Check on AMINA: Taking cues form the masters with Ben Gibbard

Monday, April 12, 2010

Taking cues form the masters with Ben Gibbard

Here is another large influence of mine Ben Gibbard. This guy has done so much that I just Wikipediaed him to get all this info together. Benjamin Gibbard (born August 11, 1976 in Bremerton, Washington) is an American musician known as a member of several successful indie rock bands. He is the lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, also known for his project ¡All-Time Quarterback! and his first band, Pinwheel. He is married to the actress and singer Zooey Deschanel.

Gibbard spent his formative years in Bremerton, Washington during the time of the grunge musical explosion during the early 1990s. He graduated from Olympic High School in 1994. Growing up he was influenced by Elliott Smith, Nirvana, The Stone Roses, Superchunk, Built to Spill, Teenage Fanclub, Pixies, Pavement, Fugazi, and Hall & Oates. He also cites Jack Kerouac as a major influence. He studied Engineering at Western Washington University. He was raised Roman Catholic and referred to himself as "this indoctrinated Catholic even though I haven't been to church of my own volition in 10 or 15 years now." He and his band Death Cab for Cutie are also known for their contributions to veganism and animal rights. However, in a 2003 interview Gibbard stated that while he had previously been a vegan, he had recently become a pescetarian.

Collaborations

Gibbard is the original bassist for the Revolutionary Hydra, a band that also included Death Cab for Cutie bandmate Chris Walla and original drummer Nathan Good, as well as Jay Chilcote, Joe Chilcote, and Barton Sharp.
Sang backing vocals on the song "This Is the Thrilling Conversation You've Been Waiting For" from Harvey Danger's 2000 album King James Version.
Appeared as a guest on Jimmy Tamborello's (his Postal Service collaborator) 2001 Dntel album entitled Life Is Full of Possibilities, contributing vocals to the song "(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan."
Played bass for Pedro the Lion on their 2001 tour.
Contributed backing vocals on the 2001 release by The Prom, "Now and Then".
Contributed backing vocals on the 2001 The American Analog Set album "Know By Heart", on the song "The Postman".
Played drums on the song "Carparts" for The Long Winters' 2002 album, The Worst You Can Do Is Harm.
Performed drums on label-mate's Kind of Like Spitting 2002 album, Bridges Worth Burning, further contributing vocals to the album's untitled last track.
Collaborated with Andrew Kenny on Home Volume V, released March 30, 2004, as part of the Home EP series.
Contributed vocals for Styrofoam's 2004 album Nothing's Lost on the track "Couches in Alleys."
Provided backup vocals on the song "Midnight Again" for Certainly, Sir's 2005 album TAN!
Contributed vocals to a song ("Handle with Care") on Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis's side project Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins's 2006 album, Rabbit Fur Coat.
Contributed vocals on The Postal Service's 2006 remix of "Mushaboom" by Feist.
Co-wrote the film score for the 2007 film Kurt Cobain About a Son, about the Nirvana lead singer, with producer Steve Fisk.
Contributed backing vocals on the 2008 release by Sun Kil Moon, "April".
Appeared on the 2008 Nada Surf album Lucky, on the song "See These Bones"..
Appeared on the 2009 charity CD compilation Dark Was the Night, along with Feist, on the track "Train Song".
Collaborated with Jay Farrar on all tracks to the soundtrack of the 2009 documentary film One Fast Move or I'm Gone, about Jack Kerouac's time spent at Big Sur.