Ben Gibbard Covers Stars, Rilo Kiley @ Hiro Ballroom, NYC 6/30/08

Rhapsody celebrated its new DRM-freedom by renting out Hiro and inviting Ben Gibbard to perform an acoustic set. Tough crowd -- I suspect many attended for free MP3tinis -- and I wouldn't say the Death Cab frontman won them over so much as the douchebag contingent dispersed to the Ballroom perimeter after a few songs. The talent anticipated worse: "This is the exact opposite of how I expected it to be," he said after the first few songs. "You guys are actually listening." Ben's songs are so cuddly and lonely. He's like the indie rock WALL-E. But in addition to those Death Cab For Cutie and Postal Service tunes, we got "Carolina" from the Home Volume V EP, and covers of Rilo Kiley, George Jones, and Stars' "Your Ex-Loved Is Dead," which I don't think he's performed before (watch it after the jump). Ben opened w...
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