It all started with a few musicians deciding to return to the town where they got their start and perform together for the first time.
Death Cab for Cutie and ODESZA will perform at Bellingham’s Civic Field Saturday, May 18, in a sold-out show for about 11,500 fans during WWU Alumni Weekend. The show is also a benefit for the Western Washington University Alumni Association Scholarship Endowment.
The show, Double Major, is a homecoming for both bands. Death Cab’s lead vocalist Ben Gibbard, ’98, B.S., studied environmental science at Western and bass guitarist Nick Harmer, ’98, B.A., got his degree in English. Meanwhile ODESZA’s Harrison Mills, ’12, B.A., design, and Clayton Knight, ’12, B.S., physics, started collaborating their senior year at Western.
“Bellingham and WWU is where it all began,” Harmer says.
“And as we have continued on, it’s been amazing to see and hear so much music continue to flow out of Bellingham, too. So when we met ODESZA our bond of being ‘from Bellingham’ was an instant connection.”
Alumni Weekend May 17-19 also features some big WWU reunions and other events, including the 50th year of the AS Outdoor Center and the 45th anniversary of KUGS radio. Other reunions and gatherings include Biology, Management Information Systems, Academic Technology and User Services, Behavioral Neuroscience, Health and Human Development and Modern & Classical Languages. Athletics will also host gatherings for men’s golf, men’s soccer, rowing and volleyball.