It took a while for the crowd to realize they were there for a concert. When Frightened Rabbit took the stage at the UNO Lakefront Arena Friday night, the room was half-full. When headliner Death Cab for Cutie followed, the audience was still slow to engage. The band opened with “I Will Possess Your Heart,” and the arena began to fill as front man Ben Gibbard bounced across the stage. He began the fifth song “Doors Unlocked” from their latest album Codes and Keys, saying, “It’s an honor to be back in this lovely town,” and during this song, the crowd started to feed off of the band’s high energy.

By the middle of the set, the audience came alive. It was as if they realized they were at a live show. When Gibbard played “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” alone onstage with just his acoustic guitar, his voice became much more sensitive and calming. The song prompted people to hold up lighters and sway from side to side. Before playing “A Movie Script Ending,” Gibbard announced, “This song is about where we come from. Four friends playing music, that’s all it’s about.” Despite the arena and the decade-plus career, Death Cab’s performance suggested there was still truth in that vision of the band as their remained something youthful and innocent in the music. During “Cath…,” Gibbard played the drums across from drummer Jason McGerr as if they were playing for each other. They jammed so hard that McGerr took off his glasses.

Set List

1. I Will Possess Your Heart

2. Crooked Teeth

3. Why You’d Want To Live Here

4. Photobooth

5. Doors Unlocked

6. Long Division

7. Grapevine Fires

8. Codes and Keys

9. Summer Skin

10. I Will Follow You Into The Dark

11. Title and Registration

12. You are a Tourist

13. Soul Meets Body

14. Portable Television

15. A Movie Script Ending

16. Title Track

17. Cath…

18. We Looked Like Giants

19. Sound of Settling

20. Stay Young, Go Dancing

21. Styrofoam Plates

22. Transatlanticism