows, and I've never seen another performer do this before. I assume it's something Ben feels is necessary to clear his voice for singing, and most likely he doesn't spit on the carpet at dinner parties and the like. Still, try using a paper cup or a can to keep it contained. As much as I admire their music, I don't think I can handle the cringing in dread gross out factor again. I'm sorry to report that DCfC is strictly a CD band for me now.

In other music news, Nada Surf is coming back at the end of February with Rogue Wave! Yay, yay, yay! It's a tough call, but Nada Surf was probably my favorite concert of this year (followed closely by Snow Patrol), so I am very excited that they are returning to Seattle so soon. However, I'm grumpy that the show is over two months away. I think I'll need to go see Vendetta Red and maybe The Long Winters again to keep me entertained in the meantime. Someday I will grow up and start saving the money I currently spend on concert tickets and music for something very adult, like a 500 sq ft condo, but that someday is not now.