I Am A Tourist
Posted: Thursday 07 April, 2011
Erica Whiteman
Death Cab for Cutie is a band I have been following for 13 years. I remember seeing them perform in small venues around Bellingham and Seattle, Washington in their early days just as I was starting out in my music career. Needless to say, I have remained a big fan over the years. Music used to be what propelled me. I was always on the hunt for new sounds that excited me, hoping to discover an unpolished gem along the way. Unfortunately, what was once my passion became a trial. I started resenting bands, I couldn’t be bothered to go to shows and I basically lost that lovin’ feeling for music. Listening to Death Cab reminds me of exciting times, old friends and living in Seattle, a city that holds fond memories - like meeting my husband-to-be.
Aside from being a band that reflects on my past, they are also about the future. With their latest single, ‘You Are a Tourist’, Death Cab for Cutie has used social media to promote something that probably no other band has achieved – a scripted, one-shot, live video. The event was promoted through Facebook and Twitter as well as on an additional band website Youareatourist.com – which hosts a number of Death Cab for Cutie’s videos. Using a QR code, a calendar invite was created and sent to user’s smartphone when scanned with the RedLaser scanning application.
As the live event drew near, Ustream broadcast the last minute set up which helped build anticipation for the launch of the video. I stayed up late to witness history in action as it launched 4pm PST, which was midnight BST. The ‘You Are a Tourist’ now video lives on respective YouTube channels and on the band’s website for anyone who didn’t want to stay up past their bedtime. Director Tim Nackashi and Death Cab for Cutie successfully pulled off a historical musical event through social media and internet channels. 13 years ago, this wouldn’t have seemed possible… we’ve come a long way, baby!
